15/07/2023
With recent news indicating that fares for Liverpool’s hackney cabs are set to rise, many may be considering exploring the city’s vast array of private hire firms for their travel needs. The Liverpool City Council is proposing an increase in fares for black cabs, a move prompted by a request from Unite the Union. This adjustment could particularly affect those heading out on weekend nights, with a potential increase of almost a pound on fares commencing after 2 am on Sunday mornings. For those opting for private hire services, the pertinent question arises: which firm offers the most economical option across the city?
Liverpool's Cheapest Private Hire Taxi Firms: A Comparative Analysis
Liverpool boasts a substantial number of minicab companies, and while it’s impossible to contact every single one, this investigation aimed to reach a representative selection of popular and well-known operators. We requested quotes for several typical journeys to ascertain which private hire firm provides the most competitive pricing.
Methodology: Key Journeys and Timing
Our hypothetical Saturday exploration involved three distinct journeys to gauge a cross-section of typical travel demands:
- Journey 1: A Saturday afternoon trip from Lime Street Station to a friend's residence in Lark Lane, scheduled for approximately 1 pm.
- Journey 2: A return trip from Anfield to Lime Street Station, planned for around 5 pm. This segment serves as an indicator for fans travelling post-match, particularly after a 3 pm kick-off against Southampton.
- Journey 3: An early-hours journey from Seel Street, a popular nightlife hub, back to the friend's house in Lark Lane, timed for around 3 am.
The Contenders: A Look at Liverpool's Taxi Companies
We made contact with six different firms, which, due to the grouping of some companies, effectively covers ten distinct operators. The following table presents the quotes received for each journey, offering a clear comparison of their pricing structures.
Fare Comparison Table
Here's a breakdown of the quotes obtained from various Liverpool taxi firms for the specified journeys:
| Taxi Firm | Lime Street to Lark Lane (Sat ~1pm) | Anfield to Lime Street (Sat ~5pm) | Seel Street to Lark Lane (Sun ~3am) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delta | £6.50 - £7.00 | £5.50 | £7.00 |
| Alpha | £6.50 - £7.00 | £6.50 | £7.00 - £8.00 |
| One Call (Excel, A1, Seaforth) | £7.00 | £6.00 - £7.00 | £7.00 - £8.00 |
| Brittania / Davy Liver | £6.00 | £5.50 | £6.00 |
| Radio Cars | £6.50 | £6.00 - £7.00 | £8.00 - £9.00 |
| Village Taxis | £5.00 - £6.00 | £5.00 - £7.00 | £5.00 - £7.00 |
Detailed Look at Each Firm
Delta
Delta is recognised as one of the largest and most prominent private hire firms operating within Liverpool. With its head office situated in Bootle, Delta's distinctive cars are a common sight throughout the city centre and surrounding areas. For our specified journeys, Delta provided the following quotes: £6.50 to £7.00 for the Lime Street to Lark Lane trip, £5.50 for the Anfield to Lime Street journey, and approximately £7.00 for the early-hours trip from Seel Street to Lark Lane.
Alpha
Alpha is another highly recognised firm in Liverpool, with its central operations based on Duke Street. Alpha matched Delta's quote for the Saturday afternoon journey from Lime Street to Lark Lane, quoting between £6.50 and £7.00. However, the post-match journey from Anfield to Lime Street was marginally more expensive with Alpha at £6.50, compared to Delta's £5.50. The late-night trip from Seel Street to Lark Lane was priced between £7.00 and £8.00.
One Call (Excel, A1, and Seaforth)
One Call represents a newer entity in the Liverpool taxi landscape, formed through a collaboration between established companies Excel Cars (Dingle), A1 Cars (Huyton), and Seaforth Radio Cars. Positioning themselves as a "private hire powerhouse," this group aims to streamline access to taxis across the city via a single contact number and app. Their quotes for our tested journeys were: £7.00 for Lime Street to Lark Lane, £6.00 to £7.00 for Anfield to Lime Street, and £7.00 to £8.00 for the Seel Street to Lark Lane trip.
Brittania and Davy Liver
The major firm Brittania, with bases in Knowsley and St Helens, expanded its reach by acquiring the significant Liverpool company Davy Liver in the previous year. Davy Liver was formerly one of the city’s largest taxi operators. Brittania offered some of the most competitive prices among the firms contacted. They quoted just £6.00 for the Lime Street to Lark Lane journey, £5.50 for the return trip from Anfield to Lime Street, and a low £6.00 for the 3 am journey from Seel Street to Lark Lane.
Radio Cars
Radio Cars, a Liverpool-based firm with operations across Merseyside, provided quotes that were largely in line with others for the initial two journeys. They quoted £6.50 for the lunchtime trip from Lime Street to Lark Lane and £6.00 to £7.00 for the post-match journey from Anfield to Lime Street. However, Radio Cars offered one of the higher quotes for the late-night journey, pricing the Seel Street to Lark Lane trip between £8.00 and £9.00.
Village Taxis
Operating from Garston, Village Taxis has been a fixture in Liverpool for 47 years, offering consistently affordable rates. They provided quotes of £5.00 to £6.00 for the Lime Street to Lark Lane journey, £5.00 to £7.00 for the trip from Anfield to Lime Street, and a competitive £5.00 to £7.00 for the late-night journey from Seel Street to Lark Lane.
Answering Your Questions
How much does Delta cost to travel from Anfield to Lark Lane?
According to our research, Delta quoted approximately £5.50 for a journey from Anfield to Lime Street at around 5 pm. While a direct quote for Anfield to Lark Lane wasn't specified, this gives an indication of their pricing for similar distances.
Which is Liverpool's cheapest private hire taxi firm?
Based on the quotes obtained for the three specific journeys, Village Taxis emerged as the most consistently affordable option, with several quotes falling within the £5.00 to £7.00 range across different times and routes. Brittania / Davy Liver also offered very competitive pricing, particularly for the longer journeys.
Final Considerations
It is important to acknowledge that this list is not exhaustive, and several firms were unavailable to provide quotes during our research. The aim was to offer a representative snapshot of fares from some of Liverpool’s more prominent private hire companies. When choosing a taxi service, it's always advisable to compare prices, especially if you are looking for the most economical option for your travels around the city.
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