CHANCE FOR CHANGE: Deadline day looms for taxi and private licensing inquiry evidence submissions

Industry figures have just days left to submit evidence to a key inquiry reviewing the state of taxi and private hire vehicle (PHV) licensing and regulation across England.

The Transport Committee is calling for written submissions by 11.59pm on Sunday 8 September. The inquiry is assessing whether the current licensing system, largely overseen by local authorities, delivers consistent standards in safety, accessibility and service quality.

Licensing powers currently sit with local councils and combined authorities, including Transport for London. These bodies operate within a legal framework but are allowed to set their own rules on issues such as vehicle safety checks, driver training and passenger accessibility. This has created wide variation between regions.

One of the inquiry’s main areas of interest is cross-border licensing, where drivers obtain licences from authorities with lighter conditions before working in more regulated areas. Wolverhampton City Council has become a central example, having issued 96% of its licences to drivers living outside the city. In Greater Manchester alone, 9,000 drivers licensed by Wolverhampton live and work locally.

The Committee is expected to examine whether this practice undermines local enforcement and passenger safety, and whether national rules are needed to address the imbalance.

MPs will also review the ability of local authorities to enforce standards on drivers who operate in their area but hold licences from elsewhere. There is currently no legal jurisdiction for councils to inspect or take action against drivers licensed by another authority.

Submissions are expected to argue for a minimum national licensing standard, particularly covering background checks, vehicle safety and safeguarding. Trade representatives are also expected to call for shared or regional enforcement powers to improve accountability across borders.

The review will assess how standards differ between traditional taxis, PHVs and app-based operators such as Uber and Bolt. There is likely to be renewed focus on how ride-hailing firms use cross-border licensing to operate in areas where they have not met local conditions.

Accessibility is also on the agenda, particularly the shortage of wheelchair-accessible vehicles in the PHV sector. Evidence will likely call for national requirements to address this issue and support disabled passengers.

Other areas of focus include the complaints process, with concerns that both passengers and drivers struggle to identify the correct authority when issues arise. A more centralised complaints system may be suggested.

The Committee will also explore future regulatory challenges, including the emergence of autonomous vehicles in the taxi and PHV sectors. Licensing, safety and insurance frameworks will be considered as the technology develops.

Chair of the Committee, Ruth Cadbury MP, said the current “patchwork” of rules leaves both drivers and passengers exposed. The Committee is aiming to determine whether a more unified system can better support public safety and service standards nationwide.

Written evidence can be submitted via the Transport Committee’s website until 11.59pm on 8 September 2025.