UK Taxi & PHV Landscape: Key 2022 Insights

England's taxi and private hire vehicle (PHV) sector plays a crucial role in the nation's transport network, providing essential services for millions. Understanding the dynamics of this industry, from the number of vehicles on our roads to the demographics of its drivers and the evolving needs of passengers, offers valuable insights into urban mobility and accessibility. This article delves into the comprehensive statistics for the year ending March 2022, revealing key trends, the lasting impact of the coronavirus pandemic, and the strides being made in areas like accessibility and safeguarding.

Understanding the UK's Cab Services: Taxis vs. PHVs

To truly appreciate the landscape of England's for-hire transport, it's essential to distinguish between taxis and private hire vehicles. Taxis, often known as 'hackney carriages', offer immediate hire, meaning they can be hailed directly from the street or picked up at designated taxi ranks. They require two types of licences: a vehicle licence for the taxi itself and a driving licence for the operator.

Conversely, private hire vehicles, or 'minicabs', operate strictly on a pre-booked basis. It is illegal for PHVs to 'ply for hire' (be hailed from the street) or use taxi ranks. PHVs are subject to three types of licences: a vehicle licence, a driving licence, and an operator licence. The data for this analysis is meticulously gathered annually through surveys of each licensing authority across England and Wales, though this particular release focuses primarily on England.

Key Figures: Vehicles, Drivers & Operators in 2022

The year ending March 2022 saw a slight increase in the total number of licensed vehicles in England, even as the number of licensed drivers continued a downward trend. In 2022, there were a total of 260,700 licensed taxis and PHVs across England. This represents a 3.8% increase from 2021, primarily driven by a 5.1% rise in PHV numbers. The number of traditional taxis, however, experienced a marginal decrease of 0.6% over the same period, reaching 58,000.

Looking at the broader picture, the total number of licensed vehicles had steadily increased from 184,500 in 2005 to a peak of 298,600 in 2020. The pandemic then caused a significant drop to 251,100 in 2021 before the slight recovery in 2022. For drivers, the trend has been more consistently negative recently. While driver licences peaked at 364,700 in 2020, they fell to 342,100 in 2021 and further to 330,300 in 2022, a 3.4% decrease from the previous year. This ongoing decline in driver numbers, even as vehicle numbers slightly recover, suggests a lag effect, as some driver licences may only now be expiring after drivers ceased operations during the pandemic.

Summary of 2022 Licensing Statistics

The following table provides a detailed breakdown of licensed vehicles, PHV operators, and drivers across London, England outside London, and the whole of England as of March 2022, with percentage changes from the previous year.

Geographical Insights: Where Cabs Thrive

The distribution of licensed taxi and PHV vehicles varies significantly across England. In 2022, there was an average of 4.6 licensed taxi and PHV vehicles per 1,000 people, up from 4.4 in 2021. London, as expected, shows a much higher concentration with 10.6 vehicles per 1,000 people, reflecting its dense urban environment and high demand. In contrast, largely rural areas had significantly fewer, averaging just 1.9 vehicles per 1,000 people.

Local authority data reveals stark differences. Wolverhampton, for instance, boasted the highest number of licensed vehicles per 1,000 population at 49.5, indicating a potential hub for licensing that serves a wider operational area. Conversely, several rural areas reported less than 1 licensed taxi per 1,000 people. These disparities often reflect local licensing policies and the diverse operational models within the industry. It is worth noting that while licensing authorities outside London can impose limits on the number of taxis, they are unable to do so for PHVs.

Accessibility: Ensuring Inclusive Journeys

Accessibility remains a critical focus for the taxi and PHV sector. In 2022, 14% of all licensed vehicles in England were wheelchair accessible. Breaking this down further, 55% of all taxis were wheelchair accessible, compared to a mere 2% of PHVs. This stark difference highlights the ongoing challenge in making PHV services fully inclusive. London stands out in this regard, with all 14,600 taxis being wheelchair accessible, a requirement set by Transport for London's licensing policy. Outside the capital, however, only 40% of taxis meet this accessibility standard.

Beyond vehicle design, efforts are being made to enhance driver awareness. The number of authorities requiring disability awareness training for taxi drivers increased from 43% in 2019 to 55% in 2022, and for PHV drivers, it rose from 41% to 53%. Furthermore, 66% of authorities now require all or part of their taxi fleet to be wheelchair accessible, and 83% maintain a list of wheelchair accessible taxis, as mandated by Section 167 of the Equality Act 2010. While progress is evident, only 5% of authorities require wheelchair accessibility for PHV fleets, underscoring areas for future development.

