A standard car tops out at 4 passengers, which catches a lot of groups out — a party of 5 or 6 assumes "one car" will do, then discovers it won't. Knowing the real capacity split before you book avoids arriving at the pickup point to find the car is too small. If you're deciding between six, seven and eight seats, see our people carrier, MPV and minibus comparison.
Prices below are estimates and may vary by group size, vehicle and time of travel; we confirm the final fare when you book.
The real capacity split
Our fleet has more than one step between a car and a minibus, so the right booking depends on passengers and luggage together:
- Saloon — up to 4 passengers, 2 large bags.
- Estate — up to 4 passengers, 4 large bags — the better pick when the group of 4 has more luggage than a saloon comfortably takes.
- Executive — a premium saloon (Mercedes E-Class or equivalent), up to 4 passengers, 3 large bags, for when presentation matters as much as the seats.
- MPV — up to 7 passengers and around 4 large bags. The third row of seats takes up boot space, so it suits a group travelling light.
- Minibus — up to 8 passengers and 8 large bags — the option once your group is 5 or more with full luggage. See how many people can fit in a car for why a fifth passenger can never squeeze into a car.
If your group is five to seven people, the MPV works when everyone has hand luggage or one small case. Once each person has a large suitcase, the Minibus is the safer booking even with spare seats. For six people there is also a 6-seat People Carrier, with room for around 5 large bags. Our 6, 7 or 8 seats guide compares them in detail.
One minibus vs splitting across two cars
For a group of 5–8, one Minibus booking is usually simpler and more cost-effective than two separate saloon/estate bookings:
- One pickup point and one pickup time, instead of coordinating two cars arriving together.
- Everyone travels together — useful for a stag/hen do, a race day group, or a team that wants to arrive as one party rather than staggered.
- One estimate to compare, rather than adding up two separate fares and hoping both cars run to time.
Common group-travel scenarios
- Airport group runs — a family or group of friends flying together, sized to one Minibus rather than two cars converging at the terminal.
- Race days — Ascot, Epsom and similar events draw exactly this kind of group booking, often with a fixed return pickup time to plan around too.
- Stag, hen and night-out groups — see our late-night minicab guide for the safety side of getting a larger group home together at the end of the night.
- Corporate events — a team travelling to the same meeting or venue, where arriving together matters as much as the journey itself.
- Cruise departures — the heaviest-luggage group booking there is; our cruise port transfer guide covers Southampton, Dover and Tilbury and why the return leg needs booking too.
For a hen or stag party specifically, see our hen and stag party minicab guide for how a multi-venue night out changes the booking.
Booking for a group
Tell us your exact passenger count and luggage when you book, rather than rounding down — a Minibus booked for 6 that turns out to need to fit 8 on the day is the situation worth avoiding. For groups larger than 8, our full fleet also covers 9-seater minibuses and 13/14-seater minicoaches. For a full day out rather than a single trip, a minibus can also be booked by the hour inside London, which keeps the same vehicle with the group between stops. Get an estimated fare for your group journey in London or for an airport transfer.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Can I book a minicab for a group of 8 people in London for a sightseeing tour? A: Yes. Our minibus seats up to eight passengers with room for around eight large bags. For a sightseeing day in London, booking it by the hour keeps the same vehicle and driver with you between stops, which our hourly hire guide explains. Give us your exact passenger count and stops when you book.