Government reaffirms legislation to tackle inconsistent taxi licensing standards with consultation coming

The UK Government has reaffirmed its commitment to legislate against inconsistent standards in taxi and private hire vehicle (PHV) driver licensing, announcing that a formal consultation will soon be launched to consider transferring licensing responsibilities to local transport authorities.

In a written response to parliamentary questions from Andrew Snowden MP, Transport Minister Lilian Greenwood confirmed that the Department for Transport is actively reviewing the current licensing framework and exploring reforms to improve consistency, safety, and enforcement across England.

Currently, licensing authorities have the discretion to set their own standards, provided applicants are deemed “fit and proper.” While this allows for local flexibility, it has led to significant variation in driver vetting, training, and oversight.

To address these disparities, the Department issues statutory and best practice guidance. All licensing authorities now require enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks.

Looking ahead, the Government confirmed:

“We will legislate to tackle inconsistent standards of taxi and private hire vehicle driver licensing more broadly. We are considering all options including out-of-area working, national standards and enforcement – seeking the best overall outcomes for passenger safety.”

It also confirmed:

“A consultation on making all local transport authorities responsible for taxi and private hire vehicle licensing, which would increase consistency in licensing and make better use of enforcement powers, will be launched shortly.”

The announcement was made in response to questions tabled on 20 October 2025 and is available via TheyWorkForYou.