Taxi and private-hire vehicle drivers and operators who impose fees or surcharges because of a passenger’s disability can face prosecution and fines of up to £1,000, Transport Minister Simon Lightwood has said.
In a written parliamentary answer on 7 September 2026, Lightwood said enforcement of the relevant Equality Act 2010 provisions is the responsibility of local licensing authorities.
The answer followed a question from Shivani Raja MP asking what the Department for Transport was doing to ensure councils enforce non-discrimination requirements where taxi and private-hire operators impose additional clamping fees or surcharges on users of wheelchair-accessible vehicles.
Lightwood said the department’s best-practice guidance calls on licensing authorities to investigate and prosecute offences where breaches are found. He also said authorities should consider regulatory action where a discrimination complaint will not result in a criminal conviction.
That action can include suspension or revocation of a licence. Licensing authorities may also consider non-renewal powers where they determine that a disabled passenger has been treated unreasonably.
The minister’s answer restates existing duties rather than announcing a new policy, law or enforcement programme. The duties arise under the Equality Act 2010, as amended by the Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles (Disabled Persons) Act 2022. Changes made by the 2022 Act came into force on 28 June 2022.
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Under the guidance, taxi and PHV drivers have duties to carry disabled passengers and provide applicable mobility assistance without making, or proposing to make, an additional charge. Drivers of designated wheelchair-accessible vehicles must carry wheelchair users, provide relevant assistance and must not levy an extra charge for carrying out those duties.
The requirements also apply to PHV operators. The guidance states that an operator commits an offence if it refuses or fails to accept a booking because a person is disabled, or does so to avoid the duties placed on drivers. Operators are also prohibited from making or proposing an additional charge in connection with duties under the relevant provisions.
Separate provisions cover assistance dogs. Taxi and PHV drivers must carry assistance dogs without an additional charge, while PHV operators must not refuse a booking or impose an extra charge because a passenger has an assistance dog.
DfT guidance distinguishes between statutory guidance on local authorities’ wheelchair-accessible vehicle lists and non-statutory guidance dealing with many of the driver, operator and enforcement duties. The department’s position is that licensing authorities are expected to take robust action where breaches are identified.
A medical or physical-condition exemption may apply to specified mobility-assistance duties. However, such an exemption does not remove all obligations under the Equality Act.
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