In the UK, “taxi” and “minicab” are not two words for the same thing — they are legally different categories with different rules. Confusing them is how people end up in unlicensed cars. This guide sets out the real distinction between a taxi (hackney carriage / black cab) and a private hire vehicle (minicab), and which is right for which journey.
Key takeaways
- Taxi / hackney carriage / black cab: can be hailed or taken from a rank, runs on a meter.
- Private hire vehicle (minicab): must be pre-booked through a licensed operator.
- A minicab cannot legally be hailed in the street — that's the core rule.
- Both are licensed and insured — the difference is how you get one and how you pay.
- Anything that approaches you unbooked is neither — it's a tout.
01 / TAXIThe taxi (hackney carriage)
A taxi — formally a hackney carriage, and in London the famous black cab — is licensed to “ply for hire”. That legal phrase is the whole point: it means the vehicle can be hailed in the street or picked up from a rank, with no booking.
Taxis run on a meter, and the fare structure is set by the licensing authority, not the driver. In London, black cab drivers must pass the Knowledge, and all London black cabs are wheelchair accessible.
02 / PHVThe private hire vehicle (minicab)
A private hire vehicle (PHV) — a minicab — is a different licence entirely. It must be pre-booked through a licensed operator. It cannot legally be hailed, and it cannot pick you up from a taxi rank.
That's not a technicality — it's the safeguard. The booking is what creates the record: the operator knows who the driver is, which car, and who the passenger is. A minicab that takes you without a booking has removed that record, and with it your insurance cover.
Because they're pre-booked, PHV fares are agreed in advance rather than metered. In London, private hire vehicles are not permitted to be fitted with taximeters at all.
03 / THREEThree licences, not one
People say “a licensed cab” as if licensing is one thing. For private hire it's three separate licences, and all three must be valid:
The operator licence — permitting a company to accept and dispatch bookings.
The driver licence — requiring an enhanced DBS check, medical and driving standards.
The vehicle licence — requiring enhanced testing and hire and reward insurance.
04 / WHICHWhich should you use?
A black cab is excellent for a short, spontaneous trip in central London — you hail it, it knows the way, and the meter is regulated. On a long airport run, though, the meter climbs with the traffic and you can't know the price in advance.
A pre-booked minicab is better for planned journeys and airports: a fixed fare agreed before you travel, a driver who meets you in arrivals, and flight tracking. The trade-off is that you must book it — which, for a flight, you were going to do anyway.
05 / NEITHERThe third category: touts
If someone approaches you in an airport terminal or outside a club offering a ride, they are neither of the above. Legitimate taxis wait at ranks; legitimate minicabs arrive on a booking. Approaching passengers is touting — a criminal offence, and typically uninsured. Decline, and walk to the rank or your booked driver.
FAQFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between a black cab and a minicab?
A black cab (taxi/hackney carriage) can be hailed in the street or taken from a rank and runs on a regulated meter. A minicab (private hire vehicle) must be pre-booked through a licensed operator, cannot be hailed, and has its fare agreed in advance.
Can I hail a minicab in the street?
No — it's not legal. Private hire vehicles must be pre-booked through a licensed operator. Only taxis (black cabs) may be hailed or taken from a rank. A minicab picking you up without a booking has removed the record that keeps you insured.
What is a hackney carriage?
The formal legal term for a taxi — a vehicle licensed to ply for hire, meaning it can be hailed or taken from a rank. In London, hackney carriages are the black cabs.
What does 'private hire vehicle' mean?
A PHV, or minicab, is licensed to carry passengers only on journeys pre-booked through a licensed operator. It cannot ply for hire, cannot be hailed, and in London cannot be fitted with a taximeter.
Are minicabs safe?
A properly licensed minicab is — the driver holds a licence requiring an enhanced DBS check, the vehicle is licensed and insured for hire and reward, and the booking creates a record with the operator. What isn't safe is an unbooked car, which has none of that.
Which is better for an airport transfer?
A pre-booked minicab, usually — you get a fixed fare agreed before you travel, a driver who meets you in arrivals, and flight tracking. A black cab is metered, so a long airport run is less predictable.
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