Chauffeur service in London

A visitor's guide to the options: black cabs, private hire and chauffeur services compared, plus congestion zones and when each fits.

A car service in London means one of three things: a black cab you hail on the street, a private hire car you pre-book through a licensed operator, or a chauffeur service with an executive vehicle and a professional driver. All three are legal, regulated and useful, but they fit different situations, and visitors who understand the distinction save money on some journeys and frustration on others.

SilverDrive is an Amsterdam-based chauffeur company. We do not operate a fleet inside London, but we drive clients there from the Netherlands regularly, and our guide gives the honest version of how the London system, congestion and emission zones included, actually works.

Read the full London guide