Private Hire drivers set to pay daily £11.50 Congestion Charge

It is reported that Private Hire drivers are going to be asked to pay the daily Congestion Charge in London. 

According to reports in the Sunday Times, minicab drivers may have to pay an extra £3000 to operate in the Capital. 

Transport for London is looking to introduce the £11.50 charge due to the explosion in numbers over the last few years. This has affected the air quality and and congestion in London. It may also be seen as a way of capping the amount of private hire drivers licensed as the government continues to refuse to look at numbers.

Tom Moody, the head of policy for Taxi and Private Hire at TfL, said “We will be looking at the congestion charge potentially for private hire" in the coming months. 

This will be seen as a further setback to minicab operators like Uber who compete in the crowded transport market by offering cheap rights over quality. It is estimated that the Congestion Charge will cost Uber drivers upwards of £20 million each year.