Minibus TaxiOne vehicle, one driver, the whole group together · 9 to 16 passengers · fixed fares from £130
A minibus taxi is a pre-booked minibus with a driver, carrying 9 to 16 passengers. It is the next step up from an MPV, and the vehicle to book when your group is too large for a single people carrier. One vehicle means one pickup, one driver, one fixed fare and everyone arriving together — for airport transfers, weddings, events and team travel.
What Is a Minibus Taxi? It Starts Exactly Where the MPV Stops
Why the line sits at eight and nine
A private hire car or MPV can carry at most eight passengers. Add a ninth seat and the vehicle is treated as a public service vehicle, which needs a driver with a passenger-carrying licence. That legal line is why our fleet runs MPVs up to eight and larger vehicles from ten.
For your group, the practical rule is simple: eight or fewer, book an MPV; nine or more, book a minibus taxi.
Sixteen seats, plus the driver
In minibus hire, a 16-seater means 16 passenger seats. The driver sits in an extra seat. With cars and MPVs it is the other way round — a 7 seater usually counts the driver.
Nobody in your group has to drive
This is not self-drive van hire. The fare includes a driver who holds the licence the vehicle needs, so your group simply travels.
10, 12, 14 or 16 Seats: Find the Minibus Taxi That Fits Your Group
Passenger and luggage limits for each size in our fleet. Read the two columns together — a group that fits the seats can still run out of luggage space.
| Size | Passengers | Luggage | From | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10-seater minibus | 9–10 | 8 large + 8 cabin | £130 | Nine or ten passengers who have outgrown an MPV. The best luggage-per-seat balance of the smaller minibuses. |
| 12-seater minibus | 11–12 | 8 large + 8 cabin | £155 | Eleven or twelve travelling light. Same 8 large cases as the 10-seater — the extra fare buys seats, not boot space. |
| 14-seater minibus | 13–14 | 12 large | Quote | Where luggage steps up to 12 large cases. The right size for twelve people who each bring a checked bag. |
| 16-seater minibus | 15–16 | 12 large + 16 cabin | £177 | The largest minibus — the last size before a coach. Same 12-case boot as the 14-seater, two more seats. |
← Scroll across for the full table →
Meet the Fleet: Every Minibus Taxi Size, Side by Side
A booking confirms the size and its capacity rather than a particular make, so each photo shows a typical minibus taxi for that size. Each has its own guide with fares to every airport and port.
How Many Suitcases Fit in a 16 Seater Minibus? Fewer Than You’d Think
Why one firm says 5 and another says 16
Search this and you will see anything from five suitcases to sixteen. The difference is the vehicle: some have only overhead racks, others a dedicated rear boot. Always ask for the large-case figure, not the seat count. Our 16 seater airport guide covers this in detail.
Full seats, smaller boot
The more rows of seats a vehicle has, the shorter its luggage area. A 14-seater has the same 12-case capacity as the 16-seater, which is why it suits groups who want extra legroom.
More bags than boot? Here’s the fix
The fixes are a larger vehicle, a second car for the luggage, or a coach. Deciding this at booking costs little; discovering it at the kerb can cost a flight.
Which Minibus Taxi Do You Need? Find Out in 10 Seconds
Enter your real passenger and suitcase count. The result uses the same limits as the table above.
How Much Does a Minibus Taxi Cost? From £11 a Head
| Airport | 10-seater | 12-seater | 16-seater |
|---|---|---|---|
| London City | £130 £13.00 each | £155 £12.92 each | £177 £11.06 each |
| Heathrow | £139 £13.90 each | £165 £13.75 each | £189 £11.81 each |
| Luton | £168 £16.80 each | £200 £16.67 each | £230 £14.38 each |
| Gatwick | £172 £17.20 each | £204 £17.00 each | £234 £14.62 each |
| Stansted | £176 £17.60 each | £210 £17.50 each | £241 £15.06 each |
| Southend | £210 £21.00 each | £250 £20.83 each | £287 £17.94 each |
← Scroll across for the full table →
| Airport | 16-seater | Per person (16) | Four saloons | Minibus is… |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London City | £177 | £11.06 | £172 | £5 more |
| Heathrow | £189 | £11.81 | £192 | £3 cheaper |
| Luton | £230 | £14.38 | £268 | £38 cheaper |
| Gatwick | £234 | £14.62 | £276 | £42 cheaper |
| Stansted | £241 | £15.06 | £256 | £15 cheaper |
| Southend | £287 | £17.94 | — | — |
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Going further? The minibus wins
To Gatwick, Luton and Stansted, one 16-seater costs £15 to £42 less than four saloons — and still carries the whole group together.
