Two questions come up constantly and almost never get a straight answer: can I pay by card, and am I supposed to tip? Both have real answers in the UK, and both differ depending on whether you hailed the vehicle or booked it.
This guide covers how payment works across the different kinds of UK taxi, what a pre-booked fare does and doesn't include, and what tipping actually looks like in practice rather than in theory.
All fares quoted anywhere on this site are estimates and may vary; we confirm the final price when you book.
First, know which kind of vehicle you're in
Payment rules follow the licensing category, so this distinction does real work:
- Hackney carriages (black cabs and their regional equivalents) can be hailed on the street or picked up at a rank, and run on a meter set by the local licensing authority.
- Private hire vehicles (minicabs) must be booked in advance through a licensed operator. They cannot legally be hailed, and the fare is set by the operator rather than by a council meter.
Our taxi vs Uber guide covers the licensing difference in full. For payment, the short version is: the meter fare is worked out at the end, the pre-booked fare is worked out at the start.
Card payments: what's required, and what's normal
In London, licensed black cabs are required to accept card payments, including contactless, and a card terminal must be available to passengers. That rule came in following a TfL requirement and is why "cash only, mate" is no longer a thing you should encounter in a London taxi.
Outside London, card acceptance in hackney carriages is set locally rather than nationally. In practice the overwhelming majority take cards, but it isn't a universal legal guarantee in the way it is in the capital — a reason to ask when you get in if you have no cash at all.
Private hire is different again, because the journey is arranged with an operator before it starts. Payment is arranged as part of that booking, which is generally the simpler arrangement — there is no meter to watch and no surprise at the end of the journey. With us, payment is arranged directly with us when your booking is confirmed.
What the fare actually includes
This is where most disputes come from, and they're avoidable.
| Usually included in a pre-booked fare | Usually separate or variable | | :--- | :--- | | The agreed route between the two addresses | Extra stops added during the journey | | Reasonable waiting at the pickup | Long waits beyond the agreed allowance | | The vehicle class you booked | Upgrading to a larger vehicle on the day | | Standard luggage for that vehicle | Airport drop-off or pickup charges |
Two specific things to check before you travel:
- Airport charges. Nearly every UK airport charges for forecourt access, and some charge for pickups too. Our drop-off charges guide covers the fees airport by airport.
- Waiting time on arrivals. For a flight pickup, the allowance after landing is the number that matters — see how airport waiting time works.
If your plans change mid-journey — an extra stop, a different destination — say so rather than assume. It's a normal request and it's much easier to price at the time than to argue about afterwards. Changing a booking before the day is easier still: see how to cancel or change a booking.
Tipping: the honest answer
There's no legal or social obligation to tip a taxi driver in the UK, and nobody will react badly if you don't. What actually happens in practice:
- Rounding up is the most common thing by a distance. A £27 fare becomes £30, and that's the whole custom for most everyday journeys.
- 10% is at the generous end for a standard trip, and is more common on longer or business journeys than short local ones.
- Something extra for real effort — help with heavy cases, a driver who waited well past a delayed landing, a difficult early start — is the case where most people add more, and it's the one that's genuinely appreciated.
- Nothing at all is completely fine, particularly on a pre-booked fare that was agreed in advance.
The one practical note: if you want to tip on a card payment, say so before it's processed rather than after, because the amount is entered on the terminal.
Getting a receipt
If the journey is going on an expenses claim, ask at the time — retrospective receipts are more awkward for everyone. A usable business receipt needs the date, the journey, the amount and the operator's details on it. Our business travel and taxi expenses guide covers what a finance team will actually accept, including booking on behalf of a colleague.
Worth knowing for expenses in 2026: VAT treatment differs across the various ways of booking a private hire journey, which is why receipts from different providers look different. We covered that change in the 2026 private hire VAT article.
Paying for someone else's journey
Booking a car for a parent, a client or a colleague is a routine request, and the payment side is the part people ask about. The principle is simple: the person who makes the booking arranges the payment, so the passenger doesn't have to deal with anything at the end of the journey. That's the main reason a pre-booked car suits an elderly relative, a hospital appointment, or a client you'd rather not hand a bill to.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Can you pay by card in a UK taxi? A: In London, licensed black cabs are required to accept card payments including contactless. Outside London, card acceptance in hackney carriages is set by the local licensing authority — most accept cards, but it isn't a nationwide legal requirement, so ask if you have no cash. For pre-booked private hire, payment is arranged with the operator as part of the booking.
Q: How much should you tip a taxi driver in the UK? A: There's no obligation. Rounding the fare up to the nearest note or five pounds is the most common practice; 10% is at the generous end and is more usual on longer or business journeys. Adding something extra for help with luggage or a long wait after a delayed flight is normal.
Q: Do you tip on a pre-booked minicab fare? A: Less often than in a metered black cab, because the price was agreed in advance. Many people still round up, and most do add something if the driver waited a long time or helped with heavy bags.
Q: Is a pre-booked fare fixed or can it change? A: The fare you're quoted is an estimate confirmed when the booking is made, and it covers the journey you booked. Extra stops, a changed destination or a long wait beyond the agreed allowance can change it — mention any change at the time rather than at the end.
Q: Can I add a tip to a card payment in a taxi? A: Yes, but say so before the payment is processed, since the amount has to be entered on the terminal. Adding it afterwards means a second transaction.
Q: How do I get a receipt for a taxi journey for expenses? A: Ask at the time of the journey rather than later. A receipt that a finance team will accept needs the date, the journey, the amount paid and the operator's details.
In short
Card is the norm and a legal requirement for London black cabs; pre-booked private hire settles the payment side at the booking stage instead. Tipping is optional, rounding up is the custom, and anything more is for genuine effort.
Get a fare estimate for your journey and you'll see the price before you commit to anything.