Glasgow City Council to review taxi and private hire licence limits after mixed consultation feedback

Glasgow City Council look set to launch a full independent review into its taxi and private hire car licensing policies after receiving a mixed set of responses to its recent public consultation.

The council currently operates policies that limit the number of both taxi and private hire car licences issued in the city. These have been in place for several years, with recent figures setting the cap at 1,420 taxi licences and 3,450 private hire car licences.

The consultation, which ran from March to May 2025, attracted over 4,400 responses. Most came from the public, with additional input from taxi and private hire drivers, operators, trade groups and key stakeholders. The survey was promoted across council platforms and sent to relevant industry bodies including Glasgow Taxis, Uber, Unite the Union and the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce.

Survey results showed strong support for the current policies. Ninety per cent of respondents backed maintaining the cap on taxi numbers, while 92% supported the limit on private hire vehicles. Most felt the policies had a positive impact on availability, and over 85% reported no change in demand for either service since 2019.

However, several high-profile written responses highlighted different concerns. The Glasgow Chamber of Commerce and the City Centre Task Force argued that restrictions are holding back the city’s night-time economy. They cited reports showing reduced transport availability is deterring visits to the city centre at night and called for deregulation to stimulate competition and reduce waiting times.

Uber echoed those calls, describing Glasgow’s private hire policy as the only one of its kind in the UK and claiming it restricts both driver opportunities and customer access. They called the policy anti-competitive and said it damages consumer choice.

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By contrast, Glasgow Taxis and Unite the Union opposed any changes. They argue the issue is not vehicle numbers but a reduced willingness among drivers to work nights post-COVID. They highlighted surveys showing vehicles were available even at busy times and said that increasing supply without boosting demand could lead to poor service standards and over-saturation.

The consultation showed that the majority of journeys occur late at night and on weekends, with the main purpose being evening leisure. Most users reported no issues obtaining transport, though those who did cited a lack of available vehicles during peak periods and after large events.

With views split and the current evidence inconclusive, the Licensing and Regulatory Committee look set to commission a full independent review. This will assess demand levels, supply limits, economic impact, vehicle safety, and comparisons with other UK cities. It will also explore wider barriers affecting recruitment and retention of drivers.

The review is expected to report on whether Glasgow should retain, amend or remove its licence caps in future.