In the UK, licensed passenger vehicles fall into two categories: hackney carriages (the classic black cabs) and private hire vehicles (minicabs and chauffeur cars). Both are licensed and legitimate; they simply operate under different rules. The distinction matters most at an airport, where the difference between a properly booked car and someone touting for trade is also the difference between safe and unsafe.
01 / HACKNEY CARRIAGESThe black cab
A hackney carriage — the black cab — is the only type that can ply for hire: it can be hailed in the street, picked up from a rank, and it runs on a meter. In London, black-cab drivers pass the famous "Knowledge" of London's streets. The trade-off is that, because it's metered, you don't know the exact fare until the end, and that fare reflects time and traffic.
02 / PRIVATE HIREThe minicab and chauffeur car
A private hire vehicle (PHV) — a minicab or chauffeur car — must be pre-booked through a licensed operator. It cannot be hailed in the street or wait on a rank for passengers; every journey is booked in advance. Crucially, this lets the fare be agreed up front, so you know the price before you travel. Private hire covers everything from a local minicab to an executive chauffeur service like Rushxo.
03 / SIDE BY SIDEThe key differences
04 / AT HEATHROWWhat this means in practice
At Heathrow, both options are available and both are legitimate:
- Black cabs wait on the official taxi rank outside each terminal — convenient if you haven't booked, metered fare.
- Pre-booked private hire meets you by arrangement — typically meet-and-greet inside arrivals — at a fixed fare agreed when you booked, with your flight tracked.
What is not legitimate is anyone approaching you inside the terminal offering a ride — see our guide on spotting a licensed car versus a tout. A genuine private hire driver has a booking with your name; they don't tout for passengers in the hall.
Which to choose for the airport? If you want certainty — a known price, a driver waiting by name, and your flight tracked — pre-booked private hire is hard to beat. If you've not booked and want a car on the spot, the black-cab rank is the safe walk-up option. Both are legal; the one to avoid is the unbooked stranger.
05 / THE TAKEAWAYSame goal, two routes
Black cab or private hire, you're getting a licensed, insured, professional ride — the difference is simply whether you hail/rank it and pay a meter, or book it ahead for a fixed price. For a planned airport journey, most travellers value knowing the fare and being met by name, which is exactly what pre-booked private hire offers.
06 / FAQFrequently asked questions
What's the difference between a black cab and a minicab?
A black cab is a hackney carriage: hailed in the street, waits on ranks, metered. A minicab is private hire: pre-booked through a licensed operator, not hailed or ranked, with the fare agreed in advance.
Can a minicab pick me up from the Heathrow rank?
No. Only licensed black cabs use the rank or are hailed. A private hire car must be pre-booked and the driver meets you by arrangement, typically with meet-and-greet inside arrivals.
Are both black cabs and minicabs licensed?
Yes, when legitimate — hackney carriages and private hire vehicles, drivers and operators are all licensed (by TfL in London). Anyone touting for unbooked rides is not operating legally.
Which is better from Heathrow?
Both are legitimate. A black cab from the rank is convenient but metered, so the fare isn't known upfront. Pre-booked private hire gives a fixed fare, meet-and-greet and flight tracking — preferred by many for airport runs.
Is private hire cheaper than a black cab?
It can be, especially for longer airport journeys, because the fare is fixed in advance rather than metered. Always compare the fixed quote against an estimated metered fare for your route.
Do I need to book a private hire car in advance?
Yes — by law a private hire vehicle must be pre-booked. That's also what allows the fixed fare, meet-and-greet and flight tracking that make it convenient for the airport.
Time Matters
Pre-booked, licensed, fixed fare
Rushxo is licensed private hire — book ahead for a fixed price, a named TfL-licensed driver and meet-and-greet at Heathrow. No meter, no surprises.