TAXI TREND: Black cab driver and vehicle numbers continue downward slide in the capital
- Perry Richardson
- Aug 7
- 1 min read
The number of licensed taxi drivers in London has continued to fall, with the latest Transport for London (TfL) data showing a decrease of 24 drivers in just one week.
For the week ending 27 July 2025, there were 16,530 licensed drivers across the capital. Of those, 14,943 hold All London licences and 1,619 hold Suburban licences. The breakdown was last updated on 20 July 2025. No new licences were issued that week.
Taxi vehicle numbers also slipped. There were 14,345 licensed taxis, 18 fewer than the previous week. Only four new taxi vehicle licences were issued during the same period. Of the current fleet, 9,156 are zero emission capable.
The figures continue a pattern of gradual decline seen over the last decade. Back in November 2024, there were 16,965 licensed taxi drivers and 14,462 vehicles. A year earlier, in 2022/23, the number of drivers stood at 18,297. In 2009/10, that figure was much higher at 24,914.
Suburban driver numbers have been hit hardest. From 3,580 in 2009/10, the figure dropped to 1,970 by 2022/23 and now sits at just 1,619. That is a 55% drop over the last 15 years.
Vehicle numbers tell a similar story. In 2009/10 there were 22,445 licensed taxis. Today, that figure has fallen by over 8,000.
While some recovery has taken place since the steep losses seen during the pandemic, driver and vehicle numbers remain well below historic levels. Pressures from app-based services, regulatory changes and running costs continue to weigh heavily on the trade.
