Guidance

Taxi and private hire vehicle statistics, background quality report: 2026

Updated 13 August 2026

Applies to England and Wales

1. Introduction

This background quality report relates to the latest taxi and private hire vehicle (PHV) statistical release: Taxi and private hire vehicle statistics. The purpose of this document is to provide users of these statistics with information about the methodology adopted and quality of the outputs, measured against different dimensions of statistical quality.

As a result, this document helps to demonstrate how the department complies with the Code of Practice for Statistics.

2. About taxi and private hire vehicle (PHV) statistics

The taxi and PHV statistics are compiled primarily from responses to the Department for Transport’s taxi and PHV survey. The survey is issued to all licensing authorities in England and Wales and collects information on licensed taxis, private hire vehicles, drivers and private hire vehicle operators.

The survey also gathers information on licensing policies and practices adopted by licensing authorities, including licensing requirements and restrictions. These reflect how authorities administer their licensing functions and, where applicable, the Department for Transport’s statutory taxi and PHV standards and taxi and PHV licensing best practice guidance.

A copy of the survey questionnaire is available alongside this report.

Additional sources, including the National Travel Survey (NTS), are used to provide contextual information on taxi and PHV use and the wider workforce.

2.1 Licensing authority

For the purposes of these statistics, a licensing authority is the local government body responsible for regulating taxis and PHVs and issuing licences to taxi and PHV drivers, vehicles, and private hire vehicle operators within its licensing area.

In England, responsibility currently lies with the relevant unitary council in areas with a single tier of local government and with district councils in areas with two tiers of local government. In London, Transport for London is responsible for taxi and PHV licensing. A licensing authority is not necessarily the same body as the local transport authority, which is responsible for local transport planning.

The bodies responsible for taxi and PHV licensing may change following local government reorganisation or changes to the statutory allocation of licensing functions. Authorities are classified according to the arrangements in place at the survey reference date. Where new authorities are operating transitional licensing arrangements, data may continue to be collected separately for predecessor licensing areas until policies, systems, and records have been consolidated.

3. Quality

The statistics from the taxi and PHV survey were independently reviewed by the Office for Statistics Regulation in February 2013. They comply with the standards of trustworthiness, quality and value in the Code of Practice for Statistics and are labelled ‘accredited official statistics’.

Where other data sources are used that fall outside the scope of official statistics, they are clearly labelled.

As accredited official statistics, national level taxi and PHV statistics are produced to high professional standards set out in the Code of Practice for Statistics, and many quality control measures are in place to ensure the integrity of the data. Local authority level data are official statistics (not accredited official statistics), as data at that level are not as robust. Some other data sources in the statistical release are outside the scope of the official statistics process. This is indicated in the report and associated data tables.

Data returns are validated by comparing with previous figures and seeking explanations where differences are large or unexpected. This can result in revisions to previous years’ figures, though these are typically minor and are indicated in the table where applicable.

3.1 Reproducibility

The principles of RAP (reproducible analytical pipelines) are used to produce the publication tables and most of the publication charts. RAP principles are also used to automate most of the data validation process.

For more details on how the principles of RAP are being applied in DfT, see the Analysis Function RAP Strategy 2024 Implementation Plan.

3.2 Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic

The 2020 data collection was affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The collection, which would normally have taken place in April and May, was postponed until September 2020.

As some licensing authorities extract information from live administrative systems, the delay may have affected the comparability and accuracy of figures intended to represent the position earlier in the year. The extent of any effect cannot be quantified.

4. Relevance

4.1 Changes to the questionnaire

Several new questions have been added to the survey to reflect changes in policy and user needs:

Year	New questions introduced
2017	Safeguarding measures, including Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks for drivers, child sexual abuse and child sexual exploitation training, and the use of CCTV in licensed vehicles.
2019	Lists of wheelchair accessible vehicles, limits on taxi numbers, medical fitness requirements for driver applicants, and PHV operator licence applications and their outcomes.
2020	Questions to monitor licensing authorities’ implementation of the Statutory taxi and PHV standards, published in July 2020.
2026	Questions on taxi and PHV operators and inclusive service plans.

5. Accuracy and reliability

5.1 Accuracy

Licensing authorities use their own administrative data to monitor vehicles and drivers. This is used to provide figures to DfT in their survey responses. As some authorities use a live reporting system, figures may not always refer to the specified date requested (1 April) during data collection. In general this is thought unlikely to have an impact on the regional and national figures to any great degree, but it is not possible to estimate the size of any effects.

Some authorities can not provide numbers of wheelchair accessible vehicles. Data that have not been provided to us are highlighted in the table.

