Barcelona’s long-running conflict between taxi drivers and private hire vehicles is set for a turning point with the Catalan Government’s proposed Taxi Law. The legislation, formally named the Law on Passenger Transport in Vehicles of up to Nine Seats, would progressively eliminate urban VTCs (vehicles with driver) and leave the service exclusively in the hands of licensed taxis.
Unveiled this week before the Consell del Taxi, the bill aims to end years of confrontation between traditional taxis and digital-platform-backed VTC operators. Originally intended for pre-booked services, the VTC sector expanded rapidly with the arrival of apps, blurring the lines between their role and that of taxis. The metropolitan area of Barcelona currently has 10,500 taxi licences and 990 VTC authorisations, of which around 600 operate daily in the city as quasi-taxis.
The draft law outlines a gradual transition in which urban VTC licences will not be renewed, while new permits will be reserved solely for taxis. To ease the impact, a new category of vehicles, dubbed ‘High Availability Cars’, will be created. These vehicles must be booked at least two hours in advance and used for a minimum of one continuous hour, though exceptions will apply during major events such as the Mobile World Congress, when they may operate more flexibly. Municipalities will also be allowed to issue temporary licences to meet seasonal demand.
A key innovation of the law is the mandatory installation of remote control devices in both taxis and VTCs, enabling authorities to monitor activity in real time and sanction irregularities automatically. Officials say the measure will bring transparency and allow regulators to detect unauthorised operators, a problem that has plagued Barcelona, where many VTCs with interurban licences are already working illegally.
For the taxi sector, the proposal represents long-awaited relief. For VTC operators, it signals a phase-out that could leave many without business in the city centre. The debate is expected to be intense in the coming months, as the law will determine the future balance of Barcelona’s urban mobility.
If approved, the Taxi Law would reshape urban transport in Barcelona, consolidating taxis as the sole service for city passengers and confining VTCs to restricted and exceptional roles.
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