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All the information you need on London taxis, including the differences between black cabs and minicabs.
You’re probably here for London taxi information. If you’d like to book a taxi, just visit our instant quote and book page.
There are two types of taxi in London, but only one that is officially called a ‘taxi’. Technically, a London taxi is a black cab. You can get an estimated quote for a black cab journey here. However, most people around the world, the rest of Britain and indeed London itself call a taxi any kind of car with a driver who takes you where you want to go for a fare. This includes meter taxis like London black cabs and fixed fare, private hire cabs. These are known as minicabs. They’re a bit cheaper and you can get a quote here.
| London Taxi | London Minicab | |
|---|---|---|
| Known As | Taxi, black cab, cab | Taxi, cab, minicab |
| Official Name | Hackney Carriage | Private Hire Vehicle |
| Pricing Method | Meter | Fixed Fare |
| Booking Method | Hail in Street | Book in Advance, ubiCabs apps |
| Navigation Method | The Knowledge | Sat Nav |
| Payment Method | Usually cash, some take cards. | Usually cash, or card with apps |
| Availability in Central London | High | High |
| Availability in Outer London | Low | High |
| Car Types | Traditional black cabs, few larger vans | Saloons, estates, people carriers/minivans, luxury cars |
| Pricing | Usually more expensive | Usually cheaper |
| Get a Quote | Here | Here |
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