UK taxi law is full of archaic terms (“plying for hire”, “hackney carriage”) and imported ones that don't apply (“medallion”). Here is every term you'll encounter, in plain English.
Key takeaways
- Hackney carriage = taxi = black cab — can be hailed.
- PHV = private hire vehicle = minicab — must be pre-booked.
- “Plying for hire” is the legal right to be hailed — taxis only.
- “Hire and reward” is the insurance class needed to carry paying passengers.
- “Medallion” is American — it does not exist in the UK.
01 / VEHICLESThe vehicles
Hackney carriage — the formal legal term for a taxi. Can be hailed or taken from a rank; runs on a regulated meter.
Black cab — a London hackney carriage. Not a legal term, just what everyone calls them. All London black cabs are wheelchair accessible.
Private hire vehicle (PHV) — a minicab. Must be pre-booked through a licensed operator. Cannot be hailed, cannot use a taxi rank.
Minicab — everyday word for a PHV. Same thing.
Executive / chauffeur car — not a separate legal category; a premium private hire vehicle, licensed exactly like any other PHV.
02 / LEGALThe legal terms
Plying for hire — the legal right to wait for or accept passengers without a booking (i.e. to be hailed or ranked). Taxis may; private hire may not. This single concept is the foundation of the whole system.
Pre-booked — the journey was arranged through a licensed operator before the vehicle turned up. For private hire, this is what makes the trip legal and insured.
Taxi rank / taxi stand — a designated place where taxis only queue for passengers. Minicabs may not use them.
Touting — approaching people to offer an unbooked ride. A criminal offence. If someone walks up to you in an airport offering a car, that is a tout, whatever they claim.
Hire and reward — the class of insurance required to carry paying passengers. Ordinary car insurance is not this. An unlicensed car almost certainly lacks it, which makes you an uninsured passenger.
03 / LICENCESThe licences
Operator licence — held by the company that accepts your booking and keeps the record of it.
Driver licence (PHV or taxi) — held by the person. Requires an enhanced DBS check, medical and driving standards.
Vehicle licence — held for the car. Requires enhanced testing and hire and reward insurance. Shown by a licence disc on the vehicle.
The Knowledge — the years-long examination London black cab drivers must pass, memorising the city's streets and landmarks.
Licensing authority — whoever issues the licences. TfL in London; the local council elsewhere.
04 / NOTWords that don't apply in the UK
“Medallion” — a New York concept: a transferable, tradeable licence with a capped supply. There is no such thing in the UK. If a UK firm advertises a “medallion number”, they've copied American marketing copy without understanding it.
“Rideshare” — American usage. In UK law, an app-dispatched car is simply private hire. Nothing is being “shared”.
“Cab” — informal, and ambiguous: people use it for both taxis and minicabs, which is precisely where the confusion starts.
05 / SHORTThe whole system in three sentences
A taxi can be hailed and runs on a regulated meter.
A minicab must be pre-booked and quotes a fare in advance.
Anything that approaches you unbooked is a tout, and is neither.
That's it. Everything else is detail.
FAQFrequently asked questions
What is a hackney carriage?
The formal legal term for a taxi — a vehicle licensed to ply for hire, meaning it can be hailed in the street or taken from a rank. In London, hackney carriages are the black cabs.
What does 'plying for hire' mean?
The legal right to wait for or accept passengers without a booking — to be hailed or to sit on a rank. Taxis may do this; private hire vehicles may not. It's the foundation of the entire UK system.
What is hire and reward insurance?
The class of insurance required to carry paying passengers. Ordinary private car insurance is not this — so travelling in an unlicensed vehicle likely leaves you an uninsured passenger.
Do UK taxis have medallions?
No — the medallion is a New York concept, a tradeable licence with a capped supply. It does not exist in UK law. Any UK firm advertising a 'medallion number' has copied American marketing without understanding it.
What is touting?
Approaching people to offer an unbooked ride. It's a criminal offence, and touts are typically uninsured. Anyone who walks up to you in an airport terminal offering a car is a tout, whatever they claim.
What's the difference between a cab, a taxi and a minicab?
'Cab' is informal and ambiguous — people use it for both. A taxi can be hailed and is metered; a minicab must be pre-booked and quotes in advance. That ambiguity is where most confusion begins.
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