Major Buckinghamshire Taxi Licensing Changes Come Into Force Today

Major changes to taxi and private hire licensing have come into force across Buckinghamshire today, 1 September, introducing new rules covering vehicle ages, wheelchair accessibility, emissions, contactless payments and driver requirements.

Buckinghamshire Council formally adopted its revised Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy earlier this year, with the new framework taking effect from today.

One of the most significant changes for vehicle owners is an extension to the maximum licensing age for many vehicles.

Most licensed vehicles can now remain licensed for up to 12 years rather than the previous 10-year limit, provided they continue meeting the council’s other licensing and inspection requirements.

Wheelchair-accessible and qualifying low-emission vehicles may be licensed until they are 15 years old.

The council is also developing an enhanced specification for wheelchair-accessible vehicles.

Vehicles eventually meeting that enhanced standard may be allowed to remain licensed beyond 15 years, subject to the requirements of the final specification and continued vehicle testing.

There is also a major accessibility change affecting Buckinghamshire’s hackney carriage fleet.

Existing non-wheelchair-accessible hackney carriages that are already licensed can continue operating, but once those vehicles reach their new maximum age and require replacement, the replacement hackney carriage must be wheelchair accessible.

The extension of the general vehicle age limit from 10 to 12 years effectively gives affected proprietors additional time to prepare for that transition.

New emissions requirements also form part of the policy.

Vehicles being licensed for the first time must meet at least the Euro 6 emissions standard.

From 2035, the council says vehicles applying to enter the licensed fleet for the first time will need to be ultra-low or zero emission.

Existing licensed vehicles will be permitted to continue until they reach their applicable age limit.

For taxi and private hire operators looking to manage bookings, drivers and customer enquiries through one system, DM Taxi Assistant provides an affordable booking and dispatch platform designed for the trade.

Passengers will also see changes under the revised licensing framework.

Licensed vehicles must now provide a contactless payment option for customers on all journeys.

The council has also introduced a zero-tolerance declaration relating to abuse and revised its approach to dealing with DVLA penalty points.

Private hire operators are affected too.

Customer-facing operator staff will be required to complete safeguarding and disability-awareness training, while operators will no longer be required to provide a local landline telephone number.

The council is also allowing greater flexibility for executive private hire drivers to undertake occasional non-executive work.

Requirements for drivers applying for or renewing licences have also been revised.

Applicants will generally need to be at least 21 years old, although limited exceptions can apply, and must have held a full GB driving licence for at least 12 months.

Medical checks can be completed by the applicant’s GP or an approved provider, while hackney carriage drivers will need to provide evidence that they are working in Buckinghamshire.

Applicants who have lived outside the UK for at least 12 months in one country during the previous 10 years may also need to provide a certificate of good conduct.

Buckinghamshire Council says the changes are intended to create a taxi and private hire service that is safer, more accessible and better for the environment while simplifying parts of the licensing process for drivers and operators.

The revised policy now becomes the framework used by the council when determining new applications, renewals and other taxi and private hire licensing matters.

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