After the recent TfL consultation on changes to taxi and private hire licensing requirements focused on passenger safety, TfL have decided to introduce the following changes:
DfT 1 – Licensee self-reporting
TfL are proceeding with a requirement for licensees to inform them of any arrest and release, charge, caution or conviction within 48 hours. This requirement will take effect from 1 July 2024.
This is a slight modification of the consultation proposal to explicitly re-state that cautions are included (as per the current requirement).
DfT 2 – Displaying complaints signage
TfL are proceeding with a requirement for all licensed taxis and PHVs to display prescribed information in the vehicle, including information about how to make a complaint.
This requirement will take effect from 1 July 2024 when TfL will affix new signage into vehicles as part of the vehicle licensing inspection process.
They are also proceeding with the requirement that a taxi or PHV driver must ensure that any taxi or PHV they are driving is displaying the prescribed signage. This requirement will take effect from 1 July 2025.
DfT 3 – Overseas criminal checks
TfL have amended the proposal in the consultation and are proceeding with a requirement that all new and renewing taxi and PHV drivers, and PHV operators, who have lived in a country other than the UK for one or more continuous periods of three months or more in the last 10 years since the applicant was 18 will be required to provide a Certificate of Good Conduct (CoGC) for any such period. This includes periods of extended holiday.
This requirement will take effect from 1 July 2024.
DfT 4 – Driver DBS checks
TfL are proceeding with a requirement that all applicants for a taxi or PHV driver’s licence, both new and renewal, will be required to provide evidence of registration with the DBS Update service.
They are also proceeding with a requirement that from the point they are next licensed, all taxi and PHV drivers must maintain continuous subscription to the DBS Update service.
This requirement will take effect from 26 February 2024.
DfT 5 – Safeguarding training and English language skills
TfL are proceeding with a requirement that taxi drivers will be required to pass a Safety, Equality and Regulatory Understanding assessment (SERU).
This requirement will take effect from 1 October 2025.
Taxi drivers’ English language proficiency will continue to be assessed through the Knowledge of London.
There will be no change to the English language and Safety, Equality and Regulatory Understanding assessments already in place for PHV drivers.
DfT 6 – Vehicle owner DBS checks
TfL will not be introducing any additional requirements for either taxi or PHV owners, as set out in their consultation.
DfT 7 – PHV operator DBS checks
TfL are proceeding with a requirement that all new and renewing PHV operator applicants will be required to provide a basic DBS check as part of their application.
They are also proceeding with a requirement that all licensed PHV operators must provide a further basic DBS check annually, on the anniversary of the start of the licence.
This requirement will take effect from 1 July 2024.
DfT 8 – PHV operator booking and dispatch staff
TfL are proceeding with a requirement that PHV operators will be required to keep and maintain a register of booking and dispatch staff, and will be required to retain entries in the register for 12 months from the date any individual was last available to take bookings or dispatch vehicles.
This requirement will take effect from 1 July 2024.
DfT 9 – PHV operator booking records
TfL are proceeding with making an amendment to Regulation 11 of the Operator Regulations to specify that additional particulars must be entered into a PHV operator’s booking records.
This requirement will take effect from 1 July 2024.
DfT 10 – Changing licensing policies and requirements
TfL are proceeding with an amendment to their licensing policies and requirements that, where appropriate, when there are changes in licensing requirements, they will review the licences already issued and wherever possible, they will apply any new licensing policies immediately.
