Every pre-booked car in London – whether you call it a minicab, a chauffeur or an airport transfer – is private hire, and private hire in London is licensed by Transport for London (TfL). Knowing how the licensing works is the simplest way to make sure the car that turns up is legal, insured and accountable.
Three licences behind every journey
Under the Private Hire Vehicles (London) Act 1998, a private hire journey in London needs all three of these:
| Licence | Who holds it | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Operator licence | The company that takes your booking | Responsible for the booking, records, complaints and lost property |
| Driver licence | The individual driver | Background checks, medical and topographical assessments; carries a TfL photo badge |
| Vehicle licence | The car | Regular inspections; displays TfL licence discs in the windscreen and rear window |
If any one of the three is missing, the journey should not take place. Rushxo is a TfL-licensed private hire operator.
How to check your car in ten seconds
- Compare the registration with the one in your booking message.
- Look for the TfL licence discs on the front and rear windows.
- Ask to see the driver's TfL photo badge if it is not on display.
- Confirm the driver knows your name and destination before you get in.
Your contract is with the operator
When you book, the contract for the journey is with the licensed operator, not the individual driver. That is why the operator, not the driver, answers for the price, the service and any complaint. A price agreed at booking is the price: it should not be increased afterwards for ordinary traffic or a routine delay.
Booking agents, operators and marketplaces
Many websites sell transfers. Some are licensed operators dispatching their own drivers; others are agents or bidding marketplaces passing the job to a third party. Before you pay, check who the operator is, whether they have a UK phone line you can reach on the day, and whether the price is fixed. A local, licensed operator that answers its phone is the safest choice for time-critical airport runs.
Journeys that start outside London
A London operator can take a booking for a pick-up elsewhere in the UK – say Manchester Airport back to London. Since the Deregulation Act 2015, operators may pass (sub-contract) a booking to another licensed operator, including one licensed by a different council, so a local licensed driver and vehicle may carry out the journey. The booking should only ever pass between licensed operators, so you stay covered by a licensed, insured service wherever the journey starts.
Avoiding scams and copycat sites
- Book through the operator's own website, app or phone line, and check the web address before paying.
- With a fixed fare agreed through the booking system, no driver should ask for extra cash for traffic or weather.
- Keep the booking confirmation – it shows the operator, the price and the pick-up details if anything is disputed.
Your rights as a passenger
- Fixed price: the agreed fare is the fare.
- Card protection: paying by credit or debit card gives you your card issuer's protections if a booked service is not provided.
- Accessibility: under the Equality Act 2010, licensed drivers must carry assistance dogs and must not charge extra for them.
- Complaints: raise it with the operator first; if a safety or licensing issue is not resolved, you can report it to TfL Taxi and Private Hire.
Private hire, black cabs and apps
Black cabs (hackney carriages) are licensed separately, can be hailed in the street and charge by the meter. Ride-hailing apps are private hire too, with operator, driver and vehicle licences of their own, but their prices can rise at busy times. A pre-booked private hire car trades the flexibility of hailing for a fixed price, a named driver and a meeting point you know in advance.
Related guides
- How a London airport transfer works
- Taxi companies in London
- Freenow vs Uber vs Addison Lee
- Fixed-price transfers vs Uber
- Heathrow airport transfers
- Corporate travel
What travellers ask: TfL-Licensed Private Hire Explained
We read the busiest recent threads on TripAdvisor, Mumsnet and the Rick Steves travel forum about this journey. Below is what comes up most, in our own words, with how we handle it. Prices and timetables quoted in forum posts go out of date, so we have left them out.
Two kinds of licensed car
Posters explain the London split: black cabs can be hailed and use a meter; private hire, including app cars, must be booked in advance.
How we handle it: We are private hire: always pre-booked, with fixed fares.
Source: Rick Steves travel forum – Uber partnering with London black cabs
Surge pricing
Mumsnet posters compared app and black-cab prices on the same route and found they swing with demand and weather.
How we handle it: Our fares are fixed at booking: no surge after a show closes.
Late-night overcharging
A late-night poster reported a disputed fare and was advised to know the expected price, insist on the meter or an agreed fixed price, and keep receipts.
How we handle it: Your fare and booking reference are in writing before you travel.
Use a firm, not a street minicab
Long-running advice is to book with a firm, confirm the booking reference with the driver, and avoid unlicensed street minicabs.
How we handle it: Check our TfL operator licence on TfL's own licence checker before you book.
Source: Rick Steves travel forum – Finding licensed, safe minicabs in London
Black cab drivers are heavily vetted
Black cab drivers are seen as the most thoroughly checked, because of The Knowledge and background checks.
How we handle it: Private-hire drivers are also licensed and checked by TfL.
Frequently asked questions
What is a TfL-licensed private hire operator?
A company licensed by Transport for London to accept private hire bookings in London. Every journey must also use a TfL-licensed driver and vehicle.
How can I tell if a minicab is licensed?
Look for the TfL licence discs in the front and rear windows, check the driver's TfL photo badge, and make sure the registration matches your booking.
Can I hail a private hire car in the street?
No. Private hire cars must be pre-booked through a licensed operator; only black cabs can be hailed.
Who do I complain to about a private hire journey?
The operator you booked with first. Unresolved safety or licensing concerns can be reported to TfL Taxi and Private Hire.
Do private hire drivers have to take assistance dogs?
Yes. Under the Equality Act 2010 they must carry assistance dogs at no extra charge.
More ExCeL London transfer guides
Airports to ExCeL: Gatwick Airport to ExCeL London Transfers · Heathrow Airport to ExCeL London Transfers · London City Airport to ExCeL London Transfers · Luton Airport to ExCeL London Transfers · Southend Airport to ExCeL London Transfers · Stansted Airport to ExCeL London Transfers
ExCeL to airports: ExCeL London to Gatwick Airport Transfers · ExCeL London to Heathrow Airport Transfers · ExCeL London to London City Airport Transfers · ExCeL London to Luton Airport Transfers · ExCeL London to Southend Airport Transfers · ExCeL London to Stansted Airport Transfers
Venues and stations: Canary Wharf to ExCeL London Transfers · Central London to ExCeL London Transfers · ExCeL London to Canary Wharf Transfers · ExCeL London to Central London Transfers · ExCeL London to Olympia London Transfers · ExCeL London to St Pancras International Transfers · Olympia London to ExCeL London Transfers · St Pancras International to ExCeL London Transfers
Hotels near ExCeL: Hotels Near ExCeL London: Transfer Guide · ibis London ExCeL Docklands Transfers · Moxy London ExCeL Transfers · Novotel London ExCeL Transfers · Premier Inn London Docklands (ExCeL) Transfers
Guides: ExCeL London Exhibition & Conference Transfers · How a Pre-Booked London Airport Transfer Works
Updated 2 October 2026. Journey times are typical door-to-door ranges; your driver checks live traffic before setting off.