Calls grow for driver representatives for TfL to fix private hire licensing delays as pressure mounts
- Perry Richardson
- 3 hours ago
- 3 min read
Drivers Representation & Advocacy (DRA) are calling on Transport for London (TfL) to get a grip on the mounting backlog of private hire licence renewals, warning that the delays are leaving thousands of workers without income and with growing strain at home.
Data published by TfL for 21 October 2025 shows more than 5,000 renewal applications still awaiting a decision. A total of 676 drivers currently hold expired licences and cannot legally work. TfL has issued 1,601 temporary licences to keep some drivers earning, but more than 2,200 applications remain stuck behind issues such as incomplete forms, outstanding SERU or English requirements and medical checks.
TfL has received over £630,000 in 2025 from SERU and English language assessments. Drivers say this only sharpens frustration that the licensing system remains unable to process their renewals in time.
TfL has taken on 40 new staff to try to clear the delays. Drivers say the move came too late for many who have already spent weeks or months without income. Earlier this year, driver Robert Dale died after suffering a heart attack during a period in which he was unable to work while waiting for his licence renewal. His family linked the pressure and financial instability to the strain he was under.
Legal firm DPG Law are said to be preparing action, arguing the long delays may breach TfL’s duty to drivers who have fulfilled all licensing requirements. The Greater London Authority’s Research Unit has also confirmed that Assembly Members will now seek weekly progress updates until the backlog is resolved.
For many private hire drivers, a licence is their only route to income. Extended delays immediately cut off earnings and leave households unable to cover essential costs. Driver groups say families are now falling behind on rent, vehicle payments and bills while waiting for TfL to act.
TfL has cited several pressures behind the backlog, including the introduction of a new licensing system, a recent cyber incident and difficult staffing conditions following the pandemic. The Drivers Representation and Advocacy group says these factors do not explain why delays have been allowed to accumulate to such a scale, nor why drivers are being left without support.
DRA is calling on TfL and the Mayor to produce weekly public updates on processing times and outstanding cases. It also wants an assurance that no driver will lose earnings because of delays they did not cause. The group is seeking a formal consultation to put in place fairer relief measures for those affected.
A spokesperson for the group said drivers are keeping London moving but are being held back by a system that does not process their applications in time for them to work. The group says the current situation is avoidable and that stronger planning, faster decision making and better communication would prevent drivers from repeatedly falling into the same cycle of uncertainty.
DRA also argues that the system should prioritise cases where delays have already left a driver without income. Many drivers report waiting weeks for updates before discovering their application has been paused due to an issue that could have been resolved much earlier with clearer guidance.
Industry representatives say confidence in the licensing process has fallen sharply. Many now choose to apply months ahead of renewal dates to avoid being caught up in delays. Driver groups say this is not a long-term solution and that TfL must return processing times to a predictable level.
With legal action now being prepared and scrutiny from City Hall intensifying, pressure on TfL to deliver improvements is growing.
Yaseen Aslam, Founder of DRA, said: “I have been actively organising drivers since 2014, and sadly the issues at TfL remain the same — if anything, they are getting worse. On one hand, drivers continue to face brutal exploitation, misclassification, and long working hours for very little pay. On the other, regulators such as TfL and the government have failed to ensure workers enjoy even the most basic statutory rights. Now, with licensing delays, TfL is making an already difficult situation much worse.
“Drivers kept London moving in the most difficult of times. They need regulators to stand with them, not add to their hardship. We want to work constructively with TfL to find solutions — whether that’s clearer timelines, temporary relief measures, or better communication with drivers. Immediate steps would make a huge difference to those who are struggling.”
