In the UK, the terminology for taxis is split between tradition and modern usage. The most common general term is "Taxi," but the iconic London vehicles are almost always referred to as "Black Cabs" or "Hackney Carriages." These are the only vehicles legally allowed to be hailed on the street or picked up at a rank. Outside of these, people frequently use the term "Minicab," which refers to a Private Hire Vehicle (PHV) that must be pre-booked via an app or telephone and cannot be hailed on the street. In more informal settings, people might simply say they are "calling a cab." With the rise of digital platforms in 2026, many people also refer to their transport by the specific brand, such as "ordering an Uber" or "getting a Bolt," though "Black Cab" remains the uniquely British designation for the country's most regulated and recognizable form of hire transport.