No plans for official private hire vehicle driver training list, says DfT minister
- Perry Richardson
- 10 hours ago
- 2 min read
The Department for Transport (DfT) has confirmed it will not be creating a central list of approved training providers for private hire vehicle (PHV) drivers, placing responsibility instead with local licensing authorities.
Responding to written questions from Elsie Blundell, Labour MP for Heywood and Middleton North, Transport Minister Lilian Greenwood stated that local authorities are best placed to determine the format and content of driver training.
The MP had asked what steps were being taken to ensure prospective PHV drivers only use officially recognised training institutions and whether an official list would be published. In her response, Greenwood pointed to existing guidance issued by the DfT in 2020 and updated in 2023.
The 2020 statutory guidance recommends that licensing authorities require PHV and taxi drivers to complete safeguarding training. The 2023 best practice guidance further suggests training in disability awareness or formal assessments of relevant skills and knowledge.
However, the minister made clear that the selection of training providers remains entirely at the discretion of each licensing authority. There are no current plans to regulate or publish an approved list of training institutions at national level.
This leaves variation across England, with training requirements and providers differing by region. Some areas maintain partnerships with recognised training providers, while others accept a broader range of training formats, including online and in-house sessions.
The lack of central oversight has raised concerns in some quarters about inconsistent standards and the risk of prospective drivers using low-quality or unofficial training routes. However, the Government maintains that local decision-making remains the appropriate model for PHV licensing policy in England.
Greenwood said: “The Department for Transport is responsible for setting the regulatory framework within which licensing authorities in England license the taxi and private hire vehicle trades and issues guidance to assist licensing authorities in carrying out these licensing functions. Statutory guidance, published in 2020, recommends that licensing authorities should require taxi and private hire vehicle drivers to undertake safeguarding training.
“Best practice guidance to licensing authorities, updated in 2023, recommends that drivers should be trained in disability awareness and/or have their knowledge and skills assessed. Licensing authorities are responsible for deciding the format and content of such training, including what, if any, training institutions are used.”
