‘VERY CONCERNING’: TfL faces growing pressure as private hire licence backlog worsens by over 20% in two week period
- Perry Richardson
- Jul 17
- 2 min read
Updated: Jul 18
Transport for London (TfL) is facing renewed pressure from the London Assembly Transport Committee after data revealed a sharp rise in the number of completed private hire vehicle (PHV) licence applications still waiting to be processed.
The number of outstanding applications rose by more than 20% between 1 July and 11 July. Chair of the Committee, Elly Baker, said the growing backlog is causing significant disruption for drivers who rely on their licences to earn a living. She warned that TfL’s target to clear the backlog by the end of July looks likely to be missed.
TfL’s latest figures show that 423 completed PHV applications were waiting to be processed as of 11 July, up from 349 just ten days earlier. A further 1,400 applications are held up due to missing information or other requirements such as assessments or medical reviews.
The Committee has written to TfL Commissioner Andy Lord, requesting weekly updates on the situation. It wants TfL to report on how many applications are ready for approval, how many are awaiting further information from drivers, how many drivers are working under temporary short-term licences, and the volume of unprocessed email correspondence in the licensing inbox.
As of 11 July, 549 PHV drivers were operating under short-term licences. There were also 2,011 drivers with incomplete applications requiring English language or SERU assessments, and 83 under medical review.
The Committee has made clear that it expects TfL to take swift action to address the delays and ensure that drivers are not left without the means to work due to prolonged administrative hold-ups.
Baker said: "It is very concerning that TfL's latest figures show that the number of completed private hire licence applications yet to be approved has gone up more than 20% in the past two weeks.
"Drivers have told us of the huge personal and financial impacts that these delays are causing them, and it looks increasingly like TfL's target to clear the backlog of applications by the end of July will be missed.
"The Committee urges TfL to do everything in their power to get the backlog under control and issue licences to drivers, whose livelihoods are being deeply affected through no fault of their own."
