TfL still ‘actively considering’ when a London taxi is legally hired, Mayor tells Assembly
- Perry Richardson
- 1 hour ago
- 2 min read
Transport for London (TfL) has yet to determine the precise point at which a London taxi becomes legally “hired”, according to a response from the Mayor of London that is likely to reignite debate around taxi app bookings and fare regulation.
The issue was raised by Assembly Member Hina Bokhari, who questioned whether it was acceptable for London’s taxi regulator to remain uncertain about a legal definition that sits at the heart of fare calculation and passenger liability.
In a written response to Mayor’s Question Time, the Mayor referred back to an earlier answer first provided in 2021, stating: “Transport for London (TfL) continues to actively consider the issues you have raised.”
The question centred on Section 39 of the London Cab Order 1934, which requires a taxi meter to be engaged when a taxi is “hired”. Bokhari argued that if the regulator itself cannot identify when that legal point occurs, it creates uncertainty for both drivers and passengers.
The Mayor of London has confirmed that Transport for London is still considering when a taxi journey legally begins, despite questions over how drivers and passengers are expected to interpret fare liability and meter engagement requirements.
She asked whether TfL’s position meant there was legal uncertainty surrounding when a binding hire begins and whether the regulator should seek a court determination to resolve the issue.
Rather than directly addressing those points, the Mayor highlighted the limitations of TfL’s current powers over taxi booking platforms. He said: “Taxi apps are not captured by the legislation governing the licensing and regulation of taxis in London. The only elements of a taxi journey booked via a taxi app that are licensed and regulated by TfL are the taxi driver, taxi vehicle and the fares set out in the London Cab Order.”
The response also confirmed that discussions with government remain ongoing as TfL seeks wider regulatory powers. The Mayor pointed to commitments contained within the Taxi and Private Hire Action Plan, which includes lobbying for the ability to regulate taxi booking companies operating in the capital.
The issue has been the subject of scrutiny for several years. In response to a separate Assembly question in December 2021 from Assembly Member Keith Prince, the Mayor stated that taxi drivers “must not charge a fare which exceeds the maximum displayed on the meter”.
That earlier response also acknowledged that taxi app-based services sit outside TfL’s regulatory remit, while adding that the regulator was engaging with companies operating such services to encourage compliance with existing regulatory requirements.
The continuing lack of a formal determination on when a taxi is legally hired could remain significant for drivers using booking apps, particularly where app-generated pricing, pre-bookings and metered fares intersect. Until either legislative changes are introduced or the matter is clarified through legal determination, TfL’s position remains that the issue is still under consideration.
