Taxi vehicle age requirements

Thank you for all comments received. The proposals were agreed at Licensing Committee on Monday 11 September.

Taxis, specifically Hackney Carriage and private hire vehicles, play an important role in the transport system within Cambridge.

Together with all private hire operators within the city, Cambridge City Council is responsible for licensing Hackney Carriage and private hire drivers and vehicles.

As part of this responsibility we seek to carry out our licensing functions with the view of promoting the following objectives:

• the safety and protection of the public
• vehicle safety, comfort and access
• the prevention of crime and disorder
• the promotion of environmental sustainability
• protection of children and adults at risk from harm

In reference to the second and fourth objectives, we have aimed to support our Air Quality Action Plan by introducing minimum and maximum age limits for our vehicles, as well as incentives to encourage the uptake of zero and ultra-low emission vehicles.

Availability and affordability

The uptake of those vehicles has been positive. However, availability and affordability of such vehicles has decreased due to a combination of the Covid-19 pandemic, Brexit and the crisis in Ukraine.

In response, a temporary solution of licensing standard hybrid vehicles with emission levels less than 120 grams per kilometre carbon dioxide was introduced.

In addition to above, the country is now going through a cost of living crisis, affecting millions. 

Due to the difficulties in availability and affordability of vehicles meeting council requirements, we have received a petition from a taxi trade representative.

You can have your say on new council proposals in response to this feedback from the taxi trade up until Sunday 27 August. The survey to complete is located under the 'About' section.

The proposals

• Increase the maximum age limit for vehicles to be licensed from less than nine years old to less than 11.
• Remove the requirement that any new vehicle licence will not be granted in respect of a vehicle unless it is less than four years old.

The above requests will only affect currently licensed and newly licenced diesel and petrol vehicles (most of which are wheelchair accessible) and standard hybrid vehicles.

We do not see these proposals as having a significant negative impact on our Air Quality Action Plan.

Furthermore, changes will offer owners a greater choice of vehicles they can licence and may also improve the number of wheelchair accessible vehicles.

Based on the above, we propose to proceed with the above petition request.

Have your say

We welcome any comments regarding the proposed changes.

Please complete the survey located under the 'About' section.

Next steps

Once the consultation period is over and feedback has been collated, a report will be presented to the Licensing Committee on Monday 11 September.