To hail a cab, simply stick your arm out as it approaches and they will pull over for you. Talk to the driver at the front window and explain where you need to get to, then jump in the back. Black cabs can carry five passengers: three on the back seat and two on the fold-down seats that face opposite.
Can you just hail a cab in London?
London’s official taxis, black cabs can be hailed in the street or at designated ranks located in prominent places, including many train, Tube and bus stations. They can also be booked through the Gett app and by phone. If the yellow taxi sign on the front is illuminated, the cab is available for hire.
Can you hail a taxi in UK?
Yes, unless you’re flagging down a black taxi. Don’t flag down a private hire taxi on the street, even if it has a visible license plate and the driver looks okay. It’s not safe to get in an unbooked private hire taxi and it’s illegal for the driver to pick you up if you haven’t booked in advance.
Can you flag a taxi down in London?
In London it is legal to flag down a licensed taxi (black cab). They are licensed with what use to be called the Public Carriage Office, which is now part of Transport for London (TfL), here is a link, Licensing .
How do you pay for taxis in London?
All taxi drivers must accept card and contactless payments via the approved TfL fixed card payment device located in the passenger compartment and provide printed receipts for those payments upon request. Handheld payment devices do not meet the licensing requirements and are regarded as unapproved devices.
Is it easy to hail a black cab in London?
Getting a London black cab is extremely easy as there are thousands of them bustling around the city centre. You can choose to take one from the street as it passes by, walk to a designated taxi rank or call a local London taxi company.
How much do you tip a cab driver in London?
10 to 15%
It is polite to tip 10 to 15% of the taxi fare for black cabs and licensed minicabs in London. However, most people simply round up the fare to the nearest £1 and tell the driver to “keep the change”.
Can you flag down a taxi in the UK?
Types of vehicles
Hackney carriages can be hired from taxi ranks and you can flag them down in the street. Private hire vehicles have to be pre-booked through a licensed operator, either over the phone or through an app, and you cannot flag them down in the street.
Is it illegal to hail a taxi?
One thing many passengers may not be aware of is it is actually illegal to hail a taxi cab in motion. A taxi should only be approached at its allotted place – the taxi rank, in which no other vehicle is allowed to park.
Is hailing a taxi illegal?
The simple act of stubbing out a cigarette or lighting up another can lay a driver open to driving without due care and attention. Having wet shoes could make you unfit to drive. Alternative transport such as a taxi could be equally fraught. It is still technically illegal, says Focus, to shout “taxi” to hail a cab.
Can a London taxi refuse to take you?
A driver of a taxi (or hackney carriage) can only refuse to carry passengers within a controlled district if he has reasonable excuse to do so. What constitutes “reasonable excuse” is ultimately a matter for a court of law to determine.
Can you get fined for waiting in a taxi rank?
Private hire vehicles must never stop or wait in taxi ranks, or the driver will be subject to a Penalty Charge Notice and potentially licensing action.
Why do London taxis have a tight turning circle?
2. The black cab is designed to have a turning circle of 25ft. This allows taxis to manoeuvre in tight spaces and for them to navigate London’s roads more easily.
Do London taxis take cash or card?
First, you should know that all black cabs take credit or debit cards and contactless payment methods. While cash remains the standard form of payment, every black taxi carries card payment devices. The device can be fixed or handheld, but most taxis have it installed in the passenger compartment.
How much is a 30 minute taxi ride in London?
Typical fares and journey times
| Distance | Approx journey time | Every night 22:00 – 05:00 Public holidays (Tariff 3) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 miles | 10 – 20 mins | £11.60 – £17 |
| 4 miles | 16 – 30 mins | £20 – £29 |
| 6 miles | 28 – 40 mins | £33 – £37 |
| Between Heathrow and Central London | 30 – 60 mins | £52 – £97 |
Do London taxis accept debit cards?
Taxi drivers are also required to display stickers showing they do, in fact, accept contactless and card payments in their vehicles. Therefore, if you’re wondering do London taxis take credit cards and do black cabs take cards, the short and quick answer is “yes”.
Do London taxi drivers make a lot of money?
How much does a London cabbie earn? Driving for a good operator means you can easily earn the London living wage (£11.05 an hour) or more.
How much do London black cab drivers earn?
Average £42,706 per year
Is this useful?
Are London taxi drivers well paid?
As London cab drivers are self-employed and dictate how many hours they work, the role – and therefore the salary – is highly individualised. Estimates indicate that the average taxi driver earns around £625 per week.
Is it rude not to tip a taxi driver?
You should tip your taxi driver at least 15 to 20% of your trip fare. If you think of giving anything less than 10%, you might as well leave without tipping at all. If your fare is less than $10, leave a tip of not less than a dollar. Something like a 50-cent tip is insulting and more of a hassle to come up with.
Is it rude not to tip UK?
Tipping is not expected in Britain the way it is in some other countries. Workers don’t officially have to rely on their tips to live and all staff in the UK must be paid at least the National Minimum Wage.