Taxis in Bristol

Taxis are a convenient and easy way to get around Bristol and the surrounding areas. 

There are two types of taxis in Bristol. These are known as hackney carriages and private hire.

• Hackney carriage vehicles can pick up from taxi ranks and can be flagged down in the street. These are painted Bristol Blue and will have an illuminated light on the roof and display white and red licence plates with black printing on the front and back of the vehicle which display details of the vehicle and the expiry date.

• Private hire vehicles have to be pre-booked and cannot be flagged down in the street. It is illegal for a private hire vehicle to take a journey which has not been pre-booked or to accept a fare by being hailed. They should display yellow and red licence plates with black printing on the front and back of the vehicle.

Remember to check that you are in a licensed taxi by checking the ID badge displayed in the car.

Find out more about taxis in Bristol, including taxi safety tips on the Bristol City Council website here.

Hackney carriage vehicles (Bristol Blue)

There are hundreds of licensed Bristol Blue taxis in the city which can catch by either hailing (by holding up your arm or waving to a taxi with it's light illuminated), waiting at a taxi rank or using the Braxi app.

Bristol Taxi ranks are located throughout the city centre and you see them on this map. They are indicated with a white box with the word TAXI in.

Or you can use the BRAXI app - this app allows you to book taxis in Bristol and set the pick up point and destination in advance. You will be able to see the fare estimate and pay by card if you wish to. The app is very similar to other taxi hailing apps but with BRAXI, drivers will have to be licensed by Bristol City Council so you are directly supporting local people. Other app drivers can be licensed by other councils.

Download the BRAXI app - Apple Store

Download the BRAXI app - Google Play

Private Hire

There are quite a few private hire taxi companies in Bristol and the nearby areas. These include; Veezu, who also have their own app to pre-book taxis, Eurotaxis and AA Taxis.

Uber and Ola also operate in Bristol.

Find out more:

• Public transport in Bristol
• Maps and guides
• Visitor information