Bristol Taxi

Getting a taxi in Bristol

If you’re looking to explore the rich history of Bristol, taxis are a great choice of transportation for your next trip to this hilly English city. Known for its Iron Age hillforts, architecturally interesting Roman villas, and hot air balloon festival, Bristol has many cultural wonders to experience from a taxi window.

Taking a taxi in Bristol offers a personalised experience. Drivers are often locals who know the city inside and out, serving as excellent informal tour guides.

You’ll find two types of taxis, namely Hackney Carriages and private hire vehicles (PVTs). Hailing a Bristol taxi is quite straightforward. Get one directly from the airport taxi rank or in the city itself, book online, or make a pickup arrangement telephonically.

How much does a Bristol taxi cost?

Hackney Carriages

Hackney Carriages are regulated and monitored by the Bristol council. All fares for travelling within city boundaries in these vehicles are pre-determined. Fares are tracked by an officially calibrated meter. A copy of taxi prices in Bristol must be displayed inside the vehicle, so there are no unpleasant surprises.

Should your trip in a Hackney Carriage take you outside of Bristol city boundaries, then the driver isn’t obligated to use the meter. You can, however, request for them to do so. Fares are ultimately decided through negotiation with the driver. Make sure you have an agreement with them before beginning the trip.

Six-tariff taxi pricing system: Hackney Carriages

*2023 pricing

There are extra charges for:

– every adult passenger after the first one (excl. children under 14),

– spoiling or fouling of the vehicle,

– taxi hiring that commences at Temple Meads Railway Station,

– folding and non-folding bicycles,

– items of bulk or weight,

– certain types of luggage, and

– uncaged animals.

Wheelchairs, disabled assistance aids and assistance dogs are carried free of charge. For more information, check out the official government document on Hackney Carriage taxi services in Bristol.

Private hire vehicles (PHVs)

Bristol taxi services that offer private hire vehicles are not regulated by the Bristol council. The taxi companies set their fares based on their own criteria. But, you should still be told the approximate cost of the journey prior to setting off. Fares are determined by factors like distance travelled, how long a journey will take in minutes or hours, the day of the week and time of day.

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How to get a taxi in Bristol

If you’re travelling via one of the Hackney Carriages, look out for vehicles that are painted a distinctive Bristol Blue. They have an illuminated taxi sign on the roof. Their licence plates are white and red with black text. These display vehicle details and the licence expiry date.

There are two ways to find a Hackney Carriage. Look for them in the taxi rank in Bristol Airport, which is conveniently located directly outside the terminal, or flag them down in the street. You do this by holding up your arm or waving as they come towards you. Since they are government sanctioned, they’re allowed to drive around streets looking for passengers.

Private hire vehicles are not one size fits all when it comes to shape and size. One thing they do have in common are yellow and red licence plates on the front and back. They should also have a company emblem printed on the door for easy identification.

Private hire vehicles can only be booked in advance so you won’t likely run into one on the street. Contact one of the following Bristol taxi numbers to make a booking:

Veezu: +44 117 925 2626

AA Taxis Bristol: +44 117 955 5000

Eurotaxis: +44 333 666 6666

Club Cars: +44 117 966 6633

Popular taxi apps in Bristol

Apps are a useful option to book a private taxi, especially if you’re flying in from outside of the UK and don’t have the means to make a phone call or simply prefer not to.

Here are three popular apps you can use to book a taxi in Bristol:

Gett: Apple / Google Play

AA Taxis Bristol: Apple / Google Play

SWOOP: Apple / Google Play

Prior to landing, you should familiarise yourself with the booking process on your chosen app so that you’re set as soon as you land.

Easy taxi booking with Welcome Pickups

For peace of mind while travelling, choose Welcome Pickups. We offer the ability to pre-book a private taxi, ensuring that a trusted driver will be waiting for you at the airport. This is a great option for when you’re travelling at odd hours or don’t want to fiddle with phone numbers and apps after a long flight.

