Forget the quiet hum of an engine idling at the curb; Britain's taxi industry is a powerhouse roaring with a £9.49 billion annual revenue, driving everything from iconic black cabs to app-based rides deep into the heart of our economy and daily lives.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, the UK taxi and private hire market generated total revenue of £9.49 billion, marking a 14.7% increase from the previous year.
- The UK black cab taxi segment alone contributed £2.1 billion to the market revenue in 2022.
- Private hire vehicles (PHVs) accounted for 78% of the total UK taxi market revenue in 2023.
- As of 2023, there were 298,800 licensed taxis and private hire vehicles in England.
- London had 20,800 licensed black cabs in operation in 2023.
- UK wheelchair accessible taxis numbered 12,400 across England in 2023.
- England had 427,500 licensed taxi/PHV drivers in 2023.
- London licensed 118,000 private hire drivers in 2023.
- 92% of UK taxi drivers were male in 2022.
- In 2023, UK taxis completed 2.8 billion passenger journeys annually.
- London taxis handled 1.1 billion trips in 2023.
- Average UK taxi journey length was 5.2 miles in 2022.
- UK taxi industry conviction rate for drivers: 2.1% in 2023.
- London TfL suspended 1,450 PHV licenses in 2023 for safety violations.
- 97.8% of UK taxis passed annual safety inspections in 2023.
The UK taxi industry is booming with strong post-pandemic revenue growth.
Driver and Employment Data
- England had 427,500 licensed taxi/PHV drivers in 2023.
- London licensed 118,000 private hire drivers in 2023.
- 92% of UK taxi drivers were male in 2022.
- Average UK taxi driver worked 52 hours per week in 2023.
- Manchester had 12,500 licensed PHV drivers in 2023.
- 65% of UK taxi drivers were over 50 years old in 2023.
- Birmingham taxi/PHV drivers numbered 18,200 in 2023.
- Annual taxi driver license renewal rate was 89% in England 2023.
- Liverpool licensed 7,900 taxi drivers in 2023.
- Average UK taxi driver annual income was £32,500 in 2023.
- Glasgow had 4,200 licensed taxi drivers in 2023.
- 22% of UK PHV drivers held dual licenses (hackney + PHV) in 2023.
- Edinburgh taxi drivers totaled 6,800 in 2023.
- Leeds PHV drivers numbered 10,200 in 2023.
- UK taxi industry employed 460,000 full-time equivalents in 2022.
- Bristol licensed 5,100 drivers in 2023.
- Sheffield taxi drivers: 3,500 in 2023.
- Nottingham had 5,600 PHV drivers in 2023.
- Newcastle drivers totaled 6,300 in 2023.
- 8% growth in female taxi drivers in UK from 2020-2023.
- Oxford licensed 2,800 drivers in 2023.
- Coventry PHV drivers: 4,000 in 2023.
- Average training hours for new UK PHV drivers: 28 hours in 2023.
- UK taxi driver DBS check compliance rate: 98.5% in 2023.
Driver and Employment Data Interpretation
The UK taxi industry is a hard-working, predominantly older male workforce putting in serious hours to keep the country moving, but it’s slowly inching towards change as more women join and compliance remains reassuringly high.
Market Size and Revenue
- In 2022, the UK taxi and private hire market generated total revenue of £9.49 billion, marking a 14.7% increase from the previous year.
- The UK black cab taxi segment alone contributed £2.1 billion to the market revenue in 2022.
- Private hire vehicles (PHVs) accounted for 78% of the total UK taxi market revenue in 2023.
- London taxi market revenue reached £3.8 billion in 2022, representing 40% of the national total.
- The average annual revenue per black cab in the UK was £145,000 in 2021.
- UK taxi industry saw a 22% revenue growth in Q4 2023 compared to Q4 2019 pre-pandemic levels.
- Total UK PHV market value projected to hit £11.2 billion by 2027.
