Private hire and hackney carriage licensing policy review
Since the Covid pandemic the UK has had a shortage of taxi and private hire drivers.
The trade has also experienced increasing vehicle maintenance and replacement costs.
The Department for Transport are currently consulting on a revised best practice guide.
We are taking the opportunity to carry out an interim review of our private hire and hackney carriage licensing policy.
We have considered proposals in the draft best practice guide, alongside our current policy.
The trade feels they could adopt the following changes before a full review of the policy is carried out in 2024.
This will provide a much-needed boost and maintain a service that is so important to the public.
The proposed changes
Vehicle age
No age restriction of vehicles.
Provided engines are compliant with Euro 6 standards by April 1st 2023 except for wheelchair accessible vehicles already licensed.
This will be subject to further discussion at the time of the next full review.
Tints
No tint restriction.
Provided the tint is standard to the vehicle from the production line.
Locality test
Removal of the locality test for a private hire driver’s license.
Your views
We would like your views of the proposed changes to our policy.
Please provide a written response to [email protected].
Further information
- Current Private hire and hackney carriage licensing policy [pdf document]
- GOV.UK - Taxi and private hire vehicle best practice guidance [external link]