Cab Exchange for private hire operators

Cab Exchange gives licensed private hire operators another route to demand without dictating which journeys they must take or the fare they must charge. Operators choose the work they want to price and submit their own offer.

1. Register the operator

Create an Operator account using the licensed operator's business details. Cab Exchange records information including the trading name, TfL operator licence number, operating address, telephone, business email, licence expiry and fleet size.

2. Verification before market access

Operator accounts start pending verification. An account must be verified for exchange access before it can submit prices to customer enquiries.

3. Browse live enquiries

Verified operators can browse journey enquiries containing the information needed to make a commercial pricing decision — route, timing, vehicle class, passenger count and relevant journey details. Customer contact details remain restricted during price discovery.

4. Set your own fare

Cab Exchange does not dictate the operator's fare. The operator decides whether to quote and enters the total price it is prepared to offer for the journey described.

5. Customer selects an operator

If the customer selects your quote, the enquiry moves into your selected work area and the relevant customer contact information becomes available so you can deal with the customer directly.

6. Process the booking in your own system

Cab Exchange is not intended to replace the operator's dispatch or booking system. The operator handles the actual private hire booking, maintains the records required of it, issues the booking confirmation and fulfils the journey under its own licence and operating processes.

7. Confirm back to the exchange

Once the operator has processed the booking, it confirms that status on Cab Exchange. The customer is told to look out for the separate booking confirmation sent by the operator.

Reviews and reputation

Customer feedback belongs to the operator profile. A strong marketplace reputation gives operators another way to compete beyond simply being the lowest-priced offer.

Commercial principle: Cab Exchange is designed around operator pricing choice. You choose the enquiries you want and set the price you are prepared to offer.

Official sources and further reading

Guides are general information, not legal advice. Licensing rules and operator requirements can change; check TfL for the current position.