- Manchester taxi revenue estimated at £450 million annually in 2022.
- UK minicab sector revenue grew by 18.3% year-on-year in 2023 to £7.4 billion.
- Average daily revenue per UK taxi driver was £250 in urban areas in 2023.
- Edinburgh taxi market revenue stood at £180 million in 2022.
- UK taxi app-based services revenue reached £2.5 billion in 2023.
- Birmingham private hire revenue approximated £320 million in 2023.
- National taxi industry GDP contribution was £12.4 billion in 2021.
- Liverpool taxi revenue totaled £150 million in 2022.
- UK wheelchair accessible taxi revenue segment was £450 million in 2023.
- Glasgow taxi market generated £220 million in revenue in 2022.
- Overall UK taxi fares collected amounted to £10.1 billion in 2023.
- Bristol private hire revenue reached £110 million annually in 2023.
- UK executive taxi/chauffeur services revenue was £1.8 billion in 2022.
- Leeds taxi industry revenue estimated at £200 million in 2023.
- UK airport transfer taxi revenue hit £900 million in 2023.
- Sheffield taxi revenue was £95 million in 2022.
- Nottingham private hire market revenue stood at £140 million in 2023.
- UK corporate account taxi spending totaled £1.2 billion in 2022.
- Newcastle taxi revenue approximated £160 million annually in 2023.
- Oxford taxi market revenue was £85 million in 2022.
- UK event-based taxi revenue (concerts, sports) reached £750 million in 2023.
- Coventry private hire revenue estimated at £120 million in 2023.
- Overall UK taxi VAT contributions from fares were £1.9 billion in 2022.
Market Size and Revenue Interpretation
After a bumpy pandemic ride, the UK's taxi and private hire industry is now accelerating like a minicab with a clear lane, with private hire vehicles firmly in the driver's seat, London setting the meter, and the sector's economic engine humming at over £10 billion a year in fares alone.
Passenger Journey Stats
- In 2023, UK taxis completed 2.8 billion passenger journeys annually.
- London taxis handled 1.1 billion trips in 2023.
- Average UK taxi journey length was 5.2 miles in 2022.
- 68% of UK taxi journeys were under 3 miles in 2023.
- Private hire accounted for 85% of total UK taxi passenger miles in 2023.
- Manchester taxis completed 120 million journeys in 2023.
- Peak hour (17-19) saw 28% of daily UK taxi trips in 2023.
- Average taxi wait time for passengers in UK cities: 4.1 minutes in 2023.
- Birmingham recorded 95 million taxi journeys in 2023.
- 42% of UK taxi users were aged 18-34 in 2023 survey.
- Liverpool taxis did 45 million trips annually in 2023.
- Glasgow passenger journeys by taxi: 32 million in 2023.
- Night-time (22-04) UK taxi journeys comprised 19% of total in 2023.
- Edinburgh taxis handled 28 million journeys in 2023.
- Average fare paid per UK taxi journey: £12.40 in 2023.
- Leeds taxi journeys totaled 65 million in 2023.
- 55% of journeys were pre-booked PHVs in UK 2023.
- Bristol recorded 22 million taxi trips in 2023.
- Sheffield journeys by taxi: 18 million in 2023.
- Nottingham taxi passenger miles: 210 million in 2023.
- Newcastle had 38 million taxi journeys in 2023.
- Airport journeys made up 12% of all UK taxi trips in 2023.
- Oxford taxi journeys: 15 million annually in 2023.
- Coventry recorded 25 million journeys in 2023.
- Repeat customer rate for UK taxis: 37% in 2023 loyalty survey.
Passenger Journey Stats Interpretation
While the UK taxi industry is a crucial pillar of the nation's mobility, hauling 2.8 billion souls about, it appears most passengers are taking remarkably short bets against the bus, forking out an average of £12.40 to travel less than three miles, usually in a pre-booked car during the evening rush hour.
Regulatory and Safety Metrics
- UK taxi industry conviction rate for drivers: 2.1% in 2023.