Prosecutions under the Equality Act 2010 related to taxi and PHV drivers saw a slight increase to 18 cases in England and Wales in 2021, up from 2020, though still lower than pre-pandemic levels. The majority of these prosecutions (61% over the last decade) were for failing to accept bookings involving assistance dogs, with around 80% leading to a conviction, typically resulting in a fine.

Safeguarding Measures: Protecting Passengers

Passenger safety, particularly for vulnerable individuals, is paramount within the taxi and PHV industry. Robust safeguarding policies are increasingly being implemented by licensing authorities across England. As of March 2022, over four-fifths of authorities (89% for both taxi and PHV drivers) mandated training on child sexual abuse (CSA) or child sexual exploitation (CSE). This marks a significant increase from 70-71% in 2018, demonstrating a growing commitment to protecting children.

In addition to training, rigorous security checks are now standard practice. All authorities require an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) security check for both taxi and PHV drivers. Furthermore, 97% of authorities also require barred lists checks, ensuring that individuals deemed unsuitable are prevented from operating. These proportions have notably increased from 79% in 2017. While CCTV requirements are less widespread, with only 5% of authorities mandating CCTV in all licensed taxis and PHVs, almost all authorities do permit their installation, and a significant proportion of those requiring CCTV also mandate audio recording capabilities.

A positive development in data sharing for safeguarding is the increased adoption of the National Register of Revocations and Refusals (NR3). As of March 2022, 67% of authorities submitted data to NR3, and 69% utilised the register when making licensing decisions. These figures represent a substantial leap from 48% and 50% respectively in March 2021, strengthening the ability of authorities to prevent unsuitable individuals from obtaining licences elsewhere.

The People Behind the Wheel: Driver Demographics

The profile of taxi and PHV drivers in England has seen some shifts, influenced by broader societal trends and the recent pandemic. According to the Labour Force Survey, an estimated 127,000 drivers were operating in England during 2022. This figure, while 7% higher than in 2021, remains 26% lower than the 171,000 estimated in 2020, underscoring the significant impact of the coronavirus pandemic on driver numbers.

In terms of demographics, the industry remains heavily male-dominated, with 97% of drivers identifying as male in 2022, a proportion that has consistently exceeded 90% for the past decade. The average age of a driver in 2022 was 48 years old, with 17% being under 40 and 16% aged 60 or over. Over the last decade, there's been a noticeable shift towards an older driver profile, with a smaller proportion of younger drivers and a larger proportion over 40. Ethnically, White and Asian or Asian British individuals constituted the two main groups, making up 41% and 42% of drivers respectively in 2022, a change from 63% and 29% in 2010. The proportion of non-UK nationals working as drivers also rose from 13% in 2010 to 23% in 2022. Furthermore, the number of self-employed drivers reached its highest level in a decade at 90% in 2022, up from 76% in 2010, while the proportion of part-time drivers has remained broadly stable at around 21%.

Passenger Journeys: Habits and Preferences

The National Travel Survey (NTS) provides valuable insights into how people use taxis and PHVs. In 2020, the average person in England made 6 taxi or PHV trips and travelled 28 miles, a sharp fall from 11 trips and 59 miles in 2019, primarily due to pandemic restrictions. Trip duration also decreased from around 20 minutes to 16 minutes, potentially reflecting shorter journeys or reduced traffic.

Leisure purposes accounted for over half (51%) of all taxi and PHV trips in 2020, mirroring 2019 figures. Other common reasons included commuting (17%), personal business (13%), shopping (9%), and education (7%). Most people (66%) rarely use these services, taking at most two trips per year, an increase from 58% in 2019. Around 21% use them at least once a month, and 6% weekly, both figures down from pre-pandemic levels. Unsurprisingly, those with mobility difficulties rely more heavily on these services, averaging 13 trips per person per year compared to 6 trips for those without difficulties. People in households without car access also made significantly more trips (18 per person) than those with car access (4 per person). While trip frequency was similar across income levels, higher income quintiles tended to travel further by taxi or PHV.

Customer Satisfaction: A Look at Public Perception

Public satisfaction with taxi and PHV services provides a critical barometer of industry performance. Data from the National Highways and Transport Public Satisfaction Survey for 2021, covering areas outside London, indicates an overall satisfaction rate of 64%, consistent with previous years. Key findings revealed 68% passenger satisfaction with the reliability and availability of taxis and PHVs, while satisfaction with cost was lower at 53%.

Interestingly, frequent users (at least once a month) reported higher overall satisfaction (69%) compared to non-users (63%), a pattern observed across other satisfaction elements. Furthermore, among frequent users, those with a disability expressed higher satisfaction (73%) than those without (68%), highlighting the importance of these services for individuals with specific mobility needs.

The Fleet of Tomorrow: Fuel & Age Trends

These next sections present experimental statistics, offering new insights into the characteristics of the taxi and PHV fleet in England by matching licensing data with DVLA vehicle information. While still undergoing development, these figures provide a robust indication of trends.

