Transport for London facing legal action over minicab licensing delays

Independent Workers of Great Britain (IWGB), a union which represents private hire drivers on apps like Uber and Bolt, said the delays had seen some drivers fall into debt, lose their cars and face eviction.

The union has instructed law firm Deighton Pierce Glynn (DPG) to investigate whether TfL has breached its legal duties.

Under current rules, London's more than 100,000 private hire drivers must renew their licences with TfL every three years at a cost of £310.

But since the summer of 2024, worsening delays have left thousands of drivers without valid licences, forcing them out of work with no income, the union said.

DPG claimed that drivers’ licences had expired before TfL has decided their renewal applications and in spite of the drivers submitting their applications properly.

In a document published in April this year, TfL blamed new software and the impact of a cyber attack on the licensing delays for some drivers, but insisted that the “vast majority of drivers have not been impacted”.

It continued: “We recognise the importance of ensuring that existing taxi and PHV drivers are able to remain licensed and continue to work. We are working hard to reduce delays in the licensing process and resolve the situation.

“We are sorry for the inconvenience this has caused to any driver.”

Alex Marshall, President of the IWGB Union, said the case is "about discrimination", adding: "TfL ensures black cab drivers can keep working when faced with licence delays, whilst the mostly racialised, migrant minicab drivers in the same position are losing their incomes and struggling to feed their families.

"It is only fair for drivers who have lost everything they had - their homes, their cars, their families - to now get compensation."

Ahmed Aydeed of Deighton Pierce Glynn Solicitors said: "TfL is operating an unlawful system by failing to ensure continuity of licensing for private hire drivers.

"Drivers belonging to the IWGB have bravely teamed up in this unprecedented legal challenge to hold TfL to account."

A TfL spokesperson said: "We are very sorry to drivers who have experienced issues with our processing times of private hire driver licences.

"We have worked with urgency to take a number of steps to mitigate the impact of these delays, including recruiting and training additional staff and granting short-term private hire vehicle driver licences where appropriate. We continue to take every possible step to rectify the delays quickly and ensure that all drivers who meet licensing requirements are licenced and able to work.”

Adam Carey