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On May 25, 2015, Italian judge dott. Claudio Marangoni banned the UberPop app for unfair competition practices. |
In February 2017, Italian taxi drivers implemented a strike action. |
On April 6, 2017, Italian judge dott. Alfredo Landi banned the UberBlack, Uber-Lux, Uber-SUV, Uber-X, Uber-XL, UberSelect and Uber-Van app throughout Italy for unfair competition practices. |
In November 2017, Italian taxi drivers implemented another nationwide strike action. |
Japan. |
In September 2018, Uber struck a deal with the Fuji Taxi Group to let users hail cabs through its app in Nagoya. Uber initially started with 350 cabs. |
Malaysia. |
On October 15, 2014, five Uber drivers were involved in a crackdown by the Road Transport Department (JPJ), under the Ops Teksi Uber 2014 operation—which began on October 1. The 4 other vehicles were returned to their respective owners—with their documents confiscated pending further investigation by the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD). Due to a wide range of circumstances, the 4 vehicles could be returned to owners should proper documents and other factors correlate. On October 17, 2014, JPJ continued its crackdown on drivers. Between October 2014 and October 2015, the Land Public Transport Commission impounded 44 Uber vehicles, using many methods such as tracking the vehicles using Uber's app. It was also reported that some taxi drivers have taken it upon themselves to nab Uber drivers and turn them over to the police. |
In July 2017, legislation was passed to legalize Uber. |
Morocco. |
Uber began services in Casablanca in July 2015 but suspended service in Morocco in February 2018 after it was not clear that the service was legal. |
Netherlands. |
On December 8, 2014, Dutch judges banned UberPop and implemented a €100,000 fine and the €40,000 fine for drivers who are apprehended. At first Uber continued operating, but Uber shut down its service in November 2015 after office raids by Dutch authorities. |
New Zealand. |
In January 2015, several Uber vehicles were stopped by New Zealand police, claiming that Uber was in violation of the Land Transport Act. Two Uber drivers were charged with violating the Land Transport Act and face fines of up to NZ$10,000. |
On January 20, 2015, the Associate Transport Minister, Craig Foss, said that the rules covering taxis and private hire services, including Uber, will be reviewed by New Zealand officials by mid-2015. |
In April and May 2016 the New Zealand Transport Authority (NZTA) sent warnings to 17 Uber drivers who did not comply with current regulations. |
On August 3, 2017, Uber New Zealand GM, Richard Menzies, announced that Uber is formally recognized as part of the public transport mix, meaning it can legally operate in New Zealand. Uber Eats was later launched in New Zealand that year. |
Norway. |
Uber began operations in Norway in 2014. |
According to the Norwegian Professional Transport Act, a taxi license is required to charge for passenger transport "addressed to general public on public space" In 2015, an Uber driver was acquitted because the court found that communication through a mobile app was not to be regarded as "public space." |
On October 30, 2017, Uber suspended its UberPOP service in Oslo, continuing to operate UberBLACK and UberXL service. |
Philippines. |
On October 23, 2014, despite the recommendation of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, the Philippine Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) imposed a ₱120,000 (US$2,676) to ₱200,000 (US$4,460) fine for the use of the Uber app. A spokesperson for the board said that the fines were issued because Uber did not have an approved franchise to operate in the country. The LTFRB also remarked that Uber can still operate in Metro Manila if the House of Representatives of the Philippines grants the company a proper legislative franchise. |
On October 30, 2014, after an intervention from the Department of Transportation and Communications, the LTFRB temporarily suspended its campaign of apprehending Uber vehicles. |
Amid opposition from taxi companies, On May 10, 2015, ridesharing companies gained legal ground to operate. The country requires a GPS system installed, a young fleet of vehicles, and the appropriate permits. Taxis were also given a chance to compete by also giving them a sub-classification that matches features found in Uber and other similar services. On August 19, 2015, Uber complied and secured government registration to become the country's second ridesharing company after Grab. Individual vehicle operators however still need to undergo separate registrations with the LTFRB. |
Uber suspended service for a month on August 14, 2017 due to the defiance of LTFRB's order on not to accredit drivers in their systems starting July 26, 2017. |
In August 2018, the Philippines set additional regulations for ridesharing companies including fare transparency, acceptance rates for bookings and faster response time to complaints, with fines for non-compliance. At that time, Grab had a 93% market share. |
Poland. |
Following the commencement of Uber services in Warsaw in 2014, Jarosław Iglikowski, chief of the Union of Warsaw Taxi Drivers, said: "We will put pressure on politicians, and demand that they change the regulations [for firms offering taxi services]." |
In June 2017, after a protest by 2,000 taxi drivers, Deputy Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki announced that Poland may impose more regulations on Uber. |
In April 2018, Poland announced new licensing requirements for ridesharing companies such as Uber and Taxify. |
Portugal. |
On April 29, 2016, a protest including 2,000 taxi drivers took place in major cities in Portugal. |
In October 2016, thousands of Portuguese cab drivers blocked access to Lisbon International Airport to protest government plans to legalize and regulate ridesharing companies. |
In December 2017, Uber was ruled to be illegal in Portugal. |
