LONDON — An Uber driver has launched a High Court challenge against Transport for London after repeated delays in renewing his private hire licence left him in debt and fearing for his home. Julius Mugabo, 55, says the delay in processing his application caused serious disruption to his family life and finances.
The case is believed to be the first of its kind and argues that TfL failed to meet its legal duties when handling licence renewals. The driver says he only received his renewed licence after starting legal action, even though his previous one expired at the end of March 2026.
TfL has acknowledged the claim and says it is awaiting a hearing date.
How the renewal delay affected one driver
Mugabo has been licensed by TfL since 2016 and says he had not previously had any problems. He made a routine renewal application at the end of last year, but says TfL repeatedly asked him for documents he had already provided and took too long to complete the process.
While waiting, he says he still had to meet everyday expenses despite being unable to work lawfully once his licence expired. He said the delay left his finances in turmoil and put his family under severe pressure.
According to Mugabo, he owed HM Revenue & Customs £3,000 in tax, but the bill rose to £20,000 because of interest after he could not pay on time. He also said his landlord threatened eviction because he struggled to keep up with rent. He said the family did not lose their home, but the strain was intense.
Thousands of private hire drivers say they have been hit
The legal action comes against a wider backdrop of delays affecting London’s private hire sector. Under the Private Hire Vehicles (London) Act 1998, minicab drivers cannot work lawfully unless TfL has checked them and issued or renewed their licences, which must be renewed every three years.
There are about 100,000 private hire drivers in London working through apps such as Uber and Bolt. Freedom of information data obtained by the Conservatives showed that almost 18,000 drivers had received goodwill payments of £300 to £500 because of delays in licence renewals.
Drivers affected by the backlog have reported serious consequences, including debt, the loss of vehicles and threats of eviction. The scale of the issue has turned what should be a routine administrative process into a wider dispute over how the capital’s taxi and minicab regulation is being managed.
Court ruling says the delay had serious consequences
When granting a full judicial review hearing, Mr Justice Sweeting said the delay caused “immediate and serious consequences” for Mugabo and his family. He also noted that TfL accepts the processing of the application did not meet its usual standards.
Mugabo said he was bringing the challenge not just for himself, but to help other drivers in the same position. The Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain is supporting the case and says many of its members have faced similar problems with licence processing.
Union president Alex Marshall said drivers who keep London moving should not be put through this kind of hardship. Solicitor Ahmed Aydeed, representing Mugabo, said drivers can face criminal prosecution if they continue working while waiting for a renewal licence, leaving them trapped between losing income and risking legal trouble.
TfL says it is aware of the claim
TfL has said it is aware of the judicial review brought by one driver over the processing of his licence and is waiting for the hearing date. The transport authority has not set out further detail in its public response.
The case will now test whether TfL’s handling of private hire renewals amounted to a breach of its legal responsibilities. For drivers, the dispute has already highlighted how a missed deadline can quickly escalate into tax debts, rent arrears and the threat of losing work.
For Mugabo, the challenge is as much about accountability as compensation. He says the damage done by the delay was real, and that other drivers should not have to go through the same ordeal.
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