Private Hire vs Hackney Carriage vs Minicab: What's the Difference?
Black cab, minicab, private hire, hackney carriage — the terms explained, how licensing differs, and which one you are actually booking for an airport transfer.
The words get used loosely, but they describe legally distinct things. Knowing the difference helps you understand how booking, pricing and safety work.
Hackney carriage (the "black cab")
- Can be hailed on the street or picked up at a rank.
- Fares are set by a meter and regulated by the local council.
- Drivers pass a rigorous local knowledge test in some areas (famously "The Knowledge" in London).
- Not usually pre-booked for a fixed price, and the meter runs in traffic.
Private hire vehicle (PHV) / minicab
- Must be booked in advance through a licensed operator — it cannot be flagged down or wait on a rank.
- The operator, the driver and the vehicle each hold a separate licence from the local authority.
- Fares are typically agreed in advance as a fixed price, or set by the operator's tariff — not a council meter.
- "Minicab" is just an informal name for a private hire car.
So what is an airport transfer?
An airport transfer is a pre-booked private hire journey. You book ahead, you get a fixed price, the operator assigns a licensed driver and vehicle, and — with a good operator — your flight is tracked and the airport fee is included in the quote.
That is why you cannot "just grab" a pre-booked transfer at the rank, and why the price does not change if the M25 is slow: it was agreed before you travelled.
Why licensing matters for safety
Every leg of a legitimate private hire booking is licensed and traceable:
- The operator is licensed and keeps a record of every booking — who, when, which driver, which vehicle.
- The driver holds a private hire driver's licence, which requires an enhanced background (DBS) check and a medical.
- The vehicle is licensed and inspected.
If a car turns up that was not booked through a licensed operator, or the details do not match your confirmation, do not get in. See our safety standards for how we vet drivers and vehicles.
Book with XlineCars. Fixed prices, vetted drivers and flight tracking on every UK airport, seaport and long-distance journey. Get a quote or see the fleet.