5.2 Coverage

The survey covers all taxi and PHV licensing authorities in England and Wales. In total there were 263 taxi and PHV licensing authorities in England as at 1 April 2026, and 22 in Wales. For the 2026 survey, responses were received separately from the 3 non-metropolitan districts that make up the unitary authority of Westmorland and Furness, which was formed on 1 April 2023. The 4 districts that make up the new unitary authority of Somerset also provided separate returns for the 2026 survey. This was because these districts still had different licensing policies in place as at 1 April 2026 due to transitional arrangements following the creation of the new unitary authorities. Therefore 290 responses to the survey were received in total.

5.3 Response rates

In 2026, returns were received from all licensing authorities, a response rate of 100%. The response rate has consistently been 100%, and the cooperation of the local authorities is much appreciated.

Some of the information collected through the survey is included in the Single Data List, which sets out the datasets that local government is required to submit to central government. This statutory requirement helps ensure the completeness and consistency of the data collected.

6. Timeliness and punctuality

6.1 Timeliness

The survey reference period used for the most recent findings is 1 April 2026. However, some of the external data sources have different reference periods, and these are indicated throughout the survey, at the start of the relevant section (e.g. National Travel Survey). The latest statistical release was published in August 2026.

6.2 Survey frequency

The frequency and content of the taxi and PHV statistics have changed over time.

Between 2005 and 2017, the survey was conducted and the statistics were published biennially. From 2018, the survey was generally conducted annually. No survey was conducted in 2025.

6.3 Punctuality

The Department aims to publish the statistics during the summer, with the planned publication date announced in advance on the GOV.UK release calendar.

The timing of publication depends on the receipt, validation and quality assurance of data returns from licensing authorities. Where responses are delayed or require further clarification, publication may take place later than initially planned to ensure that the statistics meet the required quality standards.

Any change to a pre-announced publication date will be communicated transparently through the release calendar, in line with the Code of Practice for Statistics.

7. Coherence and comparability

The taxi and PHV statistics provide a consistent time series for most key measures from 2005 onwards. Where changes have been made to the questionnaire or methodology, these are described in the data tables or Changes to the questionnaire section and users should consider these when making comparisons over time.

The statistics are based on administrative data supplied by licensing authorities in England and Wales. Differences in local licensing policies and practices may affect the comparability of some measures between authorities.

Comparable statistics for Scotland and Northern Ireland are published separately by the relevant administrations using different data collections and methodologies.

8. Accessibility and clarity

The statistics are published annually on GOV.UK alongside this methodology, data tables and supporting documentation. The data tables are available in accessible spreadsheet formats to enable further analysis and reuse.

Users requiring the information in an alternative format or wishing to provide feedback on the publication can contact localtransport.statistics@dft.gov.uk.

9. Cost and burden

9.1 Respondent burden

In previous editions of this publication, the median time required to complete the survey was estimated to be 120 minutes. Following an ad hoc user feedback survey conducted in 2025, this estimate has been revised. The feedback survey received 125 responses from licensing authorities and found that the median time required to complete the taxi and PHV survey was between 1 and 2 hours. The feedback also showed that 84% of respondents considered the time required to complete the survey to be reasonable.

New and ongoing data requirements are considered through the Central and Local Information Partnership (CLIP), which provides a forum for assessing and managing the burden that data collections place on local authorities.

10. Strengths of the data

10.1 Long-term and continuous

The survey first ran in its current format in 2005, although some data is available as far back as 1965. The key questions on the numbers of licensed drivers, vehicles, and operators allow for long-term trends to be monitored. However, over the years, the survey has been amended to reflect the changing demands of stakeholders.

10.2 Coverage

The survey is sent to all taxi and PHV licensing authorities in England and Wales. Response rates have consistently been very high, with all authorities responding in recent years. This ensures the published statistics provide comprehensive national and regional coverage rather than estimates based on a sample.

10.3 Administrative data

The statistics are based on administrative data held by licensing authorities as part of their statutory licensing functions. Using administrative data reduces respondent burden.

11. Limitations

11.1 Comparability

Licensing authorities use their own administrative data to monitor vehicles and drivers. This is used to provide figures to the Department for Transport (DfT) in their survey responses. As some authorities use a live reporting system, figures may not always refer to the specified date requested (1 April for data) for data collection. In general, this is thought unlikely to have an impact on the regional and national figures to any great degree. However, the delay to the data collection for 2020 from April and May to September due to the COVID-19 pandemic may have increased the impact for that year, but it is not possible to estimate the size of any effects. The use of a live database by licensing authorities to provide data often means that revised data for previous years cannot always be accurately provided when it is known that the data previously supplied was incorrect.

