Our Ref:         FOI-2704-1920

Thank you for your request received on 30 November 2019 asking for information about the regulation of taxi apps.

Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act and our information access policy.

Apps that connect black cabs with passenger are not required to be licensed in London.  A change to national legislation would be required to introduce regulation.

A recommendation (number 6) for a change to national legislation to cover “intermediaries” was included in the Department for Transport-commissioned Task and Finish Group report (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/745516/taxi-and-phv-working-group-report.pdf) on taxi and private hire licensing. TfL was part of the Task and Finish Group but did not express support for this recommendation. In the Government’s response (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/775983/taxi-task-and-finish-gov-repsonse.pdf) to this recommendation, it noted that it was not minded to bring taxi apps into the licensing regime.

Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.

Yours sincerely

Gemma Jacob
Senior FOI Case Officer
FOI Case Management Team
General Counsel
Transport for London

[email protected]