Request ID: FOI-2333-2223 Date published: 17 January 2023
You asked
I started my application a year ago. I passed my topographical test in may 2022.I emailed numerous times to ask about the process of my application and I always receive basic generic answers. I’m requesting the TFL To share with me and the public through this request, figures of private hire application which were received and processed from November 2021 by them. According to the freedom of information Act 2000. It would help me understand their criteria for successful application, time it takes and how applications are considered. I’m really disappointed with the service I received from TFL.
We answered
Our ref: FOI-2333-2223/GH
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 15 December 2022 asking for information about Private Hire licenses.
Your request has been considered under the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and our information access policy. I can confirm that we do hold the information you require.
Once we receive a private hire driver application an initial assessment takes place to ensure the required documents have been provided and that the mandatory requirements for licensing are met. This stage also includes ensuring an enhanced DBS check has been undertaken by the applicant, which is undertaken by a third party and is outside of the applicant’s or TfL’s control. At this stage there may also be a process of requesting and receiving any missing materials until the application is deemed to be fully complete. An applicant is then invited to apply for a topographical skills assessment and a safety, equality and regulatory understanding (SERU) assessment (for applications submitted from 1 October 2021). The time taken to complete the assessments depends on a number of factors, including how quickly an applicant books an assessment and the applicants’ ability to meet the required standard, or whether any retest of an assessment is required. The licence application process is multi-staged and often iterative, which can involve requests for further information or clarity from applicants. There are also a number of elements in the licensing process that are outside of TfL’s control, such as the completion of an enhanced DBS check and submission of any required medical information. Therefore, there is no target for when licensing decisions are taken and this depends on individual applications. In each case we need to ensure that an applicant is ‘fit and proper’ to ensure the continued safety of the travelling public. For example, the time required to process an application may increase as a consequence of:
Applications being submitted but found to be incomplete or inaccurate
Checking that an applicant meets the mandatory requirements for licensing, such as the right to work in the UK, and that they hold the relevant driving licence and driving experience
Consideration of the applicant’s medical fitness and whether they meet the DVLA’s Group 2 standard of medical fitness to drive. This may include a full review of the applicant’s medical history by our medical advisors
Ensuring that the applicant’s character meets the required standard, including a review of the results of an enhanced DBS check
The candidate successfully completing the required topographical skills and safety, equality and regulatory understanding (SERU) assessments
We received and processed 68,406 private hire driver licence applications from November 2021 to date.