Welcome Pickup’s drivers are familiar with the location they operate in. This offers assurance that they’ll only travel through safe areas. They can even give suggestions and tips to help you with your travels!

Welcome Pickup hires English-speaking drivers. This makes our services easily accessible for the majority of travellers. We also offer 24/7 support with guaranteed on-time pickups and personalised transfers.

Useful Bristol taxi tips

– Check the driver’s badge for any inconsistencies before getting in. This badge should show a photograph of the driver and their licence expiry date.

– Licence plates should be displayed both inside and outside the vehicle. Check that they have not expired.

– If you’re going by way of a Hackney Carriage Bristol taxi, make sure the metre reads 0000 at the start of your journey.

– Private hire taxis are not allowed to pick you up off the street. If you’re hailing a taxi this way, keep an eye out for the iconic Bristol blue colouring of the Hackney Carriages instead.

– Even though Bristol taxis are safe, some travellers prefer an extra security layer. Take a photo of the taxi’s license plate number, the vehicle and the driver’s badge. Text these photos to a trusted person so they know where you are at all times.

– Should you forget property while travelling in a Hackney Carriage, you’ll can turn to the web to retrieve it. Drivers often post to this Facebook: taxi lost and found group or you can search for it on Report my loss.

– Tipping taxi drivers is optional as the price you pay covers everything. If you still wish to tip, two to three pounds is the average.

– All Hackney carriages are required by Bristol council regulations to carry an operational electronic payment facility that is immediately available for use.

Wheelchair-accessible taxis in Bristol

Luckily, all Hackney Carriage taxis in Bristol are wheelchair accessible. There is no extra charge for travelling with your wheelchair or having an assistance dog with you in these Bristol taxis.

Even though private Bristol taxis must carry wheelchair users and assistance dogs, some of them have applied for exemption. Look out for an exemption certificate and a yellow card in the windscreen so you know to avoid those.

The Bristol council has provided the following details of Bristol taxi drivers who are specifically available to help with accessible transport:

Driver or owner: Mr Mohammed Islam

Vehicle description: Volkswagen Caddy

Phone number: +44 07727 179 013

Driver or owner: Mr Abdul Azad

Vehicle description: Peugeot Partner Tepee

Phone number: +44 07833 463 101

Driver or owner: Mr Hussain Ahmed Pir

Vehicle description: London Taxis LTI TXII

Phone number: +44 07863 826 768

They all offer a door-to-door service. Please note, they operate exclusively within Bristol city boundaries.

Bristol taxi safety and help

Taxis in Bristol rarely have safety issues since they are so tightly regulated. However, it’s always good to be aware of your surroundings no matter where you’re travelling.

If you see any discrepancies between your driver’s identification methods or an expired license or registration, do not get in the vehicle. If you’re feeling unsafe with the drop-off point, ask your driver to let you out in an area that has better lighting or with more people around.

For any complaints about your experience in a Bristol taxi, you can fill in this complaint form and send it off to the Bristol council.

Frequently asked questions

How do I pay for a taxi in Bristol?

Both Hackney Carriage taxis in Bristol and private hire vehicles take credit and debit card payments, and cash. Some drivers also offer other contactless payment methods like Apple Pay so make sure to ask ahead of time if this is your preferred way of paying.

Do taxis prefer cash?

Most taxis nowadays offer more than one payment method, but some taxis still prefer cash. This is often because they get immediate payment and aren’t subject to potential chargebacks and fees like with credit or debit cards. Keep in mind that they’re not allowed to only take cash despite this preference.

How do I call a Bristol taxi?

There are various options available if you’re looking to get Bristol taxi transport.

Look for the bright blue Bristol Hackney Carriages parked just outside the airport terminal or call a private taxi company. Visit one of Bristol’s taxi ranks. They are conveniently marked with a white box and the word TAXI printed in capital letters.

Hail a taxi from the street or use a taxi booking app. If you want some local insight, ask someone at your hotel, Airbnb or B&B to call or book a taxi on your behalf.