Bridge Cars, a long-established taxi firm in Dartford, has urged Dartford Borough Council and enforcement authorities to clamp down on what it describes as “rogue” out-of-area taxi and private hire drivers operating in the town — including some licensed as far as 160 miles away in Wolverhampton, according to KentOnline.
Local operator raises alarm
The family-run firm said its monthly job numbers have dropped from more than 400 before the pandemic to fewer than 300 in recent months, which it partly blames on the influx of non-local drivers.
Bridge Cars alleges that some private hire drivers are working in Dartford despite holding licences from councils elsewhere — including Wolverhampton — while making use of taxi ranks and street pickups they’re not authorised to perform.
A company spokesperson told KentOnline that “private hires [are] sitting in taxi ranks and getting customers to call up their offices to book immediately before entering the cab,” claiming this practice undermines local operators who follow the borough’s stricter licensing rules.
Licensing differences and enforcement
Dartford-licensed drivers must complete a local knowledge test, driving assessment, enhanced DBS check, and medical examination before they can operate. However, operators claim that drivers licensed elsewhere can bypass these requirements while still taking pre-booked work locally.
Council officials responded that they do carry out enforcement checks, and confirmed that out-of-area private hire vehicles are legally allowed to complete pre-booked trips within Dartford. However, only taxis and drivers licensed by Dartford Borough Council can legally accept street hails or use taxi ranks.
Growing tension across the UK trade
The issue reflects a wider national concern about cross-border private hire licensing. Similar frustrations have been reported in other regions, including Merseyside and Greater Manchester, where Wolverhampton-licensed vehicles have also been spotted working regularly.
Industry groups continue to call for more consistent national standards or data-sharing systems to ensure fair competition and maintain public confidence in licensing enforcement.
DM News Commentary
The Dartford dispute is another example of rising frustration across the UK taxi and private hire industry. Local firms argue they are at a disadvantage when enforcement struggles to keep up with the growing number of out-of-area drivers operating under lighter regimes.
For many councils, the challenge lies in balancing passenger choice and availability with ensuring fairness for compliant local operators. With Bridge Cars’ complaint echoing similar cases nationwide, stronger collaboration between councils could soon become unavoidable.
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