Skip to main content

Uber granted London licence for just two months

Transport for London (TfL) has issued Uber London with just a two-month private hire operator licence. The ride-hailing company’s previous 15-month licence – awarded by a court on appeal after TfL originally decided not to grant one - expires tonight (25 September). Two years ago, TfL declared that Uber was not ‘fit and proper’ to hold a licence – before the court intervened. At the time, Uber chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi admitted the company was ‘far from perfect’. TfL now says it will be req
September 25, 2019 Read time: 2 mins
1466 Transport for London (TfL) has issued Uber London with just a two-month private hire operator licence.


The ride-hailing company’s previous 15-month licence – awarded by a %$Linker: 2 External <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?><dictionary /> 0 0 0 link-external court false https://www.itsinternational.com/categories/utc/news/uber-granted-15-month-trial-to-operate-in-london/?__utma=90924956.1869851934.1534854633.1569326723.1569330357.635&amp;__utmb=90924956.12.9.1569332147858&amp;__utmc=90924956&amp;__utmx=-&amp;__utmz=90924956.1564666132.552.12.utmcsr=Adestra|utmccn=(not%20set)|utmcmd=email&amp;__utmv=-&amp;__utmk=30922423 false false%> on appeal after TfL originally decided not to grant one - expires tonight (25 September).

Two years ago, TfL declared that Uber was not ‘fit and proper’ to hold a licence – before the court intervened. At the time, Uber chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi admitted the company was ‘far from perfect’.

TfL now says it will be requesting additional information from Uber “to help inform any future licensing decision” and insists its original decision not to give Uber a licence “led to the app-based firm improving its culture and governance”.

“Uber London Limited has been granted a two-month private hire operator licence to allow for scrutiny of additional information that we are requesting ahead of consideration of any potential further licensing application,” says a TfL spokesperson.

The two-month licence comes with new conditions “to ensure passenger safety”, TfL says. “These new conditions cover ride-sharing, appropriate insurance and driver document checks by Uber.”

Related Content

  • December 21, 2018
    Lyft establishes dedicated pick-up zone at Toronto shopping centre
    Lyft has established a dedicated zone at the west exit of the Cadillac Fairview Toronto Eaton Shopping Centre to help visitors get to and from the venue. Riders can then use Lyft’s app to choose specific pick-up and drop-off points around the shopping centre’s offices, shops and restaurants. The partnership says it will gather feedback and adapt the service to meet the needs of riders. Last month, Lyft entered an agreement with the Regional Transportation Commission of South Nevada to offer cheaper ride
  • July 3, 2019
    World Economic Forum: AVs face two big challenges
    Autonomous vehicles (AVs) will not be widely adopted unless tech issues and business cases are sorted out, says an expert at the World Economic Forum (WEF). In an interview with CNBC, Michelle Avary, head of autonomous mobility at the organisation, said: “Really making sure that the technology is working in the areas of perception, which is vision — being able to identify objects and then understand how to move around them. That has yet to be solved.” Speaking at the WEF’s Annual Meeting of the New Ch
  • April 30, 2019
    Report calls for per-mile road charging scheme in London
    London’s mayor Sadiq Khan has been urged to replace the city’s existing road charge schemes with a single system that charges drivers per mile. Called City Move, the scheme would apply in areas of high demand and poor air quality. Rates would vary by vehicle emissions, local levels of congestion and pollution and availability of public transport alternatives – but would be set before the journey begins. A report by thinktank Centre for London - Green Light: Next Generation of Road User Charging for a Hea
  • September 26, 2018
    Improve efforts to develop alternative fuels infrastructure, say MEPs
    The European Commission (EC) and member states need to ‘redouble efforts’ to boost the development of an alternative fuels infrastructure, say transport MEPs. The warning comes in a draft resolution from the Transport and Tourism Committee. Ismail Ertug, rapporteur, the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament, says: “Our initiative report urges the Commission to accelerate the revision of the directive, come up with strong infrastructure targets and more funding for a