1.Licensee self-reporting
From 1 July 2024, if you as a licensed London private hire driver get arrested and released, charged, cautioned, or convicted you must let TfL know within 48 hours.
This change is a straightforward change, and it actually allows licensed drivers more time than before to notify TfL. The previous rule was to let TfL know immediately.
2.Displaying complaint signage
Another new rule which will come in to affect from 1 July 2024 will be the requirement to display new signage in your private hire vehicle that provides passengers with information on how they can make a complaint.
The new signage will be provided by TfL and will get added to your vehicle on your next vehicle inspection appointment.
Although the rule starts from 1 July 2024, the requirement to have the signs fitted by will be 1 July 2025. So, in essence licensed drivers have a year to get their new signage attached to their licensed vehicle.
3.Overseas criminal checks
If you are applying for or renewing your TfL London private hire drivers licence and you have lives abroad for one or more continuous periods of 3 months or more in the last 10 years since the age of 18, you will be required to provide a Certificate of Good Conduct (CoCG) for that time.
This new requirement also starts from 1 July 2024. A Certificate of Good Conduct must be from the country you lived in for 3 months or more and if it comes in a foreign language, then you must also get it translated by someone official.
4.Driver DBS checks
All private hire and taxi drivers in London will be required to sign up to the DBS Update service. This requirement will come in to force from 26 February 2024.
The DBS update service keeps your DBS updated regularly for TfL to check as and when they wish. This means if there is a change to your DBS status, TfL will know about it and won’t have to wait until you either tell them or when you renew your private hire drivers license.
- Black Taxi driver SERU and English Test
Lastly, there will be no change to the English Language and SERU assessment requirement for private hire drivers in London. However, TfL will now also require black taxi drivers to take the SERU assessment and their Knowledge of London assessment will be used to qualify them for the English Language requirement. The Black Taxi SERU test is being introduced to make it a fairer application process for both TfL Private Hire Driver and TfL Black Taxi drivers.
Black taxi SERU will come into effect from 1 October 2025.
TfL announced a few other changes that specifically affect Private Hire Operators, these also take effect from 1 July 2024. You may see some changes in how booking records are kept and better recording of dispatch staff.
Guidance letters and emails will be sent out to all London Private Hire Drivers to help them with the upcoming changes.
