MISSING KEY POINTS: Private hire operator representatives LPHCA criticises TfL’s Action Plan in letter to London Assembly
- Perry Richardson
- Jul 17
- 2 min read
Updated: Jul 18
The Licensed Private Hire Car Association (LPHCA) has criticised Transport for London’s (TfL) 2025 Taxi and Private Hire Action Plan, highlighting several operational realities faced by private hire operators.
In a letter sent to Elly Baker, Chair of the London Assembly Transport Committee, the LPHCA expressed disappointment at the lack of direct engagement with private hire trade bodies during the development of the Action Plan. The association said it was “surprised” not to have been invited to contribute in person, noting that such groups meet regularly with TfL and the Deputy Mayor for Transport.
The submission warns that the Action Plan fails to reflect the financial and operational pressure faced by private hire vehicle (PHV) operators and drivers. It criticises TfL’s ongoing congestion charge policy, under which PHVs are charged but taxis are not, despite both sectors providing shared public transport functions. LPHCA says this policy has inflated fares and penalised passengers.
Operator licensing fees were also targeted. LPHCA argued that the current fee structure unfairly burdens smaller operators. The current model triggers a sharp rise in fees when an operator goes from 100 to 101 drivers, with the cost of a five-year licence jumping from £30,000 to £150,000. According to LPHCA, this pricing model benefits the largest app-based platforms while driving out smaller businesses.
The group also highlighted inequality in emissions policies, noting that while taxi drivers benefit from scrappage support and congestion charge exemptions, PHV drivers have not received equivalent assistance. The planned withdrawal of the EV congestion charge exemption for PHVs at the end of 2025 was described as “counterproductive” to emission reduction targets.
LPHCA used the opportunity to warn that London is facing a decline in specialist PHV services, particularly those offering wheelchair-accessible vehicles and transport for passengers with complex needs. It argued that strict licensing and emissions policies are pushing these services out of the capital, risking service gaps for the NHS, Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) and business travel.
The letter also raised safety concerns linked to the growing practice of “multi-apping”, where drivers accept a job through one app, only to abandon it when a more lucrative offer appears elsewhere. LPHCA said this behaviour is leaving passengers stranded and poses a safety risk. It urged TfL to take steps to address this issue through regulatory action.
The LPHCA called for renewed dialogue with trade bodies and better representation of PHV interests in future planning.
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