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Posted on the 21st May 2025 in PHTM News
LIVERPOOL LICENCE FEES SET TO RISE AMIDST CRACKDOWN ON VEHICLE ADVERTISING
The cost of operating a taxi in Liverpool is poised to increase for the first time in over a decade, as the city council moves to raise licensing fees and implement tighter restrictions on vehicle advertisements.
The proposed changes come amidst concerns over a significant number of private hire licences being granted to drivers with Liverpool postcodes by Wolverhampton Council.
Currently, a single-year hackney carriage or private hire driver's licence in Liverpool costs £60, or £150 for three years. The city council is now proposing to increase these fees to £75 for a year and £180 for three years.
According to committee documents, a "full calculation exercise" was conducted, and the proposed increase is considered minimal, with officials stating it will have "very little impact on licence holders and customers."
The report added that the figures are "comparable with core cities so it is highly unlikely that many private hire drivers and licence holders will be motivated to license themselves elsewhere."
The move also addresses a growing trend revealed by a Freedom of Information request to Wolverhampton City Council, which disclosed that in 2024 alone, 479 private hire driver licences and 695 private hire vehicle licences were issued to applicants with Liverpool postcodes. These vehicles are now a common sight when booking journeys in Merseyside through apps such as Uber.
In recent years, Liverpool has seen a decrease of 131 hackney carriage drivers, while the number of private hire drivers has surged by an additional 1,063. Since 2021, there has been a 92% increase in new private hire operators across Liverpool, totalling 77.
In addition to fee hikes, committee members will be asked to approve new rules regarding vehicle advertising. While commercial advertising will generally be permitted, new conditions will prohibit the promotion of e-cigarettes and gambling.
These proposals will be considered by the general purposes licensing committee next week. If approved, they will mark the first increase in taxi licensing fees in Liverpool since 2011.
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