Taxi and private hire drivers in Doncaster with a written-off vehicle on their books have 18 months to find a replacement, after councillors voted through one of the toughest licensing crackdowns seen in the city in years.
Members of Doncaster Council’s licensing committee agreed that Category S (structural) and Category N (non-structural) write-offs will no longer be allowed to operate as taxis or PHVs anywhere in the city. Until now, only the most seriously damaged Category A and B write-offs were barred outright, with S and N vehicles still allowed on the road provided they passed a roadworthiness inspection.
That’s changing, and the new rule applies retrospectively. Any driver currently working in a vehicle that’s previously been written off, even if it’s already licensed, will need to source a replacement within 18 months of the policy taking effect.
Council officers had originally recommended a three-year grace period to soften the blow for drivers, but committee members pushed for a much tighter timeline. Councillor Isaiah-John Reasbeck, who backed the shorter window, argued that three years was too long to leave what he considered an unsafe vehicle on the road.
The change follows a 12-week public consultation that drew more than 500 responses, split fairly evenly between drivers and members of the public, with the council saying there was no consistent standard for judging whether a previously written-off vehicle was genuinely safe to carry passengers.
It wasn’t the only change agreed at the meeting. All licensed taxis in Doncaster will now need hearing loops fitted, a move aimed at improving accessibility for passengers. Two further proposals, mandatory CCTV in vehicles and tighter emissions limits, weren’t decided on the day and will be picked up at a future meeting.
For drivers currently running an S or N category vehicle, the message from the council is clear: start planning your next car now, because the clock is already ticking.
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