Majority of London’s licensed taxi drivers now living outside the capital’s postcodes
- Perry Richardson
- Apr 14
- 1 min read
Updated: Apr 16
Published data from Transport for London (TfL) has revealed that a clear majority of the capital’s licensed taxi drivers no longer live in London. The figures also show a marked difference in residential trends between the taxi and private hire vehicle (PHV) sectors.
As of October 2024, TfL records showed that there were 17,099 licensed taxi drivers. Of those, only 6,492 — or 38 per cent — were registered to a London postcode. That leaves 10,607 taxi drivers, equating to 62 per cent, living beyond the capital’s traditional postal boundaries.
By contrast, the private hire sector showed the opposite trend. TfL’s data lists 108,201 licensed PHV drivers, of whom 66,625 — or 62 per cent — live within London postcodes. That left 41,576 PHV drivers living outside the capital, making up 38 per cent of that total.
While both trades are licensed by TfL, there is no residency requirement stipulating that drivers must live in Greater London. Provided they meet licensing criteria and pass the required assessments, drivers may register with any UK address.
This has been a longstanding feature of the system, and one that some have argued needs review given the high number of drivers now living far outside the areas they serve.
For the taxi trade, the figures mark a shift. The traditional image of the London cabbie living and working in the same borough may now be less representative of the majority. With 6 in 10 drivers based outside London, it raises questions about driver availability and commuting pressures.
