App-based drivers
Suitable for drivers working through Uber, Bolt, Free Now and similar booking platforms where the vehicle is a working asset.
Private hire finance
Private hire and PHV finance for taxis, minicabs and licensed private hire cars.
Taxi Finance Direct helps private hire drivers and operators finance licensed vehicles with terms built around real-world work including app bookings, airport transfers, executive private hire, school transport and local contract work.
Whether you work on Uber, Bolt, Addison Lee or Free Now, or take bookings directly, the aim is to put the right licensed vehicle on the road with a finance structure that reflects commercial use, underwriting expectations and licensing requirements.
PHV & private hire
Uber & app work
PCO & TfL awareness
Single vehicles & fleets
Hire purchase & refinance
Private hire finance at a glance
Private hire vehicle finance is built for licensed work rather than private motoring. That means lenders may look at expected mileage, vehicle age, income use, operator model, licensing position and whether the vehicle is intended for Uber, Addison Lee, executive private hire, airport transfer work, school transport routes or wider PHV contract use.
Private Hire Finance Calculator
Adjust the sliders to estimate illustrative monthly payments for a licensed PHV or private hire vehicle.
Credit Rating
Estimated Monthly Payment
£0.00
Vehicle Price
Deposit
Amount Financed
Term
Credit Rating
Excellent
Figures are illustrative only and do not guarantee approval or a specific rate. Lending criteria, licensing position, vehicle age and business use may affect the finance options available.
Who this suits
Private hire finance built around licensed work, vehicle suitability and operator reality
This section is designed to widen topical coverage while still staying closely tied to genuine private hire use cases.
Executive private hire
Useful for higher-specification licensed vehicles used for corporate travel, business accounts and executive airport transfer work.
Licensed compliance
Lender appetite can be influenced by PCO, TfL and local licensing authority rules, especially where vehicle age and emissions matter.
Single vehicles or fleets
Suitable for individual drivers, replacements, additional licensed vehicles and selected private hire fleet requirements.
Linked finance options
Private hire finance sits alongside other specialist vehicle funding routes
Some customers arrive looking for private hire finance, while others may actually be comparing Taxi Finance, Chauffeur Finance or Electric Taxi Finance depending on the vehicle type, operator model and licensing route.
If you already have a working vehicle in place, it may also make sense to look at Taxi Refinance, and where vehicle choice points toward an LEVC model, customers often compare against LEVC Finance. Drivers with a more complex profile may also want to review Bad Credit Taxi Finance before applying.
Taxi finance
Chauffeur finance
Electric vehicles
LEVC options
Refinance
Vehicles used across different licensed models
Private hire, chauffeur, airport transfer and executive work can overlap operationally, but lenders still assess the vehicle and the use case against the right underwriting category.
Private hire underwriting
Vehicle suitability, licensing and mileage all matter
Private hire vehicles are not usually assessed in the same way as a standard private-use car. Lenders may look at expected annual mileage, the durability of the vehicle, likely revenue use, operator model and whether the licensing position makes the vehicle commercially suitable.
That is particularly relevant for PCO and TfL-related journeys, city-centre work, airport transfer contracts, school transport commitments and executive private hire usage where the vehicle needs to meet both commercial and regulatory expectations.
Licensed use
Private hire vehicles are income-producing working assets rather than ordinary personal cars.
Higher mileage
App work, local circuits and contract journeys usually mean greater annual mileage expectations.
Vehicle fit
Age, emissions, body type and licensing authority rules can all affect lender appetite and product fit.
Comparison section
Private Hire Finance vs Personal Car Finance
This addition is designed to capture comparison intent without changing the page structure above the fold.
Private hire finance is different from ordinary personal car finance because the vehicle is normally being purchased as a working asset rather than for private domestic use. A PHV is expected to generate income, operate for longer hours and complete more miles each year, so lenders may look more closely at durability, expected usage and whether the car is appropriate for licensed work.
That difference matters whether the vehicle is being used for Uber trips, Bolt journeys, Addison Lee work, executive private hire bookings, airport transfers or local authority-linked passenger transport. In these cases, underwriting may place more weight on vehicle type, age, emissions profile, projected mileage and whether the car is likely to remain acceptable within the relevant licensing framework.
Licensing also affects the picture. In London, PCO and TfL expectations can influence vehicle choice, while outside London the relevant local licensing authority may apply different age rules, specification rules or compliance standards. A vehicle that is acceptable for personal car finance is not automatically the right fit for PHV work if licensing or commercial suitability becomes an issue.
This is why some drivers compare private hire finance with Taxi Finance, Chauffeur Finance or Electric Taxi Finance before deciding which route best matches the intended work. The key point is that PHV finance should reflect licensed use, underwriting expectations and vehicle suitability for the job, not just headline monthly cost.
How it works
A straightforward route from enquiry to licensed vehicle finance
The four-step structure stays consistent with the master template while the copy is tuned for PHV customers.
1
Tell us about the vehicle
Share the make, model, age, mileage, plate type and whether the car is for Uber, PHV work, executive use or contract journeys.
2
Explain the requirement
We look at whether you need first-time finance, replacement vehicle finance, fleet support or refinance on an existing working vehicle.
3
We review the case
The case is considered against vehicle suitability, licensing context, income use and the most relevant lender criteria.
4
Move to application
If the fit looks right, the next step is a formal application and lender-led underwriting decision.
Private hire FAQs
Frequently asked questions about PHV and private hire vehicle finance
These FAQs also help widen coverage for the specific queries private hire drivers usually search for.
Can I apply for private hire finance if I work on Uber or Bolt?
Yes, many private hire customers work through platforms such as Uber and Bolt, although the finance option still depends on the vehicle, the intended use and lender criteria.
Does PCO or TfL licensing matter when choosing a vehicle?
Yes. In London, PCO and TfL expectations can affect vehicle suitability, and outside London the relevant licensing authority may have its own age, emissions or specification requirements.
Is private hire finance different from standard car finance?
Yes. A PHV is normally treated as a working vehicle, so mileage, licensing and commercial use can all influence how the case is underwritten.
What if I already own a licensed vehicle and want to release value?
That may be a refinance enquiry rather than a new purchase, so it can be worth reviewing the available options on the Taxi Refinance page as well.
Apply or enquire
Talk through your private hire vehicle finance options
Whether you are replacing an existing PHV, moving into app-based work, financing an executive vehicle or comparing licensed-use options against taxi, chauffeur or refinance routes, the next step is a straightforward enquiry.
Figures and examples are for illustration only. Finance is subject to status, underwriting and vehicle suitability, and licensing requirements may vary by area and authority.