- London TfL suspended 1,450 PHV licenses in 2023 for safety violations.
- 97.8% of UK taxis passed annual safety inspections in 2023.
- England revoked 5,200 taxi driver licenses for criminal offenses in 2023.
- Manchester issued 320 fines for illegal taxi operations in 2023.
- UK taxi accident rate per million miles: 4.2 in 2022.
- Birmingham conducted 28,000 taxi compliance checks in 2023.
- 88% compliance with DBS checks among new drivers in 2023.
- Liverpool revoked 180 taxi licenses for safety issues in 2023.
- Glasgow taxi complaint resolution rate: 94% within 30 days in 2023.
- UK-wide, 1,200 vehicles failed emissions tests leading to suspension in 2023.
- Edinburgh issued 450 operator fines in 2023.
- Leeds safety audit passed 96% of inspected taxis in 2023.
- National unlicensed taxi seizures: 2,800 vehicles in 2023.
- Bristol suspended 120 drivers for insurance lapses in 2023.
- Sheffield insurance compliance rate: 99.2% for taxis in 2023.
- Nottingham reported 0.8 complaints per 1,000 journeys in 2023.
- Newcastle conducted 15,000 vehicle safety tests in 2023.
- 75% of UK councils mandated CCTV in PHVs by 2023.
- Oxford revoked 90 licenses for safeguarding breaches in 2023.
- Coventry zero-tolerance policy led to 250 suspensions in 2023.
- UK taxi passenger assault reports: 1,450 incidents in 2023.
- Average response time to taxi complaints: 7 days nationally in 2023.
Regulatory and Safety Metrics Interpretation
While the vast majority of UK taxi journeys are demonstrably safe and compliant, a persistent and sobering minority of bad actors, from uninsured drivers to serious criminal offenders, necessitates a colossal and unrelenting enforcement effort just to maintain that public trust.
Vehicle Fleet Statistics
- As of 2023, there were 298,800 licensed taxis and private hire vehicles in England.
- London had 20,800 licensed black cabs in operation in 2023.
- UK wheelchair accessible taxis numbered 12,400 across England in 2023.
- Private hire vehicles made up 282,000 of England's total licensed fleet in 2023.
- Manchester licensed 8,500 private hire vehicles in 2023.
- Average age of UK black cab fleet was 7.2 years in 2022.
- Birmingham had 9,200 licensed taxis/PHVs in 2023.
- 45% of UK PHV fleet were electric or hybrid vehicles in 2023.
- Liverpool licensed 4,800 taxis and PHVs in 2023.
- Glasgow had 2,900 licensed taxis in 2023.
- Average UK taxi fleet utilization rate was 68% in 2023.
- Edinburgh private hire vehicles totaled 5,200 in 2023.
- 15,200 zero-emission capable taxis in London by end of 2023.
- Leeds licensed 7,100 PHVs in 2023.
- UK average taxi vehicle mileage per year was 45,000 miles in 2022.
- Bristol had 3,400 licensed taxis/PHVs in 2023.
- Sheffield taxi fleet numbered 2,100 vehicles in 2023.
- Nottingham PHVs totaled 3,800 in 2023.
- Newcastle licensed 4,200 taxis/PHVs in 2023.
- 28% of UK taxi fleet replaced in 2023 due to age limits.
- Oxford had 1,900 licensed vehicles in 2023.
- Coventry taxi/PHV fleet was 2,700 in 2023.
- Average UK PHV seating capacity was 4.8 passengers in 2023.
- UK total licensed hackney carriages: 16,000 in 2023.
Vehicle Fleet Statistics Interpretation
While the capital's iconic black cabs get the limelight, England's taxi industry is predominantly a sprawling, heavily utilized, and surprisingly green army of private hire vehicles, suggesting that getting from A to B is less about hailing a symbol and more about summoning an efficient, increasingly electric fleet from an app.
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