Burnley Council taxi shake-up could end repeat knowledge tests and scrap vehicle age limits in biggest licensing overhaul for years

Burnley Borough Council’s Licensing Committee is being asked to approve a series of significant reforms to taxi and private hire licensing that could reshape how the borough’s licensed fleet is regulated. If approved, the revised Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy will come into force on 4 August 2026 following a six-week public consultation.

Among the most notable proposals is the removal of the requirement for existing licensed drivers to re-sit the ‘Safer Cabbying’ knowledge test each time they renew their driver licence. Officers say consultation responses consistently showed drivers believed the repeat assessment created an unnecessary administrative burden, with 21 consultation comments referring specifically to the renewal test requirement. Instead, drivers would continue to complete safeguarding refresher training at renewal, aligning with the Department for Transport’s statutory standards.

The report includes comments from Burnley private hire driver Mohammad Nasir, who said: “Regarding the driver knowledge test, I believe it should be a requirement for new drivers only. Existing licensed drivers have already demonstrated their knowledge and have years of practical, on-road experience navigating the borough.

“Requiring them to re-sit the test is an unnecessary administrative burden that does not tangibly improve public safety. The focus for existing drivers should remain on their continuous good conduct, driving record, and compliance with all other licensing conditions.”

Another major proposal would remove upper age limits for both hackney carriage and private hire vehicles. Rather than restricting vehicles based on age, Burnley plans to rely on more frequent formal MOT testing for older vehicles, allowing them to remain licensed indefinitely provided they continue to meet the required safety standards.

The council also proposes removing the existing ‘exceptional condition’ criteria used for older vehicles, arguing the revised inspection regime provides a clearer and more consistent approach for both the trade and enforcement officers.

Under the revised policy, licensing intervals would vary according to vehicle age. The newest private hire vehicles would receive annual licences, vehicles aged between three and eight years would move to six-monthly licensing, while vehicles aged eight years and over would continue on four-monthly licences. Older vehicles would undergo a formal MOT test at every renewal, giving licensing officers greater oversight of vehicle condition throughout their working life.

The proposed changes have prompted a review of licensing fees. Officers warn that maintaining the current charges alongside longer licensing periods for newer vehicles would significantly reduce cost recovery for the licensing service, which is already not self-funding. The committee is therefore being asked to consider increasing annual fees for newer private hire vehicles while making smaller adjustments for older vehicles. Hackney carriage vehicle licence fees are proposed to remain unchanged because all licensed hackney carriage vehicles in Burnley were more than eight years old based on the 2024 fleet data used in the report.

The report states that the revised fee structure has been designed not only to improve cost recovery but also to encourage operators to introduce newer vehicles into the licensed fleet. If approved, the new fees would be advertised for 28 days before coming into effect alongside the revised licensing policy.