Short hop? Same price, more luggage
To London City and Heathrow the price is within a few pounds either way. The 16-seater wins on luggage instead: four saloons take 8 large cases, the 16-seater takes 12.
Arrive together, not in four waves
Four cars mean four drivers, four arrival times and four airport charges. One vehicle means the group checks in together.
16 People, One Flight: What’s the Smartest Way to Gatwick?
Pure price is not the only test. Luggage and arrival pattern matter as much.
| Arrangement | Vehicles | Total | Per person | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| One 16-seater minibus | 1 | £234 | £14.62 | Together |
| Two MPV8s | 2 | £220 | £13.75 | Two groups |
| One 12-seater and one saloon | 2 | £273 | £17.06 | Two groups |
| Four saloons | 4 | £276 | £17.25 | Four groups |
| Four MPV7s | 4 | £380 | £23.75 | Four groups |
← Scroll across for the full table →
Get Your Minibus Taxi Quote Right First Time — Tell Us These 8 Things
Every passenger
Adults and children. Each fitted child seat uses a passenger place.
Every large case
Count checked suitcases one by one — “normal luggage” is not enough.
Bulky items
Golf bags, skis, prams, wheelchairs, instruments and sports kit.
All pickups
Every collection address or hotel, so time and fare cover the full route.
Flight and terminal
The flight number for arrivals, and the terminal for departures.
Height limits
Mention car parks or covered hotel entrances with height barriers.
Accessibility
Wheelchair users, and whether they can transfer to a seat.
Return journey
Groups usually come back with more than they left with.
No Surprises: What Every Minibus Taxi Booking Includes
Licensed driver, always
The driver holds the passenger-carrying licence the vehicle needs and is DBS checked. You receive their name and a direct number before pickup.
Insured, inspected, ULEZ compliant
Every vehicle is fully insured, regularly inspected and meets London’s emissions standards — no ULEZ charge added.
No surcharges
A 3 AM run costs the same as 3 PM. No surge, no night premium, no meter. One fixed fare for the vehicle.
Free waiting from landing
45 to 60 minutes depending on the airport, counted from actual touchdown. The flight is tracked.
Meet and greet
The driver meets the group in arrivals, which matters more for 16 people than for one.
Free cancellation
Full refund more than 24 hours ahead; case by case inside 24 hours. See the refund policy.
Land, Meet Your Driver, Go: Airport Minibus Taxi to Every London Airport
Holiday groups, school trips and corporate teams make up most minibus taxi bookings. Every airport transfer includes flight tracking, meet and greet in arrivals, free child seats and the airport drop-off charge inside the fixed fare.
| Airport | Drop-off charge |
|---|---|
| Heathrow Airport | £7 |
| Gatwick Airport | £10 |
| Stansted Airport | £10 |
| Luton Airport | £9 |
| London City Airport | £8 |
| Southend Airport | — |
From “I Do” to Embarkation: Minibus Taxis for Every Group Occasion
Weddings
Guest shuttles between hotel, ceremony and reception, with several pickups planned into one route.
Corporate and events
Team travel, conferences, race days and concerts. See corporate taxi for account bookings.
Mainline stations
King’s Cross, St Pancras, Euston, Paddington, Waterloo, Victoria and more. Station taxis →
Accessible travel
Wheelchair-accessible transport can be arranged — request it at booking, as a standard vehicle has no ramp.
Bigger Than 16? Here’s How to Move the Whole Crowd
Sixteen seats is the largest minibus taxi size. Beyond that, a coach carries the group in one vehicle, or two smaller vehicles split it cleanly.
| Group | Start with | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 5–8 passengers | MPV | Cheaper than a minibus for the same group |
| 9–10 passengers | 10-seater | Smallest size, 8 large bags |
| 11–12 passengers, light luggage | 12-seater | 8 large bags |
| 9–12 passengers, a case each | 14-seater | Luggage jumps to 12 large bags |
| 13–16 passengers | 14 or 16-seater | 12 large cases — plan extra luggage |
| 17–24 passengers | Two vehicles | Two minibuses, or a minibus and an MPV |
| 25+ passengers | Coach | One vehicle for the whole group |
Not Quite a Minibus Group? Explore the Rest of the Fleet
Everything else you might need for your minibus taxi trip, grouped by what you are likely to check next.