Private Hire or Black Cab at Heathrow?

Two different types of licensed vehicle

In London, “taxi” in the legal sense means a hackney carriage — the familiar black cab. Black cabs can be hailed in the street or taken from a rank, including the official ranks outside each Heathrow terminal, and charge using a regulated meter.

Private hire vehicles (sometimes called minicabs) must be booked in advance through a licensed operator. They cannot be hailed and cannot pick up from a taxi rank. The price is normally agreed when you book.

When a black cab makes sense

If you have not pre-booked, a black cab from the rank is the simplest option: you walk out, join the queue and go. London cabs are wheelchair accessible and drivers have passed the famous Knowledge of London.

When pre-booked private hire makes sense

• You want to know the price before you travel
• You want a driver waiting for you in arrivals
• You need a larger vehicle for family or group luggage
• You are travelling outside London, where metered fares can be high
• You are booking for someone else, such as a visiting client or relative

Check the operator is licensed

Whichever you choose, use a licensed service. Private hire operators, drivers and vehicles must be licensed by a licensing authority — in London that is Transport for London, elsewhere the local council. Ask the operator who licenses them and check the details if you are unsure.