How does cross-border hiring affect taxi and private hire enforcement across the UK?
- Perry Richardson
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
The long debated practice of cross-border hiring has become a major challenge for taxi and private hire enforcement across the UK. As licensing rules differ between local authorities, drivers are legally allowed to operate outside the area where they were granted their licence. While this is permitted under current legislation, it raises on-going enforcement concerns and questions about public safety, regulatory control and local accountability.
Cross-border hiring refers to the scenario where a private hire vehicle is licensed in one area but operates, either permanently or frequently, in another. This can occur for several reasons, including less stringent licensing processes, quicker turnaround times, or lower costs in certain councils. Some drivers and operators deliberately seek licences from authorities known for minimal requirements or fast processing times.
This situation often creates difficulties for the councils where the vehicles are physically working. Local enforcement officers cannot take direct disciplinary action against drivers licensed by other authorities. Even if a vehicle breaches local conditions, the home licensing council remains responsible for any regulatory follow-up, which can be time-consuming and ineffective.
A common example is seen in most regions and cities, where officers frequently encounter vehicles licensed by City of Wolverhampton Council. Wolverhampton has become a prominent licensing authority due to its centralised online system and relatively fast processing times. However, once those vehicles begin working in other parts of the country, the responsibility for monitoring their behaviour remains in the most part with Wolverhampton, not the area where the vehicle is operating.
This has resulted in a growing reliance on inter-council cooperation. Some police forces have stepped in to assist with checks on these vehicles, but their role is limited. While officers can inspect vehicles for roadworthiness and ensure correct badge display, they cannot enforce all the terms of another authority’s licensing conditions. Any serious issues still need to be reported back to the original licensing council.
Trade bodies have long raised concerns about the current framework. They argue that the law, particularly the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, has not kept pace with modern industry practices, especially in the age of app-based operators and flexible work locations.
Calls for reform have been growing. One of the key proposals is the introduction of mandatory national minimum standards for taxi and private hire licensing. This would set a baseline for all authorities, reducing the incentive for operators to apply in areas with lower requirements. Another proposal includes giving local authorities more power to take enforcement action against out-of-area vehicles operating in their district.
The Department for Transport has acknowledged the issue and previously consulted on national standards and cross-border enforcement. While guidance has been issued, there is still no formal legislative change. Without updated laws, local authorities remain limited in how effectively they can manage vehicles from outside their area.