11.2 Self-reported administrative data

The survey relies on licensing authorities accurately extracting and reporting information from their administrative systems and relevant policies. Although validation checks are carried out by DfT and authorities are contacted where responses appear inconsistent or unusual, errors in source data or reporting may remain.

Information on licensing policies and practices is based on responses provided by licensing authorities. These responses reflect each authority’s interpretation of the survey questions and the policies in place at the reference date. Changes made after the reference date are not reflected until the next data collection.

11.3 Licensees

The survey captures the numbers of licensed PHV operators, licensed drivers, and licensed vehicles in each licensing authority, but not the numbers of licensed drivers and licensed vehicles by operator. Therefore, the survey does not capture information on the market share of different operators or the geographical spread of operators. The data collected will cover PHV operators and drivers who use app-based technology. However, we are not able to disaggregate which drivers are using these apps in the figures presented.

It should also be noted that the statistics relate to the number of licences issued rather than the number of individual drivers. Some drivers may hold licences issued by more than one licensing authority and, where this occurs, each licence is counted separately in the data returned by authorities. As a result, the total number of driver licences does not directly equate to the number of individual licensed drivers.

11.4 Journey details

The taxi and PHV survey does not capture any details about journeys, such as the origin and destination, or journey purpose. It also does not capture any details of whether the journeys were booked via an app, nor the journey start and end times. Data on the types of journeys taken are presented based on analysis of the NTS.

11.5 Passenger details

The survey does not capture any details of the people using taxis or PHVs, such as their demographics, journey satisfaction, or the reasons behind their travel mode choice. Information on this can be obtained from other data sources such as the NTS, findings from which are included in the release.

11.6 Snapshot in time

The statistics represent the position at the survey reference date (1 April) and do not capture changes that occur throughout the year. Authorities experiencing significant changes after the reference date will not be reflected until the following year’s publication.

11.7 Item non-response

Although returns are received from all licensing authorities, this does not necessarily mean that every question is completed. In some cases, licensing authorities are unable to extract the requested information from their administrative systems, while in others a question may not be applicable to their licensing arrangements. Where data are unavailable, this is reflected in the published statistics and users should consider this when interpreting the results.

Licensing authorities have discretion in how they administer certain aspects of taxi and PHV licensing within the legislative framework. As a result, some differences between authorities may reflect local licensing policies or administrative practices rather than underlying differences in the taxi and PHV market.

12. Other dimensions of quality

12.1 Revisions

Figures for previous years may be revised when more complete or corrected information becomes available. Revisions are made in line with the Department for Transport’s revisions policy and the Code of Practice for Statistics.

Any revised figures will be clearly labelled in the accompanying data tables or statistical release, with an explanation of the nature and, where relevant, the scale and impact of the change.

13. Other data sources

Within the statistical release, other data sources have been used in addition to the taxi and PHV survey to provide a more complete picture of the taxi and PHV sector.

13.1 National Travel Survey (NTS)

The NTS is a household survey of personal travel by residents of England travelling within Great Britain, from data collected via interviews and a 7-day travel diary. Data from the NTS can be used to analyse the demographics of taxi and PHV users and the types of journeys users make. Data from the NTS have been designated as accredited official statistics. Further details on the NTS is available.

13.2 Labour Force Survey

Until 2025, data from the Labour Force Survey were used in this publication to provide information on the profile of taxi and PHV drivers.

From the 2026 publication, LFS analysis has been temporarily suspended. Taxi and PHV drivers represent a relatively small occupation within the survey sample, resulting in estimates with a high degree of uncertainty. In light of the ongoing transition to the Transformed Labour Force Survey (TLFS) and concerns about the robustness of estimates for small occupations identified using SOC codes, this analysis has been withdrawn. We will review the reintroduction of labour market analysis when suitable data becomes available.

We welcome feedback on this publication and suggestions for future improvements. Please contact us at localtransport.statistics@dft.gov.uk.

The Labour Force Survey is run by the Office for National Statistics. It is a household study which collects data on the employment circumstances of the UK population. The Labour Force Survey has previously been used in the statistical release to provide information on the profile of taxi or PHV drivers. Further information on the Labour Force Survey is available.

13.3 National Register of Refusals, Revocations and Suspensions (NR3S)

NR3S is an operational database maintained by the National Anti-Fraud Network (NAFN), containing records of all searches and entries carried out by licensing authorities. The figures are therefore management information, and not official statistics.

