Wolverhampton licensed almost 38,000 private hire vehicles in 2026, giving the city a PHV density more than 27 times the English average and making it the country’s most prominent potential hotspot for cross-border licensing. The latest Department for Transport statistics show Wolverhampton City Council had 37,967 licensed PHVs on 1 April 2026. That equates to 135 PHVs for every 1,000 residents, compared with an English average of 4.9. Wolverhampton’s licensed PHV fleet incre

The number of licensed private hire vehicles operating outside London has climbed to approximately 196,600 after increasing by 20% in two years, according to the latest Department for Transport figures. The growth recorded between 1 April 2024 and 1 April 2026 was substantially higher than in London, where the PHV fleet increased by just 1% to 93,300 vehicles. Across England, the total number of licensed PHVs reached 290,000, representing a 13% increase since 2024. PHVs now a

Freenow by Lyft’s move to increase commission to 20% could prompt more cabbies to prioritise street and rank work as operating costs continue to rise. According to drivers, the decision to increase its London black cab commission to 20% from 14 September 2026 will add to the financial pressure facing drivers already absorbing higher vehicle, fuel, licensing and maintenance costs. The platform says the additional commission will support investment in product development, drive