Derby considers relaxing private hire vehicle ‘5-year rule’ after consultation shows strong support for change
- Perry Richardson
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
Derby City Council is reviewing its policy requiring private hire vehicles (PHVs) to be no more than five years old when first licensed, following consultation feedback indicating strong support for relaxing or removing the rule.
A report to the council’s Licensing Committee on 12 March outlines three possible options: retain the current five year limit, remove the age requirement entirely, or introduce a revised entry limit of seven, eight or nine years for newly licensed vehicles.
The five year policy forms part of Derby’s Taxi and Private Hire Strategy 2020 and came into force on 1 April 2025 after earlier consultation. The rule was introduced to help maintain vehicle quality, improve safety and support emissions goals across the licensed fleet.
However, the private hire trade requested a review soon after the rule took effect, arguing that advances in vehicle technology and the rising cost of replacement vehicles had reduced the relevance of such a strict age threshold.
Licensing committee to weigh options including extending vehicle age limit to seven, eight or nine years as drivers cite financial pressures.
A consultation held between December 2025 and January 2026 generated 833 responses, with 59.2 percent favouring the removal of the age limit entirely. Around 29.5 percent supported replacing the five year rule with a higher limit, while only 11 percent backed retaining the current policy.
Among respondents who supported a revised limit, the most common preference was a nine year entry threshold, chosen by nearly 80 percent of that group. Smaller proportions favoured eight or seven years.
Trade representatives have argued that vehicle age alone is not a reliable indicator of safety, pointing to regular inspections and compliance checks already required for licensed vehicles. The Derby Area Taxi Association said well maintained vehicles older than five years can remain safe and economical, particularly for owner drivers facing high purchase costs for newer models.
The report also highlights a potential regulatory issue linked to cross border licensing. Drivers may choose to licence vehicles with neighbouring authorities that allow older vehicles at first licence, which could weaken local enforcement oversight if vehicles operate predominantly in Derby while licensed elsewhere.
Inspection data included in the report indicates that vehicle reliability begins to decline after around eight years, with vehicles older than nine years accounting for the majority of serious defects identified during checks. Between April 2025 and March 2026, 54 percent of inspected PHVs were found to have serious defects requiring action.
Council officers say a seven year entry limit could offer a compromise by reducing financial pressure on drivers while maintaining fleet quality and safety standards. The report concludes that such an approach would still allow controlled regulation while widening the pool of vehicles available for licensing.
The Licensing Committee is expected to review the consultation responses and supporting evidence before deciding whether to retain the current rule or introduce a revised age limit for newly licensed private hire vehicles.
