TfL issues over 16,000 goodwill payments to taxi and private hire drivers amid licensing delays
- Perry Richardson
- Apr 5
- 2 min read
Updated: Apr 6
Transport for London (TfL) has issued more than 16,000 goodwill payments to taxi and private hire drivers affected by licensing delays, according to the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan.
The figures were disclosed in response to a formal question from Assembly Member Elly Baker. The query sought clarity on how many drivers were expected to qualify, how many had been paid, and the overall cost of the scheme.
In his response, the Mayor confirmed that as of mid-March 2026, more than 16,000 payments had already been issued by Transport for London. However, he indicated that work is ongoing to determine the final number of eligible recipients.
TfL has not yet published a definitive estimate of how many licence holders will ultimately qualify for the payments. The total financial impact on the transport authority also remains undetermined, with officials still assessing the full scope of claims.
Transport authority continues processing claims as final eligibility numbers and total cost remain unclear
The goodwill payment scheme was introduced to compensate drivers who experienced delays in the processing of taxi and private hire licences. These delays have had operational and financial consequences for drivers unable to work while awaiting approvals.
Industry stakeholders have been closely monitoring the rollout of the scheme, particularly given the scale of London’s licensed driver workforce and ongoing concerns around administrative backlogs within TfL’s licensing system.
The absence of confirmed totals for both eligible drivers and overall cost leaves some uncertainty for operators and policymakers assessing the financial and operational implications of the scheme. TfL has stated it will continue issuing payments as it works through outstanding cases.
Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, said: “Transport for London (TfL) has issued over 16,000 goodwill payments as of mid-March 2026.
“TfL continues to work through the final numbers to ensure all those eligible receive a goodwill payment.”
