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Sheffield private hire vehicle drivers licensed in Wolverhampton surging ahead
City of Wolverhampton Council has issued an increasing number private hire vehicle (PHV) licences to applicants from Sheffield between 2020 and 2024, raising questions on licensing practices and regional impacts.
Data released through a Freedom of Information request reveals that PHV licences issued to Sheffield-based applicants rose significantly. In 2020, just 17 PHV licences were granted, but by 2023, this number had skyrocketed to 231, and in just the first eight months of 2024, 258 licences were issued. Hackney Carriage vehicle licences, however, consistently remained at zero.
The number of PHV driver badges issued also saw similar growth, with 28 badges issued in 2020 compared to 422 in 2023. This sharp rise highlights the scale at which Wolverhampton has become a licensing hub for Sheffield drivers, despite geographical separation.
Income generated from these licences has also grown, covering everything from badge replacements to fast-track driver fees. By 2024, Wolverhampton had collected over £58,000 through various fee categories, indicating that Sheffield’s applicants form an important revenue stream for the council. These funds are however entirely reinvested into the licensing service in Wolverhampton, maintaining its non-profit status.
The licensing of private hire vehicles (PHV) and drivers by Wolverhampton Council for applicants outside of its jurisdiction—specifically in Sheffield—has raised concerns for several reasons, which are highlighted by the financial figures and the scale of activity involved.
Wolverhampton Council issuing such a high volume of licences to drivers and vehicles from Sheffield has led to questions about licensing standards. Some believe that Wolverhampton’s process may be more lenient, cheaper, or faster compared to local authorities, leading drivers from Sheffield to apply there instead. This effectively circumvents Sheffield’s local control, which can impact local standards and enforcement consistency.
Licensing drivers from other regions is completely legal, but it complicates enforcement. Wolverhampton’s licensing and enforcement team, which operates beyond the city boundaries, faces challenges in effectively monitoring and enforcing compliance in distant locations like Sheffield on a daily basis. This geographic dispersion can arguably undermine consistent enforcement of safety and service standards, leaving local passengers potentially underserved or exposed.
