In London, the terminology used for a taxi depends heavily on the type of service being discussed. The iconic, purpose-built vehicles that you can hail on the street are almost universally referred to as "Black Cabs" or simply "Taxis." These drivers are famous for passing "The Knowledge," a rigorous test requiring them to memorize thousands of streets. However, if you are booking a car through a private company via phone or app—where the vehicle is a standard sedan and cannot be hailed on the street—it is called a "minicab." Londoners are quite particular about this distinction because minicabs must be pre-booked by law for insurance and safety reasons. You might also hear the term "Hackney Carriage," though this is more of a formal, legal designation used by the Transport for London (TfL) regulatory body rather than everyday slang. While Uber and other rideshare services have become common, the phrase "getting a cab" usually still conjures the image of the traditional black silhouette of a TX4 or the newer electric LEVC models roaming the West End.