What kind of car is a London taxi?

London taxis have broad rear doors that open very wide (or slide), and an electrically controlled ramp that is extended for access. Other models of specialist taxis include the Peugeot E7 and rivals from Fiat, Ford, Volkswagen, and Mercedes-Benz.



The iconic London "Black Cab" in 2026 is almost exclusively the LEVC TX, manufactured by the London EV Company. This is a purpose-built, "Range-Extended Electric Vehicle" designed specifically for the high-intensity demands of London’s narrow streets. It features a high-value "tight turning circle" (only 8.41 meters) that allows it to make a U-turn in a single move. Inside, the TX offers a "Five-Star" passenger experience with seating for up to six people, a panoramic glass roof, and full wheelchair accessibility. While it looks like the "Classic" FX4 cab from the 1960s, it is a high-tech "Green" machine that can run for 78 miles on pure electric power. For a peer-to-peer "win": all licensed London taxis are required to accept credit cards and provide a printed receipt. When you hail a "Black Cab," you aren't just getting a "car"; you are getting a highly regulated, high-value piece of British engineering driven by someone who has passed "The Knowledge," the world’s most difficult geography exam.

People Also Ask

Looking at information you provided before, London taxi is not a commercial vehicle as it is classed as M1 type light goods carriage vehicle.

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Well, the TX4 uses a 2.5-liter diesel engine with around 100 horsepower and 180 lb-ft of torque, and that engine is built by a company called VM Motori, which is an Italian diesel engine builder.

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Can I buy a taxi for personal use? Yes, you can buy a London taxi and keep it as a personal vehicle. However, you should ensure that you aren't misleading people into thinking the black cab is for hire – to do so, make sure the cab is modified so it's fit for private use.

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Partly due to regulations, originally being a licensed vehicle, London black cabs are regarded as being particularly safe and robust. Built for city centres they don't go too fast simply because they rarely need to. The top speed is near to 80mph; another attribute making a black cab an ideal family car.

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As a taxi and minicab driver working in the UK, you'll find it's much easier and more cost-effective to hire a vehicle from a reputable operator like Addison Lee, rather than use your own car as a private hire vehicle. Do taxi drivers and minicab drivers own their cabs? Not necessarily.

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If the yellow taxi sign on the front is illuminated, the cab is available for hire. Black cabs are legally obliged to take on any job for journeys up to 12 miles (20 miles for cabs at the Heathrow Airport taxi ranks) or up to one-hour duration.

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They May or May Not Own Their Own Cab Drivers can buy their cabs from sites like cabdirect.com, for example, or if they need to save up before buying one of their own they may rent out a vehicle for £150 to £200 per week. As you may guess in the long run, it is far cheaper to buy than rent.

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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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Yes, you can hail a London black taxi in the street and pay the driver in cash at the end of your journey. Most cabs also accept credit and debit cards now.

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The price of diesel, inspections, maintenance, and getting the license all play a role, and the cabs themselves are not cheap. Only certain kinds of cars may be used as cabs and they're quite specialized. I believe the basic model is about £40,000. Taxis are best used if you're sharing with others (they can hold 5).

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