Do passengers really understand the difference between taxis and private hire vehicles?
- Perry Richardson
- 5 hours ago
- 2 min read
Many passengers use the terms “taxi” and “private hire vehicle” interchangeably. Yet strictly speaking, licenced taxis, also known as hackney carriages, remain a distinct category in UK regulation. Research and public guidance suggest that most passengers are not fully aware of the differences in how these services operate, how they are regulated, or what that means in terms of choice.
Transport for London, for example, makes clear that taxi drivers can be hailed on the street or at ranks, charge metered fares set by local authorities, and offer full wheelchair accessibility. Private hire vehicles (PHV), by contrast, must always be pre‑booked through a licensed operator.
In other regions PHVs display marked plates and door signs stating booking is required. Their fares are set by the operator in advance, and they rarely offer the same access features as taxis.
Despite this, passenger understanding remains patchy. Local and national authorities do emphasise the need to clarify the distinctions for the public, warning that poor visibility of differences can endanger safety and lead to confusion when passengers enter unbooked private hire vehicles thinking they are taxis .
Some might stress the importance of policies that reinforce visual and operational distinctions, especially signage and roof lights, so passengers recognise their options before entering any vehicle.
On the regulatory front, taxi driver training is far more rigorous than that required of private hire drivers in many areas. London’s black cab drivers face a demanding local knowledge test known as “the Knowledge”, while private hire drivers typically only need basic driving experience, background checks and a medical exam. Yet few passengers are aware of this discrepancy. Most base their choices on price, booking convenience, or brand reputation rather than training requirements of the very people driving them.
There’s always been a concern that passengers who cannot distinguish between the services may never consider booking a hackney carriage, even when it offers better access or professional training. Worse, they may end up entering private hire vehicles illegally cruising streets, an offence that carries huge safety and insurance risks.
Improving public understanding would first require clearer signage on both types of vehicle, stronger visual branding, and better passenger education at the point of booking. Licensing authorities and operators could coordinate to run awareness campaigns, emphasising key differences in fare structure, booking rules and driver training.
It may also help if booking apps and operator websites explicitly flag whether the vehicle offered is a hackney carriage or a private hire service. That clarity would empower passengers to choose the mode best suited to the transport requirements.
