{"id":1053,"date":"2026-03-11T15:32:08","date_gmt":"2026-03-11T15:32:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sterling-insurance.co.uk/blog\/?p=1053"},"modified":"2026-07-20T13:50:57","modified_gmt":"2026-07-20T12:50:57","slug":"taxi-survey-uk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sterling-insurance.co.uk/blog\/car\/taxi-survey-uk\/","title":{"rendered":"Taxi drivers hailed as ‘legends’ by grateful passengers, national survey reveals"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Taxis provide vital assistance in helping people get from A to B \u2013 but we all know they\u2019re much more than that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since the 1700s, the mode of transport has become an integral part of the UK\u2019s cultural and motoring landscape. From horse-drawn \u2018hackney\u2019 carriages and the iconic black cabs of London<\/a> to the modern wave of ride-hailing apps like Uber<\/a> and self-driving Waymo<\/a> taxis, the vehicles have reflected societal and technological changes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Desire to drink alcohol still fuelling Brits\u2019 reason to use taxis<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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.\u00a0

Over half of our respondents said their reason for using a taxi or a private hire vehicle<\/a> (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<\/a>, the third biggest motive was so that a motorist didn\u2019t have to drive late.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"An<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Aside from simply being a passenger, the top three for customers\u2019 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<\/a> (1%). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ride-hailing apps like Uber are becoming increasingly popular<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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

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 \u2013 which, unlike minicabs, can be hailed in the street \u2013 run a close third on 35%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"An<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Generous older passengers most likely to \u2018always\u2019 tip taxi drivers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We might be in the grip of a cost of living crisis, but that doesn\u2019t seem to have slowed kind-hearted Brits from paying gratitude to taxi drivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Almost three in five people aged 65 or over said they \u2018always\u2019 pay more than their standard fare, followed by half of 55-64 year olds who do the same. It\u2019s not a good look for Gen Z customers though. They come bottom of the most generous passengers and top of those who \u2018never\u2019 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\u2019t flush with cash either.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Coins<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Other key takeaways from taxi survey undertaken by Sterling Insurance<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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:<\/p>\n\n\n\n