Use of the NR3S database was optional for licensing authorities during the year ending 31 March 2023. Use of the database has since been made mandatory in England (but not Wales) from April 2023 onwards. Prior to this, licensing authorities received access to the database at different times. Therefore, caution should be exercised when attempting to make any comparisons between authorities before April 2023. Differences between authorities may also reflect variations in local licensing activity and the way the database is used, rather than underlying differences in licensing standards or behaviour.

13.4 Statistics on taxi and PHV age and fuel type

Statistics on the age and fuel type of taxis and PHVs were previously published as ‘official statistics in development’ label, formerly called experimental statistics. Official statistics in development are official statistics that are temporarily undergoing a development and are being tested with users, in line with the standards of trustworthiness, quality, and value in the Code of Practice for Statistics. These statistics were produced by matching records from the taxi and PHV centralised database with DVLA vehicle data.

From the 2026 publication, we have temporarily suspended this analysis while we carry out further methodological work and assess the quality and robustness of the resulting statistics. This includes reviewing data coverage, record matching, the treatment of vehicles that change licence type or licensing authority, and the geographical allocation of vehicles.

Previously published statistics remain available in earlier releases, together with information about their known strengths and limitations. We will review whether to reinstate the analysis once the methodological work has been completed and we are satisfied that the statistics are sufficiently robust to support appropriate use.

14. Terminology

Term	Definition
Taxi	Also known as a hackney carriage. Taxis are available for immediate hire, can be hailed in the street (known as “plying for hire”), and can also accept pre-bookings.
Private hire vehicle (PHV)	Also known as a minicab. PHVs must be pre-booked through a licensed PHV operator and cannot use taxi ranks. It is illegal for PHVs to ply for hire.
Private hire vehicle (PHV) operator	A licensed business or individual that accepts and dispatches bookings for PHVs. Drivers cannot legally accept PHV bookings directly unless they are operating through a licensed PHV operator.
Licensing authority	The local government body responsible for regulating taxis and PHVs and issuing licences to drivers, vehicles and operators within its licensing area. Examples include district councils, unitary authorities and Transport for London.
Wheelchair accessible vehicle (WAV)	A vehicle designed to allow a person seated in a registered wheelchair to enter, leave and travel in the vehicle whilst remaining in the wheelchair. Wheelchair accessible vehicles may include both taxis and PHVs.
Dual licence	A single licence allowing a driver to operate both taxis and private hire vehicles.
Driver licence	A licence permitting an individual to drive a taxi, PHV, or both. Statistics relate to licences issued and not necessarily unique individuals.
Licensing policy statement	A unified policy document bringing together licensing procedures and requirements, including vehicle standards and licensing conditions.
Convictions policy	A policy detailing the criteria used to determine whether existing licence holders or new applicants are suitable to operate taxis or PHVs based on their criminal convictions history.
Disclosure and barring service (DBS) check	A criminal record check carried out through the Disclosure and Barring Service, resulting in a DBS certificate issued to an individual.
Barred list check	An additional component of an enhanced DBS check that identifies individuals who are barred from working with children or vulnerable adults.
Disability awareness training	Training intended to help drivers understand and meet their legal responsibilities towards disabled passengers.
Child sexual abuse (CSA) and child sexual exploitation (CSE) training	Training designed to help drivers recognise and report signs of child sexual abuse and child sexual exploitation.
County lines training	Training intended to help drivers identify and report signs of criminal exploitation associated with county lines drug trafficking.
National Register of Refusals, Revocations and Suspensions (NR3S)	A database maintained by the National Anti-Fraud Network (NAFN) that enables licensing authorities to record and search information relating to taxi and PHV licence refusals, revocations and suspensions.
Out-of-area working	The practice whereby a taxi or PHV driver or vehicle is licensed by one authority but undertakes journeys predominantly in another area.
Wheelchair accessible vehicle list	A list maintained by a licensing authority identifying licensed vehicles that are designated as wheelchair accessible under the Equality Act 2010.

15. Instructions for printing and saving

Depending on which browser you use and the type of device you use (such as a mobile or laptop) these instructions may vary.

You will find your print and save options in your browser’s menu. You may also have other options available on your device. Tablets and mobile device instructions will be specific to the make and model of the device.

16. How to search

Select Ctrl and F on a Windows laptop or Command and F on a Mac.

This will open a search box in the top right-hand corner of the page. Type the word you are looking for in the search bar and press enter.

Your browser will highlight the word, usually in yellow, wherever it appears on the page. Press enter to move to the next place it appears.

17. Contact details

Taxi statistics

Email localtransport.statistics@dft.gov.uk

Media enquiries 0300 7777 878

To hear more about DfT statistical publications as they are released, follow us on X at DfTstats.