Transport for LondonPublic Carriage Office
Following the introduction of the Private Hire Vehicles (London) Act 1998, the licensing of private hire services is now virtually complete.
There are now around 2,300 licensed private hire operators, 44,000 licensed private hire drivers, and roughly 46,000 licensed private hire vehicles. In addition, there are approximately 21,000 licensed taxis (black cabs) and almost 25,000 licensed taxi drivers.
All taxi driver applicants must first complete the world famous Knowledge of London, to demonstrate a thorough awareness of London's streets and places of interest.
To cope with the additional volume, an integrated taxi and private hire information technology system (TAPITS) has been developed.
We are also responsible for:
- Reviewing and setting taxi fares
- Appointing taxi ranks
- Improving travel information
- Making services safer and more accessible
- Helping the Mayor of London integrate public transport in the Capital
Passenger satisfaction
Every year we conduct research to see how satisfied taxi and private hire passengers are with services in London.
The research covers taxi trips from ranks, hailings on the street and bookings by telephone, plus private hire trips booked by telephone as well as in person at operating centres across London.
We carry out approximately 1,000 interviews with residents and vistors to London who have used taxi or private hire services over a two-week period. We ask those taking part a series of questions about different aspects of the services and to give a mark out of 10 for each question.
Overall scores
The overall scores are then converted to a score out of 100. For 2008/09 the overall satisfaction scores out of 100 were:
- Taxis - 85
- Private hire - 81
If you would like a copy of the full 2007/08 taxi and private hire passenger satisfaction report please contact the PCO at enquiries@tfl.gov.uk.
Driver Diversity campaign
Although becoming a licensed taxi or private hire driver in London is open to everyone, as of April 2008 only 1.7 per cent of licensed taxi drivers were women and only 6.1 per cent were from a minority ethnic group.
Although 61 per cent of licensed private hire drivers were from a minority ethnic group, the number of women licensed as private hire drivers was again only 1.7 per cent of the total number licensed.
We would like London's diverse population to be better represented among London's taxi and private hire trades.
To help achieve this, the PCO has an ongoing Driver Diversity campaign, which is raising awareness of becoming a driver and in doing so encourages licence applications from under-represented groups.
Various press and marketing activities are taking place in support of the campaign along with a series of road shows at community centres, clubs, career fairs and other appropriate venues.
Find out more in the Becoming a driver section.
Contact us
Find out how to contact us about applications, renewals and inspections, or to make a comment on our services, on the Contact Public Carriage Office page .
