Taxi drivers hailed as ‘legends’ by grateful passengers, national survey reveals

Taxis provide vital assistance in helping people get from A to B – but we all know they’re much more than that.

Since the 1700s, the mode of transport has become an integral part of the UK’s cultural and motoring landscape. From horse-drawn ‘hackney’ carriages and the iconic black cabs of London to the modern wave of ride-hailing apps like Uber and self-driving Waymo taxis, the vehicles have reflected societal and technological changes.

But what do members of the general public make of using taxis in 2026? Sterling Insurance surveyed almost 1,250 of its customers to get the lowdown and celebrate some of the unsung heroes who provide a vital service on our roads.

Desire to drink alcohol still fuelling Brits’ reason to use taxis

Nearly all of us have experienced a drunken taxi ride and had a cabbie to thank for getting us home safely. Judging by the results, very little has changed in modern times. 

Over half of our respondents said their reason for using a taxi or a private hire vehicle (PHV) was so they could attend an event and drink alcohol. The next most popular reason to pay for being driven by someone else was to get to an airport or train station but, likely in a nod to growing concerns around bright car headlights dazzling drivers, the third biggest motive was so that a motorist didn’t have to drive late.

Aside from simply being a passenger, the top three for customers’ most frequent behaviours in a taxi are falling asleep (18%), leaving a phone behind (13%) and someone being sick (9%). Our, hic, love of booze might have something to do with that. Other notable events include arguments (4%), being involved in an accident (3%) and, for the more risky, engaging in sexual activities (1%). 

Over half of the females we surveyed make the majority of their journeys between the hours of 8pm and 12am, while nearly one in three are in a cab between midnight and 4am; no doubt as a result of socialising and wanting to get home by the safest means possible.

Ride-hailing apps like Uber are becoming increasingly popular

Traditional forms of taxis still performed strongly in our study but there is a growing trend of passengers using apps to book their carriage.

Almost 800 people surveyed utilise ride-hailing technology, with a massive 92% of those favouring Uber. This is driven, in large, by women aged between 18 and 34. Males over the age of 35 pull minicabs (36%) into second place while hackney carriages and black cabs – which, unlike minicabs, can be hailed in the street – run a close third on 35%.

Given that a combined total of 42% of those who took part in the survey paid for their journeys in London or the South East, the weighting towards modern methods of getting a cab is no surprise. Brands like Uber are particularly popular in the capital.

Generous older passengers most likely to ‘always’ tip taxi drivers

We might be in the grip of a cost of living crisis, but that doesn’t seem to have slowed kind-hearted Brits from paying gratitude to taxi drivers.

Almost three in five people aged 65 or over said they ‘always’ pay more than their standard fare, followed by half of 55-64 year olds who do the same. It’s not a good look for Gen Z customers though. They come bottom of the most generous passengers and top of those who ‘never’ tip. In their defence, they are likely to have the least disposable income and, at 67%, will most likely be sharing the ride with their friends who aren’t flush with cash either.

Other key takeaways from taxi survey undertaken by Sterling Insurance

The questions answered covered plenty of areas and threw up some other fascinating insights into taxi culture in the UK right now. Key takeaways include:

• Almost three-quarters of tippers hand over £1-5, with 33% of males saying they ‘always’ cough up extra money when taking a cab 
  
• Nearly one in five dig deeper, declaring they part with £6-10 on top of their standard fee
  
• Almost 40% of people pay to be a passenger at least once a month (those who travel every day, a few times a week, once a month and a few times a month)
  
• 60% of women say they use taxis to travel with friends, which is 8% higher than average
  
• Those taking cabs in Wales have reported they are the biggest tippers, with 28% overpaying by £6 or more. It’s a much more stingier picture for taxi drivers in the West Midlands, who are treated only 9% of the time
  
• Unsurprisingly, those aged 65-plus are the most unlikely to try new driverless taxis

From the backseats: Weird and wonderful taxi stories

Such are the memorable moments, albeit sometimes hazy, being created by taxi journeys, it was little surprise that so many people went one step further and wished to share their own anecdotes.

We could have produced a separate blog to celebrate all the taxi stories we received, but instead we’ve hand-selected a few of our favourites. 

From legendary drivers who channelled their inner emergency services to taxi DJs and those who are lucky they’re not in prison, they’re all here. But, of course, kept anonymous to save embarrassment to some. 

“Had to get a taxi to take me to A&E after I was badly bitten by a dog and [an] ambulance refused to attend…[he] drove like a madman to the hospital.”

“My foot got tangled in the seatbelt as I was getting out and I fell over, the taxi driver had to get out and help me untangle myself (I had been drinking)”

“The driver hit another car and just pretend[ed] that nothing happened, he carried on driving…”

“I sat in the back of a taxi and there was women’s underwear on the floor”

“The Uber driver was watching porn”

“…He explained that he was an aspiring DJ… for the next 20 minutes, the car basically turned into a mini nightclub. He had a small light on the dashboard, the bass was surprisingly good, and he kept occasionally glancing at me for feedback, like, ‘How’s that drop?’ or ‘Too much bass?’ I couldn’t stop laughing because it was so unexpected, but also genuinely impressive. By the end of the trip, he handed me a small card with his DJ name and thanked me for being his ‘first audience of the night…’”

“[The] McDonald’s bag splitting and 60 chicken nuggets getting released into the footwell.”

Does Sterling Insurance provide cover for taxi drivers?

We can’t guarantee every journey will be as memorable as some of the ones listed above. But Sterling Insurance is proud to provide cover for the taxi drivers who ferry us around for all manner of reasons, often at unsociable hours.

Whatever time of the day you’re operating a public or private hire vehicle, Uber or minicab, we’ll have a taxi insurance policy that can benefit you. Call 0344 381 9990 for a free quote or book a callback at a time to better suit you.