FAQs

Black cab drivers in London have hit out at proposals to introduce English language tests for all taxi drivers in the capital.

Since 2016, Transport for London has made it compulsory for private hire drivers to undertake the English Language Requirement to make sure that drivers have an appropriate understanding of English.

Black cabs are charging their taxis wirelessly as part of a trial to bring more electric vehicles into the fleet and on to our roads.

One of the biggest obstacles to using EVs in the taxi fleet is range, with public hire and private hire drivers expressing concerns that the distance they can travel before having to recharge will prevent them operating efficiently.

Passengers are being warned about the dangers of travelling in illegal taxis which is making the most of the surging demand in towns and cities at weekends.

The warning comes after a council in Wales saw a rise in the number of unlicensed public hire and private hire taxis descending on Merthyr Tydfil at the weekends.

A private hire taxi driver has sparked debate after she claims to have exposed an affair by taking a cheating man and his mistress back to his home – just moments after his wife and children had waved him off.

The incident happened in Dallas after an Uber driver who gave her name as Roni shared a video on TikTok.

Patons Insurance is continuing its mission to help the taxi-driving community by making sure drivers receive the best-quality services and highest levels of support.

As part of that drive, the family-run taxi insurance broker has made key appointments this year to strengthen the company.

Patons is a family taxi insurance business that focuses on looking after staff and clients as if they are part of the family.

With offices in a number of locations including Edinburgh, Dundee, Glasgow, Liverpool, Manchester, Middlesbrough, Newcastle and London, Patons Insurance operates both face-to-face and online.

Taxi drivers are understandably frustrated that environmental protesters are stopping them working – especially those who have already forked out on new electric cabs.

Just Stop Oil campaigners have frequently targeted London’s busy streets and been shown on the news causing huge congestion in and around the capital.

A recent cyber attack at Uber reveals that keeping technology safe and secure is as important as taxi drivers getting passengers to their destination safely.

Following the data breach last month, in a bid to reassure staff, drivers and customers that its systems and data are secure, Uber has released details of the hack and how the firm reacted to stop the breach and improve security.

Taxi drivers play an important role in our communities and for more than 100 years have been a convenient, reliable and safe way for people to get around.

Passengers would regularly use the same private hire taxi firms and knew where to hail a black cab if they arrived at a train or bus station or other public venue.

Some people see driverless taxis as the future, while to others, they are nothing more than a hi-tech gimmick. But ultimately, it is the passengers who will decide their fate as they have to feel safe and comfortable using the hi-tech taxi.

Whether or not the novelty wears off, there has been plenty of investment into autonomous vehicles and driverless taxis are currently being trialled in America.

Taxi drivers and taxi companies are turning to technology more to offer a smoother ride for passengers looking to book a cab.

Booking and payment apps make it easy to connect passengers to the nearest public hire or private hire taxi available to complete the journey.

Today is Word EV Day and it’s the perfect opportunity to help taxi drivers get on the road to a greener future.

While choosing the right vehicle for your taxi business is a big decision and there is uncertainty about cost, range and charging points, the aim of World EV Day is to encourage people, including professionals such as taxi drivers, to make their next vehicle an EV.