Taxi and Private Hire Driver
Also advertised as: App-based Driver, Minicab Driver, PHV Driver, Private Hire Driver, Taxi and Private Hire Driver, Taxi Driver
Drives passengers to their destination safely, often self-employed via apps or a firm.
What the job involves
Taxi and private hire drivers transport passengers for a fare, either picking up on the street with a hackney carriage licence or via pre-booked jobs through a private hire firm or app. Most drivers are self-employed and set their own hours around demand. Local council licensing rules and vehicle checks must be met before you can start.
Typical responsibilities
- Transport passengers safely to their destination
- Plan efficient routes using local knowledge or satnav
- Maintain the vehicle to a roadworthy and clean standard
- Handle fares and payments
- Follow licensing and safeguarding requirements
Common employers
- Private hire firms
- App-based ride platforms
- Self-employed
- Local taxi companies
Pay, hours and working environment
Typical pay
£18,000 – £24,000 a year
With experience
£24,000 – £32,000 a year
Typical hours
Flexible, often including evenings and weekends for best fares
Working environment
Vehicle cab, varied locations
Remote working
on_site
Demand for this work
steady
Pay ranges are indicative guidance drawn from advertised UK vacancies and published careers information. They are not an offer, and actual pay varies by employer, location and experience.
Skills and qualifications
Core skills
- Safe driving
- Local geography
- Customer service
- Time management
- Basic vehicle maintenance awareness
Transferable skills you may already have
- Driving experience
- Self-employment discipline
- Customer service
Requirements employers ask for
- Safe driving
- Local geography
- Customer service
- Time management
- Basic vehicle maintenance awareness
- Full UK driving licence held for at least one to three years
- Private hire or hackney carriage licence from the local council
- Enhanced DBS check
- Private hire licence from the local council
- Hackney carriage licence (for street-hail taxis)
Useful but not essential
- Driving experience
- Self-employment discipline
- Customer service
- Local topographical knowledge test (for hackney carriage licences)
Helpful qualifications
- Local topographical knowledge test (for hackney carriage licences)
Licences and checks
- Private hire licence from the local council
- Hackney carriage licence (for street-hail taxis)
Ways into this career
A degree is only one route. Where an apprenticeship, work-experience or qualification route exists, it is listed here alongside the academic option.
Apprenticeships and work-based routes
- No standard apprenticeship route
Degree and college routes
- Related subject: No specific subjects required
Where this career can lead
next
Fleet Owner
next
Private Hire Firm Manager
next
Chauffeur
The good parts and the hard parts
What people enjoy
- Flexible, self-employed hours
- Low barrier to entry
- Choose your own working pattern
What people find hard
- Income varies with demand and fuel costs
- No sick pay or holiday pay as self-employed
Common questions
- Do you need a degree to become a taxi and private hire driver?
- No. As well as degree routes, this career can be entered through an apprenticeship or by building experience and qualifications on the job. not_required
- How much does a taxi and private hire driver earn in the UK?
- Typical advertised pay runs from £18,000 to £24,000 a year, rising towards £32,000 with experience. Figures are indicative guidance rather than an offer.
- What skills transfer into this career?
- Skills that transfer well include Driving experience, Self-employment discipline, Customer service.
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Where this information comes from
- National Careers Service
- Institute for Apprenticeships
Last reviewed 14 September 2026.
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