Getting home safely late at night

Whether you are finishing a late shift, coming back from a concert or heading home after a night out, the journey home is part of the evening. A little planning makes it quicker, less stressful and, above all, safer. Here is a simple routine that works almost anywhere in the UK.

Plan before you go out

The easiest time to sort out a taxi home is before you leave the house.

• Find a local firm in advance. Browse taxis by town to find firms near where you will be, and check their opening hours. Not every firm runs through the night.
• Save the number in your phone. At the end of the evening you do not want to be searching the internet on a low battery.
• Install the firm's app, if it has one. Booking through the app means you can usually see the car's details before it arrives. Our guide to booking through a local firm's app explains more.
• Pre-book if you know your time. If the event ends at a set time, book the car in advance. Friday and Saturday nights, and the weeks before Christmas, can mean long waits.
• Charge your phone, and consider taking a small power bank.
• Agree a plan with friends. Decide who is sharing a car, and where you will meet if you get separated.

Getting a car at the end of the night

In England, Scotland and Wales you have two safe options: a hackney carriage from a rank or the street, or a private hire vehicle booked through a licensed operator. The rules are different in Northern Ireland.

Taking a taxi from a rank

Hackney carriages are the taxis that can be hailed in the street or picked up at a rank. Some town centres have marshalled ranks at busy times, with staff keeping the queue moving. Use the official rank, rather than accepting offers from cars waiting nearby.

Booking private hire

Private hire vehicles, often called minicabs, must be booked through a licensed operator, by phone, app or website. A private hire driver cannot pick you up without a booking, however empty the car and however long the queue. If someone pulls up and offers you a ride without a booking, say no. The journey is not allowed, and the car may not be insured to carry you.

Once you have booked, wait somewhere safe and well lit, ideally indoors, until the firm tells you the car has arrived.

Check before you get in

Take a few seconds to check the car, even if you are tired and cold.

1. Match the booking. Check that the registration, make and colour match what the firm or the app told you.
2. Ask who they are here for. Instead of saying your name, ask the driver who they are picking up. A genuine driver will know your name and where you are going.
3. Look for the licence. Licensed vehicles normally show a licence plate, disc or sticker, and licensed drivers normally carry a photo ID badge. In England, Scotland and Wales, councils license drivers, vehicles and operators, and in London Transport for London does.
4. If in doubt, stay out. If something does not match, do not get in. Call the firm on the number you booked with.

During the journey

• Sit in the back, and keep your phone and belongings with you.
• Share your journey with someone you trust. Send them the car's details and the time you expect to be home. Some apps let you share your trip directly.
• Follow the route on your phone's map if you are unsure where you are.
• If it would help you feel safer, ask the driver to wait until you are inside your front door.
• If you feel unsafe at any point, ask the driver to stop somewhere busy and well lit, and call the firm. In an emergency, call 999.

Sharing a car with friends

Sharing a car home is sociable and often makes sense, but think about the order of drop-offs. Try not to leave one person travelling the last stretch alone if they would rather not, and ask everyone to send a message when they are safely in. If you book for a friend, give the firm their name and phone number as well as your own, and send them the car's details so they can do the same checks you would.

Afterwards

If something about the journey worried you, report it, even if it seems minor. Tell the firm first, giving the date, time and the car's details. You can also contact the authority that licenses the driver or vehicle. In England, Scotland and Wales that is the local council, or Transport for London in London. Reports help licensing teams and firms deal with problems before they happen to someone else.

If the journey went well, it is worth saving that firm as your go-to for late nights. Knowing who you will call, and having their app or number ready, takes a lot of the worry out of the end of the evening.

Taxi Directory lists local firms but does not take bookings or check licences, so the checks above are worth doing every time. For more general tips, see how it works and the FAQ.