How many passengers COULD a taxi in England hold before it’s classed as a minibus?
- Perry Richardson
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
Across England, the maximum number of passenger seats a licensed taxi or private hire vehicle (PHV) can offer is capped at eight. This includes all regions, with the limit remaining consistent across local authorities. Any vehicle configured to carry more than eight passengers falls into a different licensing category altogether, regulated by the Traffic Commissioners as public service vehicles.
The cap excludes the driver. It applies equally to hackney carriages, including London’s black cabs, and to private hire cars operating under local licensing arrangements. London’s iconic black cabs typically accommodate between five and six passengers, and are built with practicality in mind. They often feature fold-down seats and a designated space for wheelchair users, supporting the industry’s long-standing accessibility commitments. This makes them suitable for a range of passengers, including those with mobility needs.
For groups looking to travel together, the eight-seat limit strikes a balance between practicality and regulatory simplicity. It enables taxi and PHV operators to offer services to mid-sized groups without needing to comply with the additional requirements that come with public service vehicle licensing.
A minibus with nine or more passenger seats must be licensed as a public service vehicle and operated under a different regulatory regime. These rules are enforced by the Traffic Commissioners and include specific requirements for driver licensing, insurance, and maintenance.
Fares for taxis and PHVs are usually charged per vehicle rather than per head, which can make them a more economical option for groups of up to eight people. This pricing structure offers a particular advantage when compared to train fares. A group of six to eight individuals travelling together by taxi can often split the cost of a single journey, which might undercut the combined cost of multiple rail tickets. Taxis also provide direct door-to-door travel, removing the need for connections or last-mile arrangements from a station.
This aspect of taxi travel is particularly valuable in rural or suburban areas where public transport links may be limited. For group travel in such regions, an eight-seat taxi or PHV offers a practical solution. It combines cost-sharing potential with the ability to reach locations that might be poorly served by buses or trains.
From an operator’s perspective, vehicles with the full eight-seat capacity can appeal to a broader customer base. Airport transfers, corporate bookings, and family outings are all more viable when larger groups can be transported in a single trip.
With that in mind, will London or other major urban cities push for taxis to be licensed with the maximum eight seats available in the future?
