A High Court judge has dismissed claims worth approximately £340 million brought against Uber by thousands of London black cab drivers and two former private hire companies, according to BBC News – Technology.
The lawsuits alleged that the ride-hailing giant provided Transport for London with misleading information when it first secured an operating licence in the capital in 2012. However, Mr Justice Birt ruled that the cases had been filed too late and threw them out without examining whether the allegations held any merit.
Approximately 13,000 drivers were seeking nearly £200 million in damages, Reuters reported, whilst Kabbie and Iride – two private hire firms that have since ceased operations – claimed about £140 million. All the lawsuits were filed in 2024, prompting Uber to argue they fell outside the six-year statutory limit for bringing such claims.
Judge rules claimants missed deadline
In his written ruling, Mr Justice Birt determined that the claimants could have discovered the alleged deception before 2018, meaning the six-year window for legal action had already closed by the time the cases were brought forward.
RGL Management, which ran the cases on behalf of the claimants, told the BBC it was “very disappointed” with the outcome and was considering its options with the legal team. Uber, which denied all the claims from the outset, said it was pleased the court had dismissed them at the earliest opportunity.
Since obtaining its licence more than a decade ago, Uber has captured a substantial portion of the London transport market that was once dominated by traditional black cabs. The company’s arrival and rapid expansion reshaped the capital’s taxi industry, sparking years of tension between black cab drivers and the app-based service.
Separate billion-pound tax dispute looming
The ride-hailing company faces another significant legal challenge next week when it contests a tax dispute with HM Revenue and Customs worth more than £1 billion. The nature of that dispute has not been detailed in the court’s announcement.
Black cab drivers in London must complete the notoriously difficult Knowledge, a rigorous test of the capital’s streets and routes, before they can obtain a licence. The arrival of GPS-enabled ride-hailing apps fundamentally altered the competitive landscape, allowing drivers without the Knowledge to navigate the city using technology.
What this means for Poles in the UK
For Polish drivers working in London’s taxi and private hire sector, this ruling confirms that Uber’s operating licence and market position will not face retrospective challenge through these particular claims. Many Poles work as Uber drivers in the capital, attracted by flexible hours and lower barriers to entry compared to obtaining a black cab licence.
If you drive for Uber or another ride-hailing platform in London, your work arrangements remain unchanged by this court decision. However, the separate £1 billion HMRC tax case may have implications for how the company classifies and pays its drivers in future, potentially affecting employment status, tax treatment and entitlements.
Polish nationals considering taxi or private hire work in London should be aware that black cab driving requires passing the Knowledge, which can take years of study, whilst private hire work through platforms like Uber requires a private hire licence from TfL. Both routes require right-to-work documentation – either settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, or another valid immigration status.
Official information about private hire and taxi licensing in London is available on the Transport for London website.
