London black cab drivers' £330 million claim against Uber nearing key October milestone
- Perry Richardson
- Sep 15
- 2 min read
London’s licensed black cab drivers are pressing forward with a landmark group action against Uber, with claims now exceeding £330 million. The case, also known as BULit21 to cabbies involved, represents more than 13,000 cabbies who allege the ride-hailing giant operated unlawfully in the capital for a six year period.
The action, managed by RGL Management, began with a Claim Form filed in May 2024 on behalf of just under 11,000 drivers. By June, a further 2,400 claimants had joined, taking the total number involved to 13,295. Each driver is seeking damages for alleged losses incurred between June 2012 and March 2018, when Uber first established its presence in London.
According to the claimants, Uber misled regulators Transport for London (TfL) to secure a private hire operator licence and ran a system allowing drivers to accept bookings directly rather than through the centralised model required by law.
Black cab drivers argue that these practices gave Uber an unfair advantage and forced them to work longer hours or lose fares. Typical claims are estimated to reach as much as £25,000 per driver.
In financial statements filed this year, Uber confirmed the existence of the lawsuit but described the claims as being without merit. The company has filed a defence and is contesting the allegations robustly, stating that it has always worked within the law and has adapted its operations in line with regulatory requirements.
The BULit21 case has already passed several procedural stages. After the initial claim forms were lodged, a detailed Particulars of Claim was served in September 2024, followed by Uber’s Defence in March 2025 and a Reply from the claimants in April 2025. The next significant milestone is set for October 2025, when a Case Management Conference will establish the timetable for disclosure, witness evidence and expert input. According the BULit21 FAQs, the court may also select test claims to streamline the proceedings given the sheer number of claimants involved.
