London’s Taxi Driver Residency Shift: 60% Live Outside the Capital

Recent data from Transport for London (TfL) has revealed that the majority of London’s licensed taxi drivers now live outside the capital. As of October 2024, only 38% of the 17,099 licensed taxi drivers were registered to a London postcode, with the remaining 62% living beyond the city’s postal boundaries.

By contrast, the private hire vehicle (PHV) sector shows a different trend, with 62% of its 108,201 drivers residing in London.

While there is no residency requirement for taxi and PHV drivers in London, this shift in living patterns for taxi drivers raises concerns about driver availability and commuting pressures. With a growing number of drivers living far from the areas they serve, questions about the efficiency and sustainability of this trend are being raised.

Transport for London representative:

"This longstanding feature of the system is now being questioned given the significant number of drivers living outside London."