In November 2018, Uber and ride sharing became legal again with the so-called 'Uber law'. Law 45/2018 established a legal framework for individual and paid passenger transport in 'ordinary' vehicles based on an electronic platform referred to as TVDE. This allowed ride sharing companies to operate again with licensed TVDE operators. TVDE operators would need to have held a driving license for a minimum of three years, and have completed a specific training course covering communication, interpersonal relationships, and professionalism. |
Romania. |
In May 2015, the Romanian Parliament adopted a law which banned transport services by unauthorized drivers, effectively making Uber illegal; however, Uber continues to operate in Romania as it battles in the courts. |
In June 2018, Uber was banned in Cluj. |
On June 25, 2019, the Romanian Government passed an emergency ordinance which regulates alternative transport servicies, such as Uber and Bolt. The law came into effect on February 1, 2020. |
Saudi Arabia. |
In March 2017, Saudi Arabia banned Uber and Careem from picking up at the airport, citing license requirements. Saudi Arabia had earlier banned the ridesharing companies from allowing non-Saudis to register as drivers. |
Singapore. |
On February 10, 2017, the Singapore Land Transport Authority (LTA)ruled that private hire cars who used Uber or Grab service are not exempted from the child seat requirement. For safety reasons, all vehicles in Singapore must have booster seats or child restraints for passengers under 1.35m in height. |
In March 2017, LTA introduced a new regulation for private hire cars called Private Hire Car Driver's Vocational Licence (PDVL) which took effect in July 2017. This is to ensure that commuter's interest is better protected. |
In September 2018, Singapore required that drivers cannot be exclusive to Grab, in an attempt to open the ridesharing market to competition. |
In September 2020, Singapore required that drivers will now have to be at least 30 years old and be Singapore citizens, in a move that could reduce the industry's current glut of drivers. Previously, both Singaporeans and permanent residents (PRs) were eligible to apply for a PDVL, as long as they had held a driving licence for two years. This meant drivers could be as young as 20. |
South Africa. |
Over 300 vehicles operating for the Uber service in Cape Town were impounded in 2015. Local transport officials claimed that the service was operating without suitable permits. |
In Cape Town, on June 3, 2016, metered taxi drivers blockaded the road to the city's airport and forced passengers out of vehicles whilst attacking Uber drivers. |
In July 2018, in Johannesburg, Uber and taxi drivers initiated a strike action, blocking roads and, in 3 cases, taking the phones of drivers that did not participate in the strike. |
In August 2018, Uber opposed a new law that would prohibit the company from allowing drivers to operate without a license, subject to a fine of up to R100,000, claiming that many drivers were facing delays in getting permits from government agencies. |
South Korea. |
The Seoul city government released an official statement in July 2014 expressing its intention to ban Uber. The government stated that South Korean law prohibits fee-paying transport services that use unregistered private or rented vehicles, and a Seoul driver received a one-million won (US$974) fine in April 2014 after using Uber to solicit customers in a rented car. The city government also initiated a police investigation of Uber in June 2014, but the request was suspended due to a lack of evidence; however, the July statement indicated that the investigation would be recommenced. |
In December 2014, Uber announced that the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office had issued an indictment against both the company and Kalanick in regard to the violation of a Korean law prohibiting individuals or firms without appropriate license from providing or facilitating transportation services. |
In March 2015, Uber suspended its UberX service in Korea after disputes with officials. |
Spain. |
On December 9, 2014, In the absence of any legal provision for private hire, a judge ordered Uber to cease all activities in Spain. In a statement after the ruling, the Spanish court stated that drivers "lack the administrative authorisation to carry out the job, and the activity they carry out constitutes unfair competition." The company suspended its operations in Spain on December 30, 2014. |
Uber restarted operations in Spain in March 2016, this time using only licensed drivers. |
In August 2018, Spanish drivers ended a 6-day strike after the government agreed to set limits on licenses for ridesharing companies. |
Switzerland. |
In August 2017, Uber suspended its UberPOP service in Zürich following controversy over its legality. It still operates the service in Basel and Geneva. |
Taiwan. |
As of December 6, 2014, Uber Taiwan had received over NT$1,000,000 in fines for operating illegally, including a cease and desist of the app, on December 5, 2014. Issues included failure to insure vehicles, operating like a business without a business license, metered fares unknown to passengers, metered fares not inspected by the Ministry of Transportation and Communication, and failure to report income and pay taxes. Many drivers had their licenses suspended for violations. In December 2014, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications announced that the company was operating unlicensed taxis in violation of national law, and that the government was considering blocking the service. |
Uber was fined 231 million Taiwan dollars ($7.4 million) over two weeks after new rules introduced on January 6, 2017. On February 2, 2017, Uber announced it will suspend its service in Taiwan after the fines. |
In April 2017, Uber restarted service in Taiwan. |
Turkey. |
On June 2, 2018, following pressure from Istanbul taxi drivers, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan declared that Uber is "finished" in Turkey. The company was banned from operation. |
