Do London taxi drivers take cash?

For some reason, many visitors tend to believe black cabs only accept cash. This isn't true – it's the 2020s, after all! All black cab drivers will take contactless credit and/ or debit card payments via a card payment device.



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Paying for your journey For some reason, many visitors tend to believe black cabs only accept cash. This isn't true – it's the 2020s, after all! All black cab drivers will take contactless credit and/ or debit card payments via a card payment device.

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In London it is a condition of a taxi driver's licence that payment must be accepted by debit or credit card, using a device approved by TfL, located in the passenger compartment of the cab. Any driver who claims he cannot accept cards is driving an unfit cab.

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The most commonly accepted payment by taxi drivers is cash. For couple reasons as following as cash payment instant cash to spend, there is no waiting for the money to be available in your bank, there is no deduction because cash equals cash, money needs to spend right away it is here to spend and more.

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All black cabs accept payment by credit or debit card without a surcharge.

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Do I need to bring cash to the UK? It's a good idea to have small amounts of cash to hand. You may need coins or notes when parking, or require some for tipping. When paying for small items it can also be simpler to hand over a few coins than a card or a banknote.

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Find a taxi or minicab
  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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Drivers who own their cabs as opposed to renting from a garage are known as "mushers" and those who have just passed the "knowledge" are known as "butter boys". There are currently around 21,000 black cabs in London, licensed by the Public Carriage Office.

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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 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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Tipping is appreciated but not always appropriate in London. There are some situations where it is customary, for example in restaurants.

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Unlike some countries you do not have to tip in the UK. However, there are some unsaid social rules about leaving a tip. For example, if you take a taxi it is normal practice to round up the fare to the nearest pound.

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A taxi driver is obliged to accept passengers which fall within the taxi authorized area and are within 6 miles of the origination of the fare. A taxi driver can refuse a fare if the passenger looks drunk, sick or aggressive.

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Restrictions and Requirements
  • complete a driving skills assessment.
  • have a full UK or EU driving licence, held for at least 12 months, or 3 years if working in London.
  • pass background checks.
  • pass a medical check.
  • be over 18 but over 21 in some areas, including London.


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Why do taxi drivers only take cash? Immediate payment: Cash payments provide immediate payment to the driver without any delay or potential chargebacks, unlike card payments which may be subject to processing times and potential chargebacks.

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