Blackburn with Darwen set to retain council-only MOT testing for taxis and private hire vehicles
- Perry Richardson
- Dec 30, 2025
- 2 min read
A report to the Executive Board of Blackburn with Darwin Borough Council recommends no change to existing MOT testing arrangements for taxis licensed in the borough, keeping testing restricted to the council’s own vehicle testing facility.
Under the current system, licensed taxi drivers are required to use the council’s Motor Vehicle Service Station at Davyfield Road for all MOT tests. The authority says staffing at the site is flexed to allow initial tests and retests to be booked within 24 hours where possible, in an effort to minimise vehicle downtime for drivers.
Executive councillors are due to consider the report at a meeting on Thursday 8 January 2026. The paper includes findings from a consultation held earlier this year, which invited views from taxi operators, licensed drivers and members of the public on whether current MOT testing arrangements should be changed.
The consultation exposed a clear split between industry and passengers. The majority of taxi operators and drivers said they would prefer the freedom to use any MOT testing station within the borough, citing flexibility and convenience. However, public respondents took a more cautious view, prioritising safety and oversight.
Executive Board advised to reject changes despite driver opposition following public consultation
A survey of 500 borough residents carried out in July 2025 found that 84 percent considered vehicle safety to be extremely important. When asked specifically about taxi MOT testing, 58 percent said tests should only be carried out at a council-run facility, while a further 24 percent supported the use of council-approved stations rather than open-market choice.
Officers concluded that the strength of public support for council-controlled testing outweighed the concerns raised by the trade. The report states that maintaining direct control over testing helps ensure consistent standards, avoids perceived conflicts of interest and reinforces public confidence in licensed vehicles.
On that basis, the recommendation is to retain the current arrangement, requiring all licensed taxis to continue using the council’s own MOT testing station. No immediate operational changes are proposed.
If the Executive Board approves the recommendation, the council has committed to reviewing the policy again in 2028, allowing time to assess whether circumstances in the taxi market or vehicle standards regime have materially changed.
Councillor Jim Smith, Executive Member for Environment and Resident Services, said: “Public confidence in taxi safety is key, and we’ve received a clear message from our residents that MOT tests must continue to be undertaken by the council.
“One of our corporate missions as a council is to build healthier, happier and safer communities; and this decision is crucial to achieving that.
“The recommendation to continue with our existing arrangements to use the service station at our Davyfield depot is made with consistency and safety in mind.”
