Mayor of London responds to ongoing concerns over TfL taxi and private hire licence delays
- Perry Richardson
- Sep 29
- 2 min read
The Mayor of London has acknowledged ongoing frustration among taxi and private hire vehicle (PHV) drivers over delays in the licence application and renewal process, following a formal written question raised at Mayor’s Question Time.
Green Party Assembly Member Caroline Russell asked the Mayor to address complaints from PHV drivers who say that repeated, staggered requests from Transport for London (TfL) for further information and medical tests are costing them both time and income.
In response, the Mayor confirmed that TfL has taken steps to address the backlog, which has included prioritising applications where licences are expired or close to expiry, hiring additional staff, improving data accuracy to focus resources more efficiently, and resolving internal system issues.
He added that TfL has also increased its engagement with drivers and trade representatives, aiming to improve communication and clarity around the licensing process.
On the suggestion that all medical checks be handled in a single appointment to speed up approvals, the Mayor said TfL will be meeting with representatives from both the taxi and PHV sectors during the autumn. The meetings will explore challenges around the current medical assessment process and look for ways to improve it.
TfL continues to review its processes and is working to reduce delays caused by incomplete applications or the need for multiple follow-up contacts.
The Mayor of London said: “I recognise the serious impact these delays have had on drivers. I have been clear that decisive action was needed and Transport for London (TfL) has taken a number of steps to improve the situation. These include prioritising expired and near-expired licence applicants, increasing staffing, improving data accuracy to better target resources and resolving system issues. TfL is also maintaining regular engagement with drivers and trade representatives to improve communication and transparency.
“TfL continues to review its processes to identify opportunities for streamlining, including reducing delays caused by incomplete applications being sent to TfL or by TfL needing to make multiple requests for information. Where further information is required, TfL will contact drivers directly and clearly set out what is needed.
“TfL has committed to meeting with the taxi and private hire trades this autumn to explore the medical assessment process. This engagement will help TfL to better understand the challenges and identify opportunities for improvement.”
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