Because it is still the fast track. From 2024, the authorities will no longer be able to refuse a new licence solely on the basis of the 1/30 ratio — this was overturned by the Supreme Court applying the doctrine of the CJEU — but applying for one still involves a lengthy process, criteria under review and an uncertain outcome. Anyone wishing to operate or invest in ride-hailing has two options: to fight for a new licence for years, or to buy an existing one on the secondary market and be up and running within weeks.
Scarcity of supply does the rest. Every existing licence carries a scarcity value — now inherited rather than protected — which rises or falls with demand from the platforms, local regulations and the revenue the licence can generate. This is the mechanism at work for any asset with supply limited by regulation, with one new twist: that limitation is now being debated on a case-by-case basis in the courts.
The historical problem with this market was never demand: it was opacity — prices with no benchmark, unverified revenue, and haphazard transfers taking 4–8 weeks. This is precisely what VTC360 rectifies with its public provincial index, revenue certification and escrowed settlement within 7–15 days. Start by seeing what’s for sale.
LAST REVIEWED · Jul 19, 2026 — VTC360 guide: general criteria, not advice for your specific case.