Aqeel Arshad, Director of Street Cars Manchester, has voiced strong support for Mayor Andy Burnham’s recent call for national private hire licensing reform — a topic that has long sparked debate in the industry.
In a recent interview with the BBC, Arshad highlighted a growing issue affecting the trade: cross-border licensing. Increasingly, private hire drivers are being licensed in one area, often with looser regulations, and then working in another — typically large cities like Manchester, where licensing standards are stricter.
“Drivers go where it’s easiest, it’s perfectly legal, they don’t want to go through the extra testing in Manchester,” Arshad explained.
“Licensing has become a bit of a free-for-all. Many choose to get licensed outside the region because it’s faster and cheaper.”
Manchester, like many UK cities, has opted for higher fees and more rigorous driver requirements to uphold safety and service quality. However, with every local authority setting its own standards, the result is a fragmented system that leaves operators, drivers, and passengers facing inconsistent experiences.
Arshad argues this isn’t just a regulatory challenge — it’s a matter of sustainability. There are currently around 12,000 private hire drivers working in Greater Manchester with licences issued by councils outside the area. If the region were allowed to adopt a unified licensing approach — similar to London’s TfL model — the benefits could be substantial.
“One estimate suggests Greater Manchester could generate an additional £3.6 million each year,” he said. “That money could go straight back into the system: better enforcement, improved services, and stronger support for drivers across all boroughs.”
While Arshad acknowledges the hard work of individual councils, he points out that the existing framework has created unintended incentives. Authorities with lower costs and faster turnaround times have become go-to options for drivers trying to bypass tougher local standards.
“This isn’t about pointing fingers,” he emphasised. “It’s about finding a way forward together. Greater Manchester needs the ability to introduce region-wide licensing — not to take control, but to bring consistency, fairness, and a better experience for everyone involved.”
Currently, however, the Mayor of Greater Manchester lacks the authority to enact such reform independently. National legislation is required to make it happen.
“At Street Cars, we want to see a fair, balanced system that supports drivers, protects passengers, and works for the whole country — not just Greater Manchester,” Arshad concluded. “Let’s find a way to get there, together.”
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