Will autonomous vehicles lead to the end of driver licensing in the taxi and private hire sector?
- Perry Richardson
- Oct 1
- 3 min read
Updated: Oct 2
As autonomous vehicle (AV) technology progresses, one major question facing the taxi and private hire sector is whether traditional driver licensing will remain relevant. With no human behind the wheel, what role, if any, is left for existing driver standards, checks and enforcement?
Uber’s recent submission to the Transport Committee offers some insight into how the future might unfold. While the company supports automation and has begun testing AVs in partnership with UK tech firm Wayve, it makes clear that licensing will still be needed. However, the form and focus of that licensing will likely change.
From driver to operator accountability
In today’s PHV system, driver licensing is based on assessing an individual’s fitness and suitability. Background checks, medicals, topographical knowledge and safeguarding training are used to determine whether someone is safe to carry passengers. If a driver breaches licence conditions, the authority can act directly.
AVs remove the human driver but introduce a new entity - the operator responsible for the vehicle, its systems, and the service it provides. Uber believes the licensing regime must shift focus accordingly. Rather than assessing individuals, future licensing will need to assess organisations.
This would include how the AV system has been tested, how it performs on the road, what support infrastructure is in place, and how passengers can raise complaints or seek assistance. The organisation running the service would need to be licensed, not the person in the driving seat.
Licensing requirements for AV operators
Under Uber’s evidence provided, operator licensing for AV services would follow similar principles to today’s system. Operators would need to demonstrate that their systems meet safety requirements, that incident reporting and complaints handling are in place, and that the technology can be trusted in real-world conditions.
There would also need to be new standards tailored to automation. These might include requirements around remote monitoring, cybersecurity, system updates, and how vehicles respond to emergencies or complex road situations.
Operators could also be required to employ safety and support staff trained to deal with incidents involving AVs, helping bridge the gap left by the absence of a traditional driver. These roles might include remote operators, fleet managers or on-street assistance teams.
The future of human drivers
Despite these changes, Uber does not expect human drivers to disappear in the short to medium term. AV technology remains limited to specific environments and scenarios, mostly in urban settings with predictable road conditions. Outside of these use cases, traditional driver-led services will remain the norm.
The firm notes that taxi and PHV drivers will continue to play a vital role in the transport network for years to come, particularly in suburban and rural areas where AV deployment will likely be delayed.
As such, the current driver licensing framework will need to operate in parallel with any new system for autonomous services. While AVs may reduce the number of licensed drivers over time, they are unlikely to eliminate the need for driver licensing entirely.
Transition and regulatory planning
The key challenge for the Government now will be how to manage this dual system. One option is to create a new Automated Passenger Services (APS) permit system that sits alongside the existing PHV framework. This would allow AV services to be trialled and expanded without needing to overhaul the driver licensing system immediately.
In time, as AV deployment widens and reliability improves, authorities may review how much emphasis is placed on traditional driver licensing, particularly in areas with high AV uptake. But for now, the majority of journeys will still require a licensed driver.
Autonomous vehicles will change the nature of regulation in the private hire sector, but they will not make licensing redundant. The shift will be from individuals to operators, from driving skill to system safety, and from personal conduct to corporate accountability.
While the number of licensed drivers may fall as automation increases, the sector will still require robust oversight.
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