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Owe TfL money? New London taxi and PHV licensing rules could put repeat non-payers’ licences at risk
London taxi and private hire vehicle (PHV) drivers could face refusal, suspension or revocation of their licence over money owed to Transport for London (TfL) under a new licensing policy introduced this month.
TfL’s Version 6.0 London Taxi and PHV Driver Policy, dated 1 September 2026, adds dedicated sections covering money owed to the transport authority for both applicants and existing licence holders. The change brings unpaid TfL debts directly into consideration over whether a driver is fit to hold a licence.
For new and renewal applications, drivers are required to declare that they do not owe TfL money. The requirement includes outstanding Congestion Charge or Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) payments and fines. TfL also states: “It is a criminal offence to provide false information when applying for a taxi or PHV driver’s licence.”
The policy does provide some reassurance for drivers dealing with an isolated penalty. TfL says that “a single unpaid PCN may not stop an applicant from becoming licensed”, meaning an outstanding notice does not in itself amount to an automatic refusal.
However, repeated non-payment carries potentially much greater consequences. TfL says failure to comply with a court payment order or repeatedly failing to pay lawfully issued penalties can indicate “a pattern of behaviour showing lack of honesty, responsibility, and respect for the law”.
According to the regulator, that behaviour can call into question whether somebody is a fit and proper person to hold a taxi or PHV driver’s licence.
Where an applicant owes TfL money, the regulator can seek further information before reaching its licensing decision. Its assessment can include the amount owed, how long the debt has been outstanding, any pattern of non-payment and whether a PCN or court order is currently being appealed.
TfL can also examine what efforts the applicant has made to clear the debt, whether they have paid or propose to repay the outstanding sums and any mitigating information. Drivers may be required to provide evidence of payments they say they have made. After considering those circumstances, TfL can determine that an applicant is not fit and proper and refuse the licence.
TfL’s new section covering existing licence holders states that unpaid money, including PCNs and failure to comply with a court payment order, is relevant when assessing a driver’s “continued fitness” to hold a London taxi or PHV driver’s licence.
TfL states: “Any licensed driver that repeatedly incurs unpaid PCNs or fines, or who fails to comply with a court order for payment, may be subject to licensing action.” The policy does not set a specific number of unpaid PCNs or a monetary threshold at which such action will automatically be taken.
Outstanding court costs arising from licensing appeals are also dealt with separately in the policy. Where a court orders an applicant or licensee to pay TfL’s costs following an appeal against a refusal, suspension or revocation, “all outstanding costs must be paid before a new or renewal application will be considered”.
For London’s taxi and private hire drivers, the September policy represents an expansion of the circumstances in which unpaid TfL liabilities can affect the ability to work. A single unpaid PCN does not automatically mean losing or being refused a licence, but repeated unpaid penalties, ignored court orders and false declarations about outstanding money can now have direct licensing consequences.
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