Hackney Carriages/Cabs
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These are the big black ones with rounded corners, like London cabs.
- How can I get one?
- If it's driving towards you with its orange light on, it's for hire and you may hail it (by waving!). If you can't see one, try a taxi rank - they're located centrally at Carfax, Gloucester Green, St. Giles and the railway station.
- What will I pay?
- Fares are set by the local authority, and are higher than private hire car fares. Investigate current rates at www.oxford.gov.uk. Expect to pay between three and five times the equivalent single bus fare.
- Why choose a Hackney cab?
- Hackney Cabs are licensed to individuals and limited in numbers by the city council (the shortage is such that licenses are reputed to change hands for £60,000 - £70,000). Cabs are made specifically for their job, are spacious (holding 5-6 people), have fold-down/up as well as fixed seats, large windows and provide easier access for those with mobility difficulties. If you have lots of big suitcases and need to get to the station, or there are 5 of you going to the same place (private cars only take 4 unless you order a minibus), get a cab.
Private Hire Cars
- How can I get one?
- Prebook by telephoning their depot. They will tell you how long it will take the vehicle to reach you, often calling/texting you when it's outside (if you definitely want a call, though, mention it when you book, otherwise the driver might just wait a bit and then leave without you). You will need to order the car to a fixed address (your house, or a pub) - locations like 'on the corner at the bottom of South Park' will not be acceptable. Go into the pub/museum/house and call again. Hire cars can't be hailed in the street (at least, not legally).
- What will I pay?
- A little less than a Hackney cab, but still more than the bus - unless there are 4 of you and the car is full, in which case it can actually be cheaper to get a car than public transport! A 5-10 minute journey, say between East Oxford and Summertown, should cost around £8 (as of winter 2012). The person taking your call should be able to give you a rough quote for your journey when you book.
- Why choose a hire car?
- They are cheap(er) and convenient - it's much like hiring your own smart chauffered vehicle. And if you like pine air freshener in the shape of a small pine tree, all the better.
Local firms (NB. some of these offer BOTH hire cars and cabs):
ABC Taxis: 01865 770077 / 01865 775577
Botley Taxis: 01865 423264 / 07866 423264
001 Taxis: 01865 240000
A2B Oxford Taxi: 01865 477777 / 01865 477477
RadioTaxis: 01865 242424 / 01865 249743
Royal Cars: 01865 777333
Oxford Cars: 01865 406070 / 01865 406080
Oxford City Cars: 01865 703030 / 01865 703333
Elite Cars: 01865 250500
Star Cars: 01865 777695
Oxford Taxi Reviews
Listed 19 March 2008
I ordered a 001 taxi from a village outside Oxford to go to the centre of Oxford on New Year's... read more
Airport Transfer Taxis
If you're visiting the UK, short of time, have lots of luggage or can't manage the bus and can afford it, you may prefer to take a taxi to and from the airport. The following Oxford-based firms offer predominantly long-haul airport transfer services rather than short local journeys. Please note that Daily Information merely lists the following companies - we have not tried them ourselves. If you have, why not review them, here: www.dailyinfo.co.uk/reviews/feature/2836/Oxford_Taxi_Reviews
Chauffeur Services
- Findlay Chauffeur Service
- ...will take you to airports in a black E-class Mercedes if you are part of a business, a government or an educational institution.
- Oxfordshire Chauffeurs
- ...cover Oxon., Berks, London and surrounding. Range of services for both corporate and personal customers.
Should I tip?
England is a tipping country, but not quite so automatically as America. Minimum wage legislation is supposed to ensure that no one is actually reliant on tips for the bulk of their income, but at the same time it's a small and relatively cheap friendliness to add a tip, and acts as a seal of approval on a job: a taxi driver who gets no tips at all can be fairly sure he's doing something wrong.
You're entirely within your rights not to tip, and if the service has not been satisfactory then you certainly shouldn't. If you have received particularly good service or have been a particularly trying passenger, the done thing is to add 10-12% on to the bill (think 10% and then round up to the nearest convenient coin). If the service has been adequate but nothing special, then it's perfectly acceptable to round up slightly to the nearest pound - but don't expect effusive thanks if the original bill was £5.95!
Need a car or van for longer? Want to drive it yourself? Click here for our Oxford Car Hire page.
