Cars for film & TV hire

Taxis for film and TV: London cabs, yellow cabs and more

A taxi scene might begin at a rank, with a hail or during a conversation in the back. Choose the cab for the city and period as well as the planned action. Roof signs, readable licensing details and fictional plate dressing need attention. Discuss passenger access and camera positions before assuming that a static arrival and a moving dialogue scene can share the same arrangements. There are 33 listings in the Taxi selection, dating from 1936 to 2019; start with the scene’s date when choosing which vehicles to look at more closely. The most common categories in this selection are American and Modern, offering another route into the vehicles when a model name is not yet part of the brief. You will find yellow, black and cream among the leading colours, useful for a first comparison with wardrobe, location and any other vehicles sharing the shot. 4 listings show photographs provided by their owners.

Taxis are written into scripts all the time, for arrivals, departures, chases and back-seat conversations. The cab you choose tells the audience the city and the decade straight away. CarSeen lists 33 taxis for film, TV and commercial hire, from pre-war London cabs to the FX4, Fairway and TX4, plus New York yellow cabs and others. For London black cabs specifically, see our black cab hire for filming guide.

Need a taxi in shot? Read our black cab guide

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Looking further afield? Browse all picture car hire options or see picture cars for film.

Plan the scene with TV production vehicle hire, action vehicle hire or background vehicles for film.

London black cabs by era

The London cab has changed slowly, which is why the details matter. The Austin FX3 belongs to the 1950s. The FX4, with its long production run, covers the 1960s to the 1990s, and later Fairway versions carry it on. The TX1, TX2 and TX4 take over from the late 1990s into the 2010s, and today's streets are increasingly electric. Tell us the year and we'll suggest the right model.

New York yellow cabs

US-set scenes filmed in Britain often need a New York cab. The Checker Marathon is the classic yellow cab shape of the 1960s to 1980s. The Ford Crown Victoria took over as the familiar New York taxi in later decades. Both appear in our catalogue, and most are left-hand drive. See American cars for film.

Filming with a picture taxi

A picture taxi shouldn't pick up real passengers while it's dressed for filming, and roof signs may need to be covered or switched off between takes on public roads. If you're filming inside the cab while it moves, plan for a tracking vehicle or low loader. We note the practical points for each cab when we send options. In London, see picture car hire in London for permissions.

FAQ

Can I hire a taxi for filming?

Yes. CarSeen sources taxis for film, TV, commercials and music videos, including London black cabs from several eras and New York yellow cabs.

Which London cab suits my period?

Broadly, the FX3 for the 1950s, the FX4 for the 1960s to 1990s, and the TX models from the late 1990s onwards. Tell us the year and we will suggest the right cab.

Do you have New York yellow cabs in the UK?

Yes. The catalogue includes Checker Marathon and Ford Crown Victoria cabs in New York style. Most are left-hand drive.

Can we film inside a moving taxi?

Usually with a tracking vehicle or low loader, depending on the shot and location. Tell us how you plan to shoot and we will confirm the options for each cab.

Guides

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