Private hire driver licence backlog persists as TfL blames expiry clusters and post-pandemic demand
- Perry Richardson
- 29 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Transport for London (TfL) has defended its handling of private hire vehicle (PHV) licensing delays following questions raised by the London Assembly.
During the Mayor’s Question Time held on 9 October, Assembly Member Hina Bokhari OBE asked the Mayor of London for an updated target for clearing the PHV licence renewal backlog, after TfL previously assured the London Assembly Transport Committee that delays would be resolved by September.
In response, the Mayor of London stated that licence renewals are being processed at a “steady rate”, and that fluctuating figures are expected due to the natural churn of applications. It was clarified that the backlog is not made up of a fixed number of drivers but is instead the result of a continuous flow of cases influenced by licence expiry dates and seasonal trends.
TfL attributed the current high volumes to historic spikes in licence applications, particularly in 2013, when the rise of app-based platforms significantly increased demand for PHV licences. In addition, the organisation pointed to post-pandemic growth in the sector, which has created clusters of expiry dates and driven up renewal numbers in recent months.
While some industry stakeholders have voiced concern over delays affecting driver livelihoods, TfL insisted that it is maintaining a responsive service. The authority said it typically reviews expired licence renewal applications within one working day, provided all required information has been submitted.
TfL also noted that new applicants are moving through the system, with many currently being referred for mandatory driver assessments. These include the Safety, Equality and Regulatory Understanding (SERU) test, English language requirements, and topographical assessments.
Despite the volume pressures, TfL claims it continues to manage applications effectively and will keep updating the London Assembly Transport Committee on its progress.
The organisation did not offer a revised resolution date for clearing the current peak of renewals.
Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, said: “Transport for London (TfL) is processing licence renewals at a steady rate. The number of renewal applications awaiting processing fluctuates daily, which is expected and reflects the natural churn of applications. These figures do not represent a static group of individuals, but rather a dynamic flow of cases, influenced by licence expiry patterns and seasonal peaks.
“TfL is currently experiencing a high volume of renewals, influenced by historic surges in application volumes – particularly in 2013 due to the rise of app-based private hire vehicle (PHV) services – and more recent growth following the increased demand of PHV services post-pandemic. These factors have created clusters of expiry dates, resulting in increased renewal activity during certain periods.
“Despite these pressures, TfL continues to manage application volumes effectively. In the case of expired licences, when all of the required information has been provided by the licensee, we typically review the application within one working day of receipt. New applications are also progressing, with many being referred to the driver assessment stage to undertake mandatory assessments.
“TfL remains focused on maintaining this level of service, closely monitoring volumes and ensuring transparency in its operations. As part of this commitment, TfL will continue to provide regular updates to the London Assembly Transport Committee.”
