The UK Government is considering a major restructuring of taxi and private hire licensing in England, with proposals to reduce the current 263 licensing authorities down to around 70, according to a report by TaxiPoint.
The Department for Transport (DfT) is exploring a regionalisation model that would consolidate licensing areas, oversight, and enforcement under fewer — but larger — authorities.
The move comes amid long-running industry debate about cross-border hiring, uneven enforcement standards, and the growth of app-based operators relying on licences issued far outside the areas they operate.
DM News Commentary
This could be one of the most significant structural changes the taxi and private hire sector has seen in decades.
If England moves towards around 70 larger licensing bodies, it raises a huge question for drivers:
Could regional licensing finally replace hundreds of separate council plates?
For areas like the North West, that might mean:
- A Merseyside-wide plate covering Liverpool, Knowsley, Wirral, Sefton and St Helens
- A Greater Manchester plate replacing the current individual district licences
- Or even wider “super-regions” if the Government pushes for broader coverage
For drivers and operators, the implications could be massive. Fewer licensing bodies may mean more consistent rules, better enforcement, and reduced cross-border confusion — but it could also lead to higher costs or tougher compliance, depending on how each regional authority is structured.
At this stage, nothing is confirmed, and the DfT has not released a public consultation. But the fact it is being actively explored suggests real momentum behind long-called-for reform.
DM News will continue monitoring this closely as more details emerge.
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