London's taxi fleet gets younger, but ageing trend evident elsewhere nationwide

Latest Government data reveals a notable divergence in the age of taxi and private hire vehicle (PHV) fleets between London and the rest of England over the past few years.

Between 2020 and 2023, the proportion of older taxis in London has declined. The percentage of London’s taxi fleet aged 10 years and over decreased from 33% in 2020 to just 24% by 2023. Conversely, in England outside London, the trend has reversed. The proportion of taxis over 10 year's old increased from 29% to 33% over the same period.

In terms of PHVs, London has witnessed an increase in the age of its fleet. The proportion of PHVs aged between 5 and 10 years rose significantly from 38% in 2020 to 51% in 2023. This shift has been accompanied by a decrease in newer vehicles under 5 years old, dropping from 46% in 2020 to 32% in 2023. However, data limitations make it difficult to establish a clear trend for PHVs in England outside London due to a rise in vehicles of unknown age, up from 2.2% in 2020 to 7% in 2023.

As of 31 March 2023, regional variations in fleet age were evident. The average age of a taxi in London stood at 6.1 years, whereas taxis in the North West and West Midlands averaged 9.4 years. For PHVs, the average age in London was 4.6 years, compared to 7.4 years in the North West.

This data highlights the ongoing shift towards a younger taxi fleet in London, contrasted by an ageing trend elsewhere in England. The differing trends highlight the varied approaches to fleet management and renewal across the regions.