CROSS-BORDER IDENTITY: Mayor of London asked whether TfL will identify private hire firms using only TfL-licensed drivers to passengers
- Perry Richardson
- 1 hour ago
- 2 min read
The Mayor of London is facing fresh questions over whether passengers should be able to identify which private hire operators use only Transport for London (TfL) licensed drivers and vehicles when carrying out journeys in the capital.
Ahead of July’s Mayor’s Question Time, London Assembly Member Hina Bokhari OBE has asked whether TfL will publish a list of companies that exclusively dispatch TfL-licensed vehicles and TfL-licensed drivers for journeys undertaken within Greater London.
The written question comes amid ongoing debate around cross-border hiring, where private hire operators licensed by authorities outside London are able to accept and dispatch bookings that take place within the capital under current legislation. This has become one of the most contentious issues affecting London’s private hire market, with concerns regularly raised about differences in licensing standards and enforcement between authorities.
Bokhari’s question asks: “Will Transport for London publish a list of those companies which, notwithstanding their holding of operator licences granted by other licensing authorities, dispatch exclusively TfL-licensed vehicles and TfL-licensed drivers for all journeys undertaken within Greater London, so that passengers can identify which companies operate exclusively to London’s licensing standards when travelling in the capital?”
The proposal centres on consumer transparency rather than changes to licensing law. If such a list were published, passengers would be able to distinguish between operators choosing to operate solely with TfL-licensed drivers and vehicles and those making use of drivers or vehicles licensed by authorities outside London under different standards.
The issue has become increasingly prominent as the number of cross-border private hire operations has grown. While operators are able to hold licences issued by licensing authorities elsewhere in England, many continue to predominately provide services to passengers outside thier licensed area. Critics argue this creates an uneven regulatory environment, while operators say the arrangements are lawful and provide flexibility to meet passenger demand.
TfL-licensed drivers must comply with the capital’s licensing requirements, which include enhanced vehicle emission standards, SERU tests, topographical assessments for some licence holders, English language requirements and ongoing regulatory oversight by TfL. Drivers licensed elsewhere must instead meet the standards set by their own licensing authority.
Whether TfL has the legal powers or operational mechanisms to compile and maintain such a list remains unclear. The Mayor’s response at Mayor’s Question Time is expected to indicate whether City Hall believes greater transparency of operator licensing practices is achievable under the current regulatory framework or whether legislative change would be required.
