CROSS-BORDER TAXI AND PRIVATE HIRE WORK: What the triple lock rule means for drivers
Updated: 8 minutes ago
The debate around cross-border taxi and private hire work continues to raise questions across the industry and isn’t going to stop anytime soon. One key issue and common question asked is whether a private hire driver can work for an operator licensed by a different council to their badge and vehicle plates. This is where the triple lock rule comes in.
The triple lock rule is a fundamental part of private hire regulations in England and Wales. It requires that a private hire driver’s badge, the vehicle’s plate, and the operator’s licence must ALL be issued by the same licensing authority. This rule was designed to ensure that the council responsible for granting the licences is also responsible for overseeing the conduct of drivers, the condition of vehicles, and the operations of private hire firms within its region.
If any of these three licences come from different councils, the driver is operating illegally. For instance, a driver holding a badge from Manchester cannot work for an operator licensed in Liverpool if their vehicle is also plated in Manchester. All three elements must align under one council’s authority.
However, the triple lock rule does not prevent drivers from working outside the area of their licensing authority. A driver licensed in let’s say Birmingham can pick up passengers in other regions if the booking is made through an operator licensed by Birmingham City Council. This is where the issue of cross-border hiring becomes contentious.
Cross-border private hire work refers to drivers operating in areas outside the jurisdiction of the council that issued their licence. While the triple lock rule ensures that all licences come from one council, it does not restrict where a driver can physically operate once a booking is made through their licensed operator. This means that a driver licensed in one council area can, in theory, spend most of their working time in a different area, provided all bookings come through their original operator.
This practice has sparked long-term controversy within the industry. Many local drivers argue that cross-border hiring undermines local licensing standards. Licensing authorities set their own rules on vehicle age, emission standards, driver background checks, and training. When drivers from other areas flood into a city or town, local drivers often feel disadvantaged. They must adhere to their own council’s stringent standards, while drivers from other areas may operate under different, sometimes less demanding, requirements.
Local authorities have also raised concerns about enforcement. Licensing officers have the power to inspect and regulate drivers and vehicles licensed within their own licensing set up. When drivers from other areas work cross-border, it becomes challenging for local enforcement officers to ensure that these drivers comply with local standards.
From a passenger perspective, the issue is equally complex. Customers booking through well-known private hire apps may not realise that the driver accepting their booking is not licensed by the local authority. While the vehicle and driver are still subject to licensing standards, those standards may differ from the local ones, raising concerns about consistency and safety.
The growth of app-based private hire services has exacerbated the issue. Digital platforms enable bookings to be made and accepted across wide geographical areas. This has led to an increase in drivers working cross-border.
Some councils have attempted to address the problem by lobbying for changes in legislation. They argue that the existing rules were not designed for the modern private hire landscape, where technology allows for seamless cross-border operations. Proposals have included granting councils greater powers to enforce standards on any driver operating within their area, regardless of where they are licensed.
