If you are visiting Great Britain for the first time, you must know the city transport system for a hassle-free journey. London, for instance, has very complicated street geography. However, the public transport that includes trains, trams, tubes and buses is advance and very active. But nothing is enough for a city with a population of over 8 million. And that is why booking a private minicab or hailing a black taxi is very common in London.
With so many transport options available, the preferred choice depends on many factors like convenience, availability, distance, pricing and more. A lot of customers wonder why they should choose a private minicab over a black taxi for London transfers?
While the basic reason is a personal choice, other factors mentioned above also play an important role in deciding the preference.
Cost of Mini Cabs Vs. Black Cabs
Cost is certainly the most important reasons why private taxi transfers are more popular in the United Kingdom these days. Hackney carriage or the Black cabs are metered. They charge a minimum of £6 – £9.40 for a mile during weekdays between 5 am and 8 pm. The taxi prices differ for weekends, public holidays, airport transfers and midnight transfers. Black cabs also charge an extra fee for booking online or over the phone, for transfers from Heathrow airport or for special dates such as Christmas or New Year.
On the other side, minicabs or private taxis always have a fixed price. They are not metered cabs and once fixed for booking, they don’t change the rates. Whether you need a Heathrow taxi transfer or want a London cab for a suburban drop off, you can book a licensed minicab from an authorised taxi operator at a fixed price. Unlike Black cabs, private taxicabs can be booked months before at a fixed cost.
Also, minicabs offer better pricing over a long distance with no extra charges for soiling or otherwise.
Convenience
It includes multiple factors such as accessibility, availability and price. So convenience is not only to get a cab easily. But it means to find and book a taxi that is pocket-friendly, comfortable, quick and safe.
Definitely, the Black Cabs are safe and readily available at airport taxi ranks or train stations, they have many clauses that could annoy a customer who is already tired from a long flight or in a hurry to catch the train on time. Moreover, you can’t expect the drivers to meet and greet you at the airport arrival hall. Instead, you need to stand and wait in a long queue at the taxi ranks to hire a London taxi.
But it is not a case with minicabs that you book with an authentic service operator such as Cabhit. You can pre-book a cab and instantly get the booking confirmation with all the details from a licensed taxi company. There is no limit for distance, and you can choose from a range of car types such as saloon cars, minibuses or even the premium cabs. Thus, a pre-booked private hire taxi is more convenient for individuals as well as a large group of people that includes elders and kids.
Location and Availability
You can’t find Hackney Carriage everywhere. There are only 25,000 Black Cabs and the number of commuters both local and international is in millions. Definitely, the gap is huge and only private minicabs and taxis cover it perfectly. When you choose to hire a fixed-priced London cab, you get an assured door-to-door transfer in your choice of vehicle. Moreover, travel to suburban areas of London is also easy and cheap in a minicab.
Conclusion
Minicabs or private hire vehicles are definitely helping better aligned the London traffic while offering the quality service at competitive prices. Customers only have to ensure that they book from a licensed minicab operator for a safe and hassle-free journey.
And even though the drivers are not as knowledgeable as the Black cab drivers, they are offering great services backed by technological innovations. If you want a comfortable and affordable transfer to London, you should pre-book a taxi online. As one of the best cab comparison website and app,