Do London black cabs take contactless?

Paying for your journey All black cab drivers will take contactless credit and/ or debit card payments via a card payment device. Said device may be handheld – therefore, handed to you by the driver for you to use – or fixed for your use in the cab's passenger compartment.



Yes, as of 2026, it is a legal requirement for all licensed London Hackney Carriages (Black Cabs) to accept contactless payments. This mandate was introduced by Transport for London (TfL) to ensure that passengers have a seamless experience without needing cash. Every black cab is equipped with a card terminal, usually located in the passenger compartment or handled by the driver through the partition. You can pay using contactless credit or debit cards, as well as mobile wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay. There is no extra surcharge for using a card; the price you see on the meter is the price you pay. While most drivers prefer card payments due to their efficiency, they are also required to provide a printed receipt upon request. If a driver tells you their "card machine is broken" before you start the journey, they are technically not supposed to be working until it is fixed, and you are within your rights to find another cab. This move to 100% digital acceptance has helped black cabs stay competitive against ride-hailing apps like Uber and Bolt in the busy London transport market.

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Yes, taxis both yellow and black accept credit cards.

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If you're taking one of the famous black cabs, it's customary to tip. If you're traveling by minicab or Uber, things are slightly different. So, how much would I add to the fare in a London taxi? The general consensus is that you add about 10% to the fare when using London's famous Hackney cabs.

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London's famous taxis (black cabs) can be:
  1. Booked in advance - by phone, app or website.
  2. Hailed on the street (when the yellow light is showing)
  3. Picked up from designated taxi ranks.


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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.

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Taxis in London, best known as black cabs, are spacious, comfortable and elegant. They are, however, one of the most expensive in Europe, and similar in price to the taxis in Amsterdam. Different from many taxis around the world, black cabs in London can carry 5 people, as well as the driver.

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The best and the most convenient way to get from heathrow airport to london are taxis. It is easily available outside each terminal. The taxi fare to central London from heathrow is around £45–£70 with a journey time of approx one hour.

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Being paid with cash means drivers have money ready to pay for ongoing costs such as fuel, repairs and maintenance. While many card transactions can be instant, some can take days to process and the driver has to wait for the money to reach their account. They may also pay a charge for each electronic transaction.

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Black cabs are very spacious and there is plenty of space for your luggage. You can take 4 medium and 4 hand luggages on our black cabs. How many passengers can travel on a black cab? All our black cabs have seating for up to 6 passengers.

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The distance you are travelling should impact your choice. Hiring a cab in London is quite economical if you are travelling small distances within the city. The fares will usually stay under your budget for short distance travelling. However, for longer routes, the prices can go a little higher when compared with Uber.

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UBER | Ubers are a cheap taxi into Central London from Heathrow. Most rides cost around £35-40, but you have to call for a driver once you're outside of arrivals and then wait for 10-15 minutes as they enter the airport and come up through into a parking garage.

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Yes, you are; 10% is pretty standard for a London black cab. You don't actually have to tip at all, but I at least round up the change. And once I tipped a taxi driver with a quarter pound of black olives, but that's another story.

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Black Cabs are considered safe because of the processes that have to happen around licenses. Licensed private hire vehicles (minicabs) are considered safe if they have the licence displayed and are pre-booked.

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Tipping taxi drivers 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.

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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.

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