Taxi & PHV Take-Home Pay Calculator 2025/26
Calculate net take-home pay for UK taxi and private hire vehicle (PHV) drivers on Uber, Bolt, FreeNow or as an owner-operator. Deduct platform commission, fuel, vehicle costs, insurance, licence fees and tax to find your true hourly rate and annual income.
Key Inputs
- Platform: Uber / Bolt / FreeNow / owner-operator (radio circuit)
- Weekly gross fares earned
- Platform commission percentage (Uber: typically 25%; Bolt: typically 20–25%)
- Fuel cost per week
- Vehicle monthly cost (finance payment or depreciation estimate)
- Insurance cost per month (taxi or PHV use)
- TfL or local authority PHV/taxi licence fee per year
- Accountant or bookkeeping cost per year
- Hours worked per week
What You'll Get
- Weekly net income after all deductions
- Annual net income
- Effective hourly rate
- Income tax and National Insurance estimate (self-employed)
- Take-home after tax
Important Notes — 2025/26 Rates & Caveats
Uber commission in the UK is typically 25% of gross fares, though this can vary by city, tier and promotions. PHV licence fees: TfL London PHV licence is £180 for a new 3-year licence (2025/26). Outside London, local authority fees vary widely (£200–£500/year). From the 2021 UK Supreme Court ruling, Uber drivers are classified as workers (not self-employed), entitling them to the National Living Wage (£12.21/hour from April 2025), holiday pay and pension auto-enrolment — Uber has committed to providing these rights. This affects the minimum viable earnings calculation significantly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What commission does Uber charge in the UK?
Uber typically charges 25% commission on gross fares in the UK, meaning drivers retain 75% of the fare shown on the passenger's app. The actual commission can vary by city, driver tier (e.g. Uber Pro), and promotional periods. Bolt typically charges 20–22% commission. FreeNow (formerly Hailo/MyTaxi) charges vary by agreement. Owner-operators using a radio circuit or their own customer base avoid platform commission but must invest in marketing and dispatch.
Are PHV drivers self-employed in the UK?
The UK Supreme Court ruled in February 2021 that Uber drivers are workers (a category between employee and self-employed), not self-employed contractors. This entitles Uber drivers to the National Living Wage (£12.21/hour from April 2025), paid holiday (12.07% of hours worked), and pension auto-enrolment. Drivers on other platforms (Bolt, FreeNow) may have different arrangements — check your platform agreement and consider HMRC employment status guidance (ESS tool) if unsure.
What is the London TfL PHV licence cost?
A new TfL Private Hire Vehicle (PHV) driver licence in London costs £180 for a 3-year licence (2025/26 fee). Renewal costs £180. Vehicle licensing costs are separate: a PHV vehicle licence costs £210 for 1 year or £396 for 2 years. These fees are set by TfL and reviewed periodically. Outside London, local authority PHV licence fees vary — typical range is £200–£500 per year for the combined driver and vehicle licence.
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