In a surprising turn of events, StreetCars – one of Manchester’s largest private hire operators – has announced that it now welcomes Knowsley private hire drivers to its platform. This move comes just two weeks after one of the company’s directors publicly backed Mayor Andy Burnham’s proposed reforms to taxi licensing, aimed at cracking down on “out-of-town” operators working in Greater Manchester.
The new announcement, shared via a branded graphic, confirms that drivers licensed by Knowsley Council are now eligible to sign up and drive for StreetCars. This effectively means the firm has secured a Knowsley operator licence, enabling it to utilise drivers who are licensed outside of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) area – a practice the Mayor has previously criticised and pledged to restrict.
StreetCars isn’t stopping at Knowsley either. The company has also listed several other councils from which it accepts private hire licences, including:
- Manchester City Council ✅
- Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council ✅
- Trafford Borough Council ✅
- Bury Council ✅
- Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council ✅ (outside GM)
- Ashfield District Council ✅ (outside GM)
- City of Wolverhampton Council ✅ (outside GM)
- Uttlesford District Council ✅ (outside GM)
The inclusion of councils such as Sefton, Ashfield, Wolverhampton, and Uttlesford highlights the continued reliance on cross-border hiring – the very issue Burnham’s reforms are targeting.
A Growing Divide Between Policy and Practice
StreetCars’ apparent contradiction – supporting licensing reform on one hand, while expanding out-of-area licensing on the other – raises serious questions about the direction and unity within the trade. For many local drivers, this may feel like a double standard.
While the firm’s expansion aims to address driver shortages and meet growing demand, it also risks undermining efforts to bring all operators under one local regulatory umbrella. Critics argue that continuing to rely on licences from outside Greater Manchester allows firms to sidestep local enforcement and quality standards.
A Test for the Future of Taxi Licensing
As Burnham continues to push for unified licensing standards across the region, cases like this demonstrate the complex balancing act between operational flexibility and fair regulation. Will we see more operators follow StreetCars’ lead, or will public pressure and political will force companies to stick to local drivers only?
One thing’s for sure – the debate around “out-of-town plates” is far from over.
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