TfL private hire driver numbers show signs of STABILISING after years of volatility and growth
- Perry Richardson
- 13 hours ago
- 2 min read
The number of private hire drivers licensed by Transport for London (TfL) appears to have stabilised following several years of sharp swings linked to the pandemic, regulatory change and shifts in demand across the capital’s transport market.
Weekly licensing figures published for the week ending 3 May 2026 show there were 105,607 licensed private hire drivers operating in London.
The latest total keeps the private hire driver market broadly in line with levels seen across the past years. Annual figures show there were 106,468 licensed private hire drivers in 2024/25, compared with 106,267 in 2023/24 and 101,535 in 2022/23. The sector had previously experienced a steep contraction following a pre-pandemic peak of 117,712 drivers in 2016/17.
The data indicates the market has now largely settled into a narrower operating range after years of significant fluctuation. During the height of the COVID-19 disruption in 2020/21, licensed driver numbers fell to 105,329 before declining further to 99,937 in 2021/22 as demand patterns shifted and rising operating costs affected recruitment and retention.
Latest licensing figures suggest London’s private hire market may be entering a more settled phase as operator and vehicle numbers continue to edge higher
Vehicle licensing figures suggests confidence in the London market remains relatively resilient. TfL recorded 92,895 licensed private hire vehicles in the latest weekly update.
Longer-term trends show the number of licensed private hire vehicles has continued to grow steadily since the pandemic-era slowdown. Annual totals increased from 77,726 vehicles in 2020/21 to 97,154 in 2024/25. That figure is now above pre-pandemic levels and approaching the sector’s previous high point.
Private hire operator numbers have also shown modest growth. TfL reported 1,846 licensed operators in the latest weekly figures.
Annual operator data points to gradual rebuilding across the market after several years of consolidation. London had 1,955 licensed operators in 2020/21 before numbers dropped to 1,583 in 2022/23. The total has since climbed back to 1,789 in 2024/25.
The stabilisation in driver licensing numbers comes as app-based operators continue to push changes in travel demand, the transition towards lower-emission fleets, and now the introduction of autonomous vehicles. The sector also faces ongoing scrutiny around congestion, working conditions and competition within London’s wider transport ecosystem.
