TfL Ref: FOI-0828-1718

Thank you for your email received by us on 06 July 2017 asking for information about private hire vehicles.  Please accept my apologies for the delay in responding to your request.

Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our Information Access Policy. I can confirm that we hold the information you require. You asked:

“In the week starting 20/02/17 how many PHVs (whose licence had expired during this week) did not renew their licence & how many vehicles had reach age limit (so could not renew), and of them numbers how many TFL PHV identification roundels were returned/surrendered to TFL.”

Our records show that between 20 and 24 February a total of 342 private hire vehicle licences expired. Of these, 36 had reached the maximum age limit for licensing. In approximately 30 per cent of these cases all the vehicle documentation had been returned to Transport for London.

Where a vehicle licence has been suspended or revoked, these are pursued by our compliance team to retrieve all the relevant documentation. For expired licences we write to the vehicle owners highlighting the importance of returning the documentation. We will review the process for retrieving documentation where a vehicle licence has expired and has not been renewed to determine if there are further steps that can be taken.

Our safety messaging on the use of private hire vehicles in London is very clear. If a journey isn’t booked with an operator, it isn’t safe, regardless of whether a vehicle is displaying a Transport for London licensing disk or pre-booked only sticker. Private hire operators are required to provide a booking confirmation to passengers before their journey starts. This must include the vehicle registration mark, the first name of the driver, the driver's private hire licence number (as shown on the ID the driver is wearing) and - where the customer is able to receive it - a photo of driver.

If this is not the information you are looking for, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed.

Yours sincerely

Paulina Tuffour
FOI Case Officer

FOI Case Management Team
General Counsel
Transport for London