A 40-minute taxi journey has no universal price. In London, TfL’s 2026 fare card gives a typical six-mile journey taking about 28–40 minutes as £33–£42 on Tariff 1 and £41–£45 on Tariffs 2 and 3. Forty minutes with a different distance, location or tariff can cost differently.
Official London example
TfL regulates London black-cab fares. The meter uses the time of day, journey distance and journey time; it does not charge one universal price per minute. The minimum fare is £4.40 from 25 April 2026.
See the official TfL 2026 taxi fare card and TfL’s 2026 fares notice.
Why time alone cannot determine the fare
- Distance: 40 minutes in slow traffic may cover far fewer miles than 40 minutes on a clear road.
- Tariff: London has different daytime, evening/weekend and night/public-holiday tariffs.
- Location: councils outside London publish their own hackney-carriage tariffs.
- Booking type: a pre-booked private-hire operator may offer an upfront price instead of a metered fare.
- Extras: permitted booking, airport or other charges may apply.
How to estimate a 40-minute journey
For a London black cab, identify the likely mileage and the tariff for the pickup time, then use TfL’s fare card. For private hire, enter the exact pickup, destination, date, time and vehicle requirements to obtain a quote. Outside London, use the relevant licensing authority’s current tariff.
Do not multiply 40 by a supposed per-minute or per-mile national rate. UK taxi tariffs are local, and London’s meter combines time and distance.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a 40-minute taxi in London?
TfL’s closest published example is a six-mile journey taking about 28–40 minutes: £33–£42 on Tariff 1 and £41–£45 on Tariffs 2 and 3. This is a typical range, not a guaranteed 40-minute price.
What are London’s tariff times?
Tariff 1 generally applies weekdays 05:00–20:00, Tariff 2 weekday evenings and weekends 05:00–22:00, and Tariff 3 nightly 22:00–05:00 and on public holidays. Consult TfL’s fare card for the full conditions.
Is a fixed private-hire quote cheaper?
Not necessarily. It provides price certainty, but the cheaper choice depends on the actual quote, route, traffic, tariff and extras.
Summary
Use £33–£45 only as TfL’s six-mile London example spanning roughly 28–40 minutes. For any real journey, provide the exact route and travel time to get a relevant meter range or fixed quote.
