‘YET ANOTHER SLAP IN THE FACE’: Big TfL licence fee hike slammed by private hire union as drivers struggle to work
- Perry Richardson
- Apr 3
- 2 min read
Updated: Apr 6
The App Drivers and Couriers Union (ADCU) has condemned plans by Transport for London (TfL) to raise private hire licence fees for drivers by 10% and nearly double the assessment fee from £16 to £30.
The proposals are due to go before the TfL Finance Committee on 9 April. ADCU has called on committee members to reject the increases, citing ongoing delays in licence renewals that have left many drivers unable to work.
Only last week, the union called for a cap on licence numbers and for emergency licences to be issued to tackle delays. Reports suggest drivers are waiting months for renewals, with some seeing their vehicles repossessed. One member has been evicted after falling behind on rent while unable to work.
ADCU General Secretary Zamir Dreni said: “TfL can not seriously be planning to heap more misery on drivers by increasing license fees, when they are not even managing to reissue licences to drivers within a reasonable timeframe. Our members are already facing serious financial hardship as a result of TfL's failures, and this is yet another slap in the face for them. They just want to be able to work, and earn a decent living.
“It's also unfair for TfL to expect drivers, rather than the app-based companies, to near the brunt of prove rises. There hasn't been an increase for the platform companies since 2016, yet every year the prices for drivers go up and up.
“These increases can not be allowed to pass, and we hope the Finance Committee will do the right thing, and vote them down.”
According to the ADCU, Labour London Assembly Member, Elly Baker, has also raised concerns. She has written to Deputy Mayor for Transport Seb Dance and the TfL Finance Committee, asking them to reject the fee increases until licensing operations are improved.
