Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles
https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/taxis-and-minicabs/book-a-Taxi
Black Cabs
London’s black cabs can be hailed on the street or at designated ranks situated in places such as mainline rail, Tube and bus stations. They can also be booked by telephone.
Taxi cab fares in London are regulated by the government, and fall into three categories based on the date and time of journey. Transport for London provides information on how fares are calculated.
https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/taxis-and-minicabs/what-to-expect-from-your-journey#on-this-page-6
General Accessibility
- All black cabs are wheelchair accessible, but please note that not all wheelchairs fit into the vehicles. Please check with Black Cabs for size restrictions for wheelchairs and mobility scooters.
- Assistance dogs are allowed on board
- Accomodation of smaller models of mobility scooter
- A wheelchair ramp folds out from the floor of the London Cab, allowing wheelchair users to enter the taxi
Most black cabs have a variety of additional aids for travelers, including:
- Ramps
- Swivel seat
- Intermediate step
- Seat sight patches
- Large coloured grab handles
- Intercom
- Induction loop
Private Hire Vehicles (PHVs)
PHVs offer a wide range of vehicles including minicabs, chauffeur and executive cars and limousines. Journeys must be booked through a licensed private hire operator, and Private Hire Vehicles cannot be hailed or approached on the street. Fares are at the discretion of the operator, and most operators have set fares including a minimum fare per journey.
You can find a licensed local PHV operator here: https://tfl.gov.uk/forms/12389.aspx
General Accessibility
- As most minicabs use saloon cars, they are not wheelchair accessible
- PHVs are obliged to carry assistance dogs for no extra charge
- Please check whether the PHV of your choice meets all your access requirements prior to your journey
Mobile application based PHVs
Some PHV providers use mobile applications as the primary means of hailing a vehicle. Below is a list of app-based PHV providers who are licensed by TFL and operate in London. Please note that not all of the following companies have an accessibility page, so we would like to ask you to get in touch with them prior to booking a journey to ensure their vehicles are suited for your needs. If a company listed their accessibility information on their website, you can find it below.
UberAccess and UberAssist
The PHV hailing mobile app Uber offers accessible vehicles for their customers. All information can be found on their website.
General Accessibility
- Uber Access vehicles are equipped with a rear-entry ramp and securement restraint
- Uber Assist is an option for people who need additional assistance in a traditional UberX journey (UberX is the standard saloon vehicle)
- This is suitable for:
- Older passengers
- Anxious passengers
- Passengers with assistance dogs
- Passengers with foldable wheelchairs
- Visually impaired passengers
- Deaf or hard of hearing passengers
Gett
The PHV hailing mobile app Gett offers on-demand taxis.
Phone: 0207 397 4300
Ola
Ola offers on-demands taxis in London.
Bolt
App-based on-demand taxis in London.
FreeNow
Freenow is an on-demand taxi app previously known as MyTaxi.
Accessibility: https://support.free-now.com/hc/en-ie/articles/360020681173–How-do-I-order-a-taxi-
Via (previously ViaVan)
Via is a ride-sharing app that lets drivers pick up multiple passengers and drop them off at designated locations
Green Tomato Cars
Environmentally friendly PHV operator using zero-emission vehicles only. Green Tomato Cars partner with London Black Cabs to service wheelchair accessible vehicle requests.
https://www.greentomatocars.com/
Addison Lee
Premium taxis in London.
Last updated: March 2021
