London taxi driver numbers hit worrying low as SIXTY EIGHT drivers leave the trade in ONE WEEK
- Perry Richardson
- 14 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Cabvision has raised concerns following the latest Transport for London (TfL) licensing figures showing a sharp fall in the number of licensed taxi drivers. The data for the week ending 19 October 2025 revealed 16,290 active taxi driver licences, down 68 on the previous week, with no new licences issued.
In a series of online exchanges, Cabvision described the figures as “inevitable”, suggesting the reduction is being driven by retirements and the natural end of vehicle lifespans rather than short-term administrative issues. The firm pointed to drivers leaving the trade as their cabs reach the end of their working life, with few replacements entering the system.
Cabvision added that while measures such as digital registration and the SERU (Safety, Equality and Regulatory Understanding) test may play a part, they feel the main issue lies with an ageing driver base and a lack of new entrants. The company warned that the industry could see taxi vehicle numbers fall below 14,000 by the end of October, calling this period “ugly” for the trade as long-serving drivers retire without successors ready to replace them.
One driver noted a loss of around 150 taxi drivers in just three weeks. Cabvision echoed these worries describing the current situation as “Black October”, saying that the question now is not about weekly drops but about where the decline will eventually stabilise. The firm suggested that numbers could reach levels similar to those seen during the pandemic.
The fall comes despite the Mayor of London’s Taxi and Private Hire Action Plan, which set out ambitions to modernise the trade and support the shift towards zero-emission capable vehicles. Critics might argue that while the plan promotes clean air and sustainability goals, it has not yet delivered policies that encourage enough new drivers to join the trade or make vehicle replacement more affordable.
With over 9,000 licensed taxis now zero-emission capable, the shift towards greener vehicles continues, but the trade faces a growing challenge in maintaining driver numbers to meet demand. Unless new recruitment and retention measures are introduced, many within the industry fear the decline could accelerate further before stabilising.
What did taxi vehicle numbers look like over the pandemic?
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, London’s licensed taxi vehicle numbers fell dramatically, reaching some of the lowest levels seen in decades.
According to Transport for London (TfL) data, the number of licensed taxis dropped from 18,504 vehicles in April 2020 to approximately 13,451 in April 2021. This steep decline coincided with lockdowns, reduced passenger demand, and many drivers deciding to hand back their plates or retire early.
Many of the black cabs that left the road were older Euro 5 diesel models that had reached the end of their working life and were no longer compliant with the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) requirements. At the same time, the cost of purchasing new zero-emission capable (ZEC) vehicles, such as the LEVC TX, deterred some drivers from reinvesting in the trade.
The fall in taxi numbers also mirrored a significant reduction in taxi driver licences, as many drivers either left the industry or delayed renewing their badges. By late 2021, both driver and vehicle numbers had stabilised but at far lower levels than pre-pandemic, with the recovery slow due to ongoing cost pressures and limited new entrants.
