WHEN DOES A CAB BECOME LEGALLY HIRED? London Mayor reiterates limits of TfL powers over taxi apps as questions rise on rules
- Perry Richardson
- 35 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Transport for London is weighing whether to issue new guidance to the capital’s taxi drivers on when a booked journey is legally considered to have begun, following questions raised at Mayor’s Question Time about gaps in the current regulatory framework for app-based bookings.
During the October session of questions submitted, Liberal Democrat Assembly Member Hina Bokhari asked the Mayor to clarify whether a London taxi is legally deemed to be hired at the moment a booking is accepted via an app, or only when a passenger is physically collected. The distinction affects enforcement, insurance expectations, passenger rights and the way operators structure their services.
In a written response published on 17 November, the Mayor confirmed that taxi applications fall outside the legislation governing taxi licensing and regulation in the capital. He referenced an earlier 2021 response that set out the same position, making clear that only the taxi driver, the licensed vehicle and the metered fare structure in the London Cab Order currently sit within TfL’s regulatory remit.
The absence of statutory control over taxi apps has become increasingly relevant as more passengers choose to pre-book journeys digitally. Bookings taken through platforms are treated differently from street hails and traditional radio-circuit jobs, yet the legal framework has not kept pace with the shift towards app-based dispatch. Operators can accept and allocate work as they see fit, but questions persist over when a taxi is officially on hire and what duties apply at each stage of the trip.
TfL says only drivers, vehicles and metered fares fall under current regulation, leaving booking-app rules outside its control.
TfL reiterated in the Mayor’s answer that it is seeking legislative reform from central government. The Taxi and Private Hire Action Plan published earlier this year set out the regulator’s intention to secure new powers to bring app-based taxi companies within scope. Industry bodies have long argued the current gap creates uncertainty both for drivers handling pre-booked work and for compliance officers trying to monitor operational standards.
Until any new legislation is introduced, TfL remains responsible only for enforcing driver and vehicle licensing conditions and for safeguarding the integrity of regulated taxi fares. This limits TfL’s ability to define the legal status of digital bookings or impose operating standards on platforms acting as intermediaries.
TfL is now actively considering the hiring-point issue raised at City Hall and has indicated that guidance may be issued to licensees if required. Any clarification is likely to influence how drivers manage booking acceptance, cancellations, passenger communication and insurance coverage, particularly where disputes arise over when a fare has formally commenced.
The regulator has not yet confirmed a timeline for further communication, and the Mayor’s response acknowledged the broader uncertainty until government action is taken. For operators and drivers, the current ambiguity continues to shape how app-based bookings are handled in London’s evolving licensed taxi sector.
The Mayor of London said: “As stated in [a previous] Mayor’s Question, 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 Transport for London (TfL) are the taxi driver, taxi vehicle and the fares set out in the London Cab Order.
“As set out in the TPH Action Plan (2025), TfL is calling on Government to introduce legislation that would enable TfL to regulate these taxi app companies.
“TfL is actively considering the issue you have raised, and its implications for booked taxis. This may include, if necessary, issuing guidance to taxi driver licensees.”
