New VTC Controls Begin Amid Rising Sector Tensions
Barcelona is launching a new control campaign targeting Vehicles for Hire with a Driver (VTCs) on Wednesday 28th October 2026, provided no emergencies or competing service demands intervene. The initiative, confirmed by Guardia Urbana officials during a recent meeting with taxi sector representatives, aims to reinforce street-level enforcement of transport regulations. The campaign follows growing concerns from taxi associations over recent judicial rulings that have allowed VTC operators to obtain urban transport permits through court decisions, despite prior administrative denials. According to Élite Taxi, this shift is making inspection efforts increasingly difficult and undermines the effectiveness of current control mechanisms.
Judicial Rulings Weaken Regulatory Control
Two recent provisional authorisations, issued under court order, now permit previously rejected VTCs to operate in the Barcelona metropolitan area. The Institute for Metropolitan Taxi Services (IMET) confirmed to El Periódico that these permits will be valid for an initial two years, extendable for another two if conditions are maintained. However, the rulings are not final and have been appealed before the Tribunal Superior de Justícia de Catalunya (TSJC), leaving their validity subject to further legal review. Élite Taxi warned that these cases could set a precedent, potentially opening the door for other rejected VTC applications to gain approval through judicial channels. The organisation argues that without legislative updates, enforcement actions alone will not suffice to regulate the sector effectively.
Police inspection and VTC regulation must advance in a coordinated manner so that control actions can translate into effective results.
Call for Legislative and Operational Reform
During the 13th October meeting between STAC, Paktaxi, ATC and the Guardia Urbana, officials acknowledged a significant drop in enforcement interventions in Barcelona, which they attributed to understaffing. A planned increase in police personnel by year-end aims to strengthen 2027 operations. The meeting concluded with an agreement to plan a further control campaign by late November or early December in coordination with IMET. Élite Taxi insists that while today’s campaign is necessary, its long-term success depends on a regulatory framework that accounts for judicial interventions. The group is advocating for legislation with clear, verifiable obligations that allow for ongoing supervision of service standards, rather than relying solely on permit status. The association emphasized that frontline police experience should inform future legal reforms to ensure compliance and practical enforceability. The organisation pledges to continue working with institutions to defend taxi sector interests and establish a durable, functional regulatory system in Barcelona.
Sources: Barna Diario, stac.cat, El Periódico.
