Government says it’s up to cabbies to choose how to adapt and use online taxi and private hire apps
- Perry Richardson
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
The Department for Transport has confirmed it will not intervene in the impact of online taxi app platforms on independent operators and their drivers, saying such decisions remain a matter for individual drivers.
In response to a parliamentary question by Ashfield MP Lee Anderson, the Government said it continues to support passenger choice within the taxi and private hire sector. The Minister, Simon Lightwood, noted that drivers themselves are responsible for deciding whether or not to use app-based platforms as intermediaries.
Lightwood stressed that all private hire bookings must go through a licensed operator, in line with existing legal requirements. It is up to drivers to determine which operators they choose to work with, so long as they comply with licensing conditions.
The Department referenced its own taxi and private hire vehicle survey, which tracks changes in driver numbers, vehicle licensing and operator registrations. These trends reflect the industry’s ongoing shift toward app-based bookings and new technology.
There was no reference to any planned support for independent firms affected by market disruption or competition from large platform providers.
Lightwood said: “Government supports choice for passengers in the taxi and private hire vehicle sector. It is a matter for taxi drivers if they wish to use a taxi app company as an intermediary between them and the passenger. All private hire vehicle journeys must be pre-booked through a licensed operator. It is for private hire vehicle drivers to decide which operators they wish to work with, subject to licensing requirements.
“The Department’s taxi and private hire vehicle survey provides information on the numbers of licensed taxi and private hire vehicle drivers, vehicles and private hire vehicle operators and how these have changed since the adoption by passengers and the sector of new technology.”