Fuel Type of Taxis and PHVs

As of March 2022, diesel remained the most common fuel type for taxis, accounting for 79% of the fleet. However, London showed a lower reliance on diesel (62%) due to a significant proportion of range-extended electric taxis (36%), a fuel type less common outside the capital. For PHVs, diesel also led at 51%, followed by hybrid electric at 35% and petrol at 5%, with battery electric vehicles making up 5% of the fleet. London's PHV fleet had a lower proportion of diesel (32%) and a higher proportion of hybrid electric (47%) compared to the rest of England.

Notably, the taxi and PHV fleet has a different fuel mix compared to the overall car fleet in Great Britain. Diesel and hybrid electric vehicles are more prevalent among taxis and PHVs, while petrol cars are less common. Battery electric or range-extended electric vehicles also constitute a higher proportion of the taxi (11%) and PHV (5%) fleets than for cars generally (1%), indicating a move towards greener transport options in the for-hire sector.

Age of Taxis and PHVs

The PHV fleet is generally younger than the taxi fleet. As of March 2022, 37% of PHVs were under 6 years old, compared to 31% of taxis. The average age of a taxi in England was 7.4 years, while PHVs averaged 6.2 years. Both are younger than the average car in Great Britain (8.8 years), which is consistent with the higher mileage expectations for taxis and PHVs. Regional variations exist, with London taxis averaging 6.0 years, while those in the North West and West Midlands averaged 9.0 years.

When combining fuel type and age, it's clear that petrol and diesel vehicles tend to be older on average, reflecting their long-standing presence. Newer technologies, such as battery electric PHVs, have a much younger average age, at just 1.2 years, signalling the recent adoption of these more sustainable options.

Most Common Vehicle Models

The most common taxi models as of March 2022 were the London Taxis International TX4 (17%) and the London Electric Vehicle Company TX (10%), reflecting their iconic status and London's specific requirements. Other popular taxi models included the Mercedes Vito (9%) and Skoda Octavia (5%). For PHVs, the Toyota Prius (21%) dominated, followed by the Toyota Auris (7%), Mercedes E-class (6%), and Skoda Octavia (6%), highlighting the preference for fuel-efficient and reliable models in the private hire sector.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between a taxi and a Private Hire Vehicle (PHV) in England?

A taxi, or hackney carriage, can be hailed directly from the street or picked up at a taxi rank. It is available for immediate hire. A Private Hire Vehicle (PHV), also known as a minicab, must be pre-booked through a licensed operator and cannot be hailed from the street or wait at taxi ranks. They operate under different licensing regulations.

How many licensed taxis and PHVs are there in England?

As of March 2022, there were a total of 260,700 licensed taxis and Private Hire Vehicles in England. This figure includes both the 58,000 licensed taxis and 202,700 licensed PHVs across the country, showing a slight increase in overall vehicle numbers from the previous year.

Are taxis and PHVs becoming more accessible for wheelchair users?

Yes, there is a continued push for greater accessibility. In England, 14% of all licensed vehicles were wheelchair accessible in 2022, with 55% of taxis and 2% of PHVs meeting this standard. All taxis in London are required to be wheelchair accessible. Additionally, more authorities are now requiring disability awareness training for drivers and maintaining lists of accessible vehicles.

What are the main reasons people use taxis and PHVs in England?

In 2020, over half (51%) of all taxi and PHV trips were for leisure purposes. Other significant reasons included commuting (17%), personal business (13%), shopping (9%), and education (7%). Usage patterns were heavily impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, leading to a reduction in overall trips compared to previous years.

How has the coronavirus pandemic affected the taxi and PHV industry?

The pandemic significantly impacted the industry, leading to a sharp fall in the number of licensed vehicles in 2021 and a continued decline in licensed driver numbers into 2022. Passenger trips also saw a substantial reduction in 2020. While vehicle numbers showed a slight recovery in 2022, driver numbers continued to fall, suggesting a lag effect as licences expired for those who stopped driving during the lockdowns.

Conclusion

The 2022 statistics paint a detailed picture of England's taxi and PHV industry, highlighting its resilience and ongoing evolution. Despite the lingering effects of the coronavirus pandemic, which significantly impacted driver numbers and passenger journeys, the sector demonstrates a slight recovery in licensed vehicles. Significant strides are being made in accessibility and safeguarding, with increased mandates for wheelchair accessible vehicles, disability awareness training, and rigorous security checks. The shift towards greener fuel types and the younger average age of the PHV fleet suggest a sector adapting to modern demands and environmental considerations. As an indispensable part of urban and rural transport, the taxi and PHV industry continues to navigate challenges while striving to provide safe, reliable, and increasingly accessible services for all.

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