Private Hire licensing

Prior to 2002, minicabs were not regulated in London. The Private Hire Vehicles (London) Act 1998 provided the legal power for licensing and regulation of private hire operators, drivers and vehicles. Since 2002, Transport for London (TfL) has been responsible for licensing the private hire trade, with the objective of giving passengers the confidence that when using a licensed private hire operator they are dealing with a regulated, professional organisation with legitimate drivers and safe vehicles.

The licensing process was introduced across London in three phases, starting with operators, followed by drivers and then vehicles. In 2007 there were:

2,100 licensed operators
44,400 licensed vehicles
38,000 licensed drivers

All drivers must undergo criminal record and medical checks before a licence will be granted. The Public Carriage Office (PCO) is responsible for carrying out the day-to-day licensing on behalf of TfL. It maintains a database of licensed private hire operators, which can be searched by licence number, company name or telephone number and by area.

For information on how to apply for licences, operators and drivers should telephone the PCO on 0845 602 7000 or e-mail the PCO.