TfL-licensed private hire taxis (PHV) across London. Pre-booked only, fixed fares, ULEZ-compliant fleet.
CabsOn operates as a Transport for London licensed private hire taxi service across Greater London. Every vehicle is a registered TfL Private Hire Vehicle (PHV), every driver holds a current TfL PHV badge, every job is pre-booked through dispatch or online, and every fare is quoted upfront before booking.
Private hire taxis in London are distinct from black cabs (hackney carriages) in two ways: they cannot be flagged on the street (pre-booked only), and private hire fares are typically lower over identical routes.
A Transport for London Private Hire Vehicle (PHV) is a passenger vehicle licensed by TfL to carry paying passengers on a pre-booked basis. PHV drivers must:
PHV vehicles must be inspected annually by TfL, hold a valid PHV licence sticker, and meet ULEZ emissions standards (Euro 6 diesel or Euro 4 petrol minimum, or zero-emission).
| Private Hire (PHV) | Black Cab (Hackney) | |
|---|---|---|
| Booking | Pre-booked only | Can be flagged on street |
| Pricing | Fixed fare quoted upfront | Meter (varies with traffic) |
| Knowledge requirement | Topographical assessment | The Knowledge (3 to 4 years) |
| Typical cost | Typically lower | Higher (especially in traffic) |
| Vehicle | Saloon, MPV, executive | Black cab body style |
Default choice for solo travel, couples and pairs heading to the airport. Modern petrol-hybrid or fully electric saloons across the fleet.
Choose this when bags outnumber people. A standard family of four with full check-in luggage fits cleanly in an estate where a saloon would not.
Business class transport for corporate travellers, visiting clients and hotel transfers. The default for premium-postcode airport runs.
Single-vehicle transport for groups of up to 8. Common on hen and stag bookings, sports teams, family airport runs and corporate group transfers.
Flagship class for VIP travel, weddings, premium events and corporate visiting directors. Hourly hire from 4 hours minimum or fixed-route.
Pickup time auto-adjusts to actual landing. No driver-side panic if your flight runs late.
Plenty of buffer for immigration, baggage claim and customs at the busiest airport hours.
The £5 forecourt fee at every UK airport is in the quote, not added at the kerb. Same with London congestion charge and ULEZ.
Driver waits at the terminal arrivals exit with a name board. No extra charge.
Pay how you want. Corporate accounts get monthly invoicing with PO numbers and VAT receipts.
Available on request, fitted before pickup. Confirm seat type at booking so we match the right vehicle.
A TfL-licensed Private Hire Vehicle (PHV) is a pre-booked passenger car. PHVs cannot be flagged on the street like black cabs — they must be booked in advance through a licensed operator like CabsOn.
Both operate under the same TfL PHV framework. CabsOn drivers are TfL-licensed, DBS-checked, and operate vehicles inspected annually by TfL.
Yes. The entire CabsOn fleet meets or exceeds ULEZ emission standards. No daily ULEZ charge passed to customers.
Same-day and immediate bookings are accepted subject to driver availability. By law TfL PHVs cannot be flagged on the street — they must be pre-booked, even if pre-booked by 5 minutes.
Yes. Monthly invoicing, PO numbers, named-passenger booking, VAT receipts. Contact us to open a business account.