Thailand. |
Following concerns raised by taxi drivers in Thailand over Uber's lower rates, Uber was declared illegal on November 28, 2014 under Thailand's Motor Vehicle Act B.E. 2522, claiming that Uber vehicles are not properly registered in Thailand, Thai Uber drivers are not properly licensed, and that Uber discriminates against people who do not possess credit cards. Following the announcement, Uber drivers faced a maximum 4,000-baht fine if caught by police. |
In May 2016, Uber was forced to shut its motorcycle taxi service. |
In March 2017, Thai transport authorities began a crackdown on ridesharing companies such as Grab and Uber and urged the government to ban them. |
United Arab Emirates. |
Abu Dhabi. |
Uber launched in Abu Dhabi in 2013. In August 2016, Uber and Careem were suspended in Abu Dhabi after some drivers were detained over regulation violations. Careem resumed operation in December 2016. |
Uber restarted service in Abu Dhabi in November 2018. |
Dubai. |
Dubai-based Careem launched in 2012. |
Uber launched in Dubai in 2013. In January 2017, after a long spat with regulators, Uber signed an agreement with the Roads and Transport Authority of Dubai and became fully regulated. Under this deal, Uber is entitled to deploy about 14,000 vehicles around the city per the law of transportation companies in Dubai. |
United Kingdom. |
On October 28, 2016, in the case of "Aslam v Uber BV", the Central London Employment tribunal ruled that Uber drivers are "workers", rather than self-employed individuals, and are entitled to the minimum wage under the National Minimum Wage Act 1998, paid holiday, and other normal worker entitlements. Two Uber drivers had brought the test case to the employment tribunal with the assistance of the GMB Union, on behalf of a group of drivers in London. Uber appealed the decision. Two Uber drivers had brought the case to the employment tribunal with the assistance of the GMB Union on 20 July 2016. On November 10, the court upheld the ruling against Uber's appeal. In December 2018, Uber lost an appeal at the Court of Appeal, but was granted permission to appeal to the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom. |
In November 2018, Uber was fined £385,000 under the Data Protection Act 1998 for a data breach affecting 35 million users worldwide, and more detailed data from 3.7 million drivers including their weekly pay. |
London. |
On 11 June 2014, London-based Hackney carriage (black cab) drivers, members of the Licensed Taxi Drivers Association, disrupted traffic as a protest against Transport for London's refusal to stop Uber's calculation of fares based on distance and time taken, as they claimed it infringes upon their right to be the sole users of taximeters in London. The following week, London mayor Boris Johnson stated it would be "difficult" for him to ban Uber "without the risk of a judicial review"; however, he expressed sympathy for the view of the black-cab drivers. On October 16, 2015, after Transport for London brought a case to the High Court of Justice to determine whether the way Uber's app calculates a fare falls under the definition of a taximeter, it was ruled that the app is legal in London. |
On September 22, 2017 Transport for London announced that it would not renew the license of Uber's local service provider, which was due to expire at the end of that month. Transport for London declared that Uber London Limited was not "fit and proper" to hold a private hire operator license, citing concerns over the company's approach to reporting serious criminal offences, obtaining medical certificates and Disclosure and Barring Service checks, and the use of Uber#Greyball. Uber indicated that it would appeal the decision. On June 26, 2018, Westminster Magistrates' Court granted a license for 15 months with additional conditions. Uber had applied for a 5-year license. |
York. |
On December 12, 2017 York's Gambling, Licensing & Regulatory Committee voted to deny the renewal of Uber's license due to a data breach in 2016 and several complaints against the company and drivers. Uber appealed with QC Philip Kolvin, taking City of York Council to the Magistrates. |
Uber withdrew from the appeal on March 14, 2018 with the plan to reapply for the license. In November 2018, the city looked into the legality of Uber after a legal expert claimed that Uber drivers are "acting as unlicensed operators". |
Brighton and Hove. |
On May 1, 2018, Brighton and Hove City Council's licensing panel refused to renew Uber's private hire operator license in the city. It cited "significant concerns" about the car hailing app's data breach in 2016, and whether the company was adhering to its commitment to use only Brighton and Hove licensed drivers in the city. In December 2018, Uber won an appeal of the case. |
United States. |
Alabama. |
In July 2018, ridesharing companies such as Uber and Lyft became legal across Alabama. |
Alaska. |
In September 2015, Uber paid the State of Alaska $77,925 and paused operations in Anchorage. The state argued that Uber was misclassifying drivers as contractors instead of employees, which was illegal. |
Arkansas. |
A 2015 Arkansas law requires ridesharing companies to each pay a $15,000 annual fee and to vet potential drivers. |
California. |
In May 2011, Uber received a cease-and-desist letter from the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, claiming it was operating an unlicensed taxi service, and another legal demand from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) that it was operating an unlicensed limousine dispatch. Both claimed criminal violations and demanded that the company cease operations. In response, the company, among other things, changed its name from UberCab to Uber. In the fall of 2012, the CPUC issued a cease-and-desist letter to Uber, Lyft, and Sidecar, and fined each $20,000. However, an interim agreement was reached in 2013 reversing those actions. |