Glasgow Tops UK for Daily Private Hire Use, While Southampton Leads in Monthly Spending, New Research Reveals
A new study commissioned by insurance brokerage specialists The Taxi Insurer has identified Glasgow as the UK’s leading city for the frequency of private hire vehicle (PHV) use. The research indicates that approximately one in 10 residents in Scotland’s largest city undertake a daily journey in a pre-booked car or via a ride-hailing service.
Daily Trip Frequency: City Rankings
This placement puts Glasgow ahead of London and Southampton, which are tied for second place in terms of daily PHV journeys. The analysis further ranks Leeds and Belfast joint fourth, followed by Bristol and Sheffield. Completing the top 10 are Birmingham, Newcastle, and Manchester.
Monthly Spending: Southampton Residents Lead
By contrast, Cardiff was identified as the city least reliant on private hire services, with a significant 67% of respondents reporting they use a minicab less than once a month.
While Glaswegians record the highest number of daily trips, the data reveals a different pattern for monthly expenditure. Southampton ranks highest here, with the largest proportion of residents spending more than £300 per month on PHV journeys. Glasgow and Newcastle are tied in second place for this spending metric, followed by Sheffield. London and Norwich share fifth position, with Bristol, Leeds, Manchester, and Birmingham also featuring in the top 10 for high monthly outlay.
Regional Disparities and Transport Trust
The research highlights a notable gap in spending levels. Close to one in 10 Southampton residents (around 8-10%) spend over £300 monthly on PHVs, compared to one in 20 (5%) in Glasgow. The UK average for spending at this level stands at just 2%.
David Sweeney, Head of Taxi Broking at The Taxi Insurer, commented on the findings, noting that regional disparities in transport infrastructure influence dependency on private hire. “Our research shows that almost one in 10 non-drivers in northern England and Wales feel they cannot rely on public transport, effectively leaving private hire vehicles as their primary means of travel,” he stated. “Nationally, one in 20 respondents reported a lack of trust in their local public transport options.”
Expert Commentary on the Findings
Sweeney pointed out the dichotomy between Glasgow’s usage frequency and its
Image Credit: www.taxi-point.co.uk
