Our taxi and minibus fleet, saloons to 16 seats
Choosing the right vehicle matters most when you have luggage, a group or an early flight. Here is what each one carries and which suits which journey.
Standard fleet
Saloon
Up to 4 passengersLuggage: 2 large and 2 small cases. Local journeys, station runs, appointments and airport trips.
Estate
Up to 4 passengersLuggage: 3 large cases and 1 small. Airport transfers where luggage is the constraint rather than seats.
6-seater
Up to 6 passengersLuggage: up to 4 large cases. With large cases we recommend no more than 4 passengers. Small groups and families who need an extra row without a full minibus.
8-seater minibus
Up to 8 passengersLuggage: 6 large cases and up to 4 small. Small groups, family airport trips and nights out. 8-seater hire.
13-seater minibus
Up to 13 passengersLuggage: very little space behind the seats, so we do not recommend it for airport runs. Larger groups, sports teams and event transport. Minibus hire.
Executive Mercedes fleet
Mercedes E-Class
Up to 4 passengersLuggage: 2 large and 2 small cases. Client collections, business travel and corporate airport runs.
Mercedes V-Class
Up to 7 passengersLuggage: 4 large and 2 small cases. Weddings, executive groups and premium airport transfers.
Mercedes Vito
Up to 8 passengersLuggage: 6 large cases and up to 4 small. Corporate groups and premium group transfers.
Mercedes Sprinter
Up to 16 passengersLuggage: a large luggage area that takes up to 16 cases. Full group transfers, school trips and wedding shuttles. 16-seater hire.
Vehicle types and capacity
| Vehicle | Passengers | Luggage | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saloon | Up to 4 | 2 large, 2 small | Local journeys, station runs, appointments, and solo or couple airport trips |
| Estate | Up to 4 | 3 large, 1 small | Airport transfers where luggage is the constraint rather than seats |
| 6-seater | Up to 6 | Up to 4 large (4 passengers with large cases) | Small groups and families |
| Executive car | Up to 4 | 2 large, 2 small | Client collections, business travel, weddings and corporate airport runs |
| Mercedes V-Class | Up to 7 | 4 large, 2 small | Weddings, executive groups, premium airport transfers |
| Mercedes Vito | Up to 8 | 6 large, up to 4 small | Corporate groups and premium group transfers |
| 8-seat minibus | Up to 8 | 6 large, up to 4 small | Small groups, family airport trips, nights out |
| 13-seat minibus | Up to 13 | Very limited; not recommended for airport runs | Larger groups, sports teams, event transport |
| 16-seat Sprinter | Up to 16 | Up to 16 cases | Full group transfers, school trips, wedding guest shuttles |
All minibus bookings include a driver. Know your numbers? Confirm a group quote and we will match the vehicle to your group.
Which vehicle do I need?
The most common booking mistake is choosing on passenger count alone. Luggage is just as often the deciding factor.
| Your journey | Book this | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Two people to Gatwick, one case each | Saloon | Comfortable on seats and boot space |
| Four adults with four large cases | 6-seater or 8-seat | Seats are not the limit here, luggage is: an estate takes 3 large cases, a 6-seater takes 4 large cases with 4 passengers |
| A group of six | 8-seat minibus | Usually simpler and cheaper than two saloons |
| Client collection or business meeting | Executive | Executive travel |
| Hospital appointment with a wait | Saloon | Wait-and-return available |
| Wedding guest shuttle or school trip | 13 or 16-seat | Moves the whole group in one vehicle |
Choosing between a saloon and an estate
Both carry up to four passengers. The difference is boot space. Four adults flying with four large suitcases will not be comfortable in a saloon. Ask for an estate, or step up to a minibus.
Tell us what you are carrying. The most common cause of a difficult airport pickup is luggage that does not fit. When you book, tell us the number of passengers and the number and size of bags, plus anything bulky such as golf clubs, skis, a pushchair or a musical instrument. We will confirm the right vehicle before you travel.
Every vehicle, every driver
Licensed & DBS checked
Drivers are licensed by Tunbridge Wells Borough Council with an Enhanced DBS check. Every vehicle is separately licensed. Our private hire operator licence number is 24/04257/TXOP5, issued by Tunbridge Wells Borough Council.
Serviced & cleaned
Vehicles are prepared before every pickup.
Priced in advance
As a private hire operator we quote before you travel. How fares work.
Available 24/7
Late nights, early flights, weekends and bank holidays.
Booking a minibus for a group
Our larger minibuses are booked a little differently from a car, so here is what to expect.
Quotes by email
Send your dates, pickup times, route and number of passengers to info@tunbridgewells888.co.uk and we will reply with a fixed quote.
Paid in advance
13- and 16-seat bookings are paid in advance by invoice. A refundable damage and spoilage deposit applies, returned in full when the vehicle comes back clean and undamaged.
Notice
Please give at least 24 hours’ notice for the 16-seat Mercedes Sprinter, and more for weekends, weddings and December. Popular dates go early.
Cancellation terms for 13- and 16-seat vehicles differ from car bookings. See our booking terms. We do not supply coaches. Our largest vehicle carries 16 passengers.
Child seats
For hygiene reasons we do not supply child car seats. Please bring your own seat for any child who needs one. Your driver will help you fit it and hand it back at the end of the journey.
On regular school runs the family’s own seat is usually kept in the car, so it is ready every day.
When to choose an executive car
A standard saloon or estate is the right choice for most local and airport journeys. Choose an executive Mercedes when the car is part of the occasion: collecting a client, a wedding, or a long airport run where you want extra comfort.
See our Tunbridge Wells taxi service, executive taxis and corporate accounts, or read our guide to executive car vs standard taxi.
Read before you book
Book your vehicle
Call us 24 hours a day, or request a free fixed-price quote online.
