TRANSPORT COMMITTEE EVIDENCE: Veezu defends cross-border private hire as essential to covering passenger demand
- Perry Richardson
- Sep 28
- 2 min read
Private hire operator Veezu has warned against any ban on cross-border hiring, claiming such a move would cut services, risk passenger safety and damage local transport access.
In its submission to the Transport Select Committee, the operator, which holds licences in 58 areas and serves more than 25 million passengers a year, said that cross-border work is often the only way to meet demand, especially during busy periods and in places with fewer licensed drivers.
Cross-border hiring, where a private hire driver licensed in one authority takes bookings in another, is permitted under current regulations. Veezu said that removing this option without a full overhaul of licensing structures would “leave passengers stranded” and reduce the availability of essential journeys such as hospital visits, school runs and trips to work.
The company gave examples including Rotherham and Chesterfield drivers working in Sheffield at peak times. It said that in some areas, up to 30% of bookings during busy periods are met by drivers from neighbouring authorities.
Veezu rejected the argument that cross-border hiring poses safety concerns. It said there is no evidence to support that view and called such claims “economic protectionism”.
Instead, the operator has urged the Government to focus on standardising licensing rules across authorities. Veezu said a lack of consistency in safety checks, vehicle standards and complaint handling is the real issue, and better enforcement powers across licensing borders would do more to protect passengers than restricting where drivers can work.
The current “triple lock” system requires that the driver, vehicle and operator are all licensed by the same authority. Veezu said this should remain the basis for compliance, supported by aligned licensing fees and processing times to reduce the incentive for drivers to licence far from where they operate.
The firm highlighted wide variations in licensing costs. Wolverhampton charges £138 for a three-year driver licence, while Portsmouth charges £336. Application processing can range from six weeks to six months depending on the authority. These differences, Veezu argues, push drivers to shop around for the most cost-effective option.
On the passenger side, Veezu said there is some confusion when a vehicle arrives bearing a licence from a different authority. For instance, Wolverhampton bans the use of operator branding, which can appear inconsistent to passengers used to seeing a company’s livery.
Despite this, Veezu does not believe cross-border work should be restricted. Instead, it supports a national framework of standards, backed by better coordination and communication between licensing authorities.
Veezu is also in favour of regional transport authorities overseeing licensing under a national model. This would retain some local control but allow for greater consistency in areas such as safety checks, complaint handling and enforcement.
It also stressed that the PHV sector plays a growing role in the public transport network as bus services decline. National licensing reform, it said, should reflect the changing travel patterns and ensure PHV operators can meet growing demand across administrative boundaries.
