How can you arrange paid school transport in London?

Katerina Galkina · EN · 07/10/2026

Start with the school office: ask about school buses, recognised transport providers and arrangements for handing children to drivers. Then compare a regular service with licensed private hire. A personal driver recommendation does not replace checking a service for daily child transport.

Define the journey before requesting a quote

Specify the child's age, days, addresses, times, need for an escort to the classroom, a child seat and journeys after clubs. Ask whether the route is shared, how long it takes and who is responsible before and after boarding. Check the school's authorised-collection procedure.

Do not publish a child's full address and timetable. Give details to the chosen operator through its official contact channel.

Check licensing

For London private hire, use TfL's taxi and minicab tools ↗ to check the operator, driver and vehicle. A minicab must be booked through a licensed company. The confirmation should let you verify the vehicle and driver; a private arrangement outside the booking process is not a substitute. TfL: booking a minicab ↗.

Ask whether the operator accepts children without an accompanying adult, its age restrictions and who substitutes for the regular driver. Licensing does not mean every company offers a children's school-run service.

Agree seating and handover

Child-seat rules depend on vehicle type: taxis, private hire and minibuses have exceptions that differ from ordinary cars. Before paying, agree an appropriate seat or booster, installation and storage in writing. A legal exception is not a promise that an operator will supply a seat. GOV.UK: child car seats and exceptions ↗.

Agree what happens if the driver is late, school is closed, no adult is at home or the driver differs from the booking confirmation. Your child should know whom to approach at school when their usual journey falls through.

Check the contract and trial the route

Request a weekly or termly quote and terms for holidays, cancellation, illness, waiting and late collection. Compare the total cost for your actual schedule rather than one advertised journey. Ask about insurance covering the service and the complaints process.

Make a trial journey with a parent to check timing and meeting points. If distance or SEND may justify public assistance, apply separately to the council first: signing a private contract does not itself establish reimbursement rights. DfE: home-to-school travel ↗.

TfL licensing covers London. Checked on 7 October 2026.