Derby to review private hire vehicle age policy amid safety and affordability concerns
- Perry Richardson
- Sep 16
- 2 min read
Derby City Council is preparing to consult on possible changes to its policy that restricts the age of private hire vehicles (PHVs) when first licensed. The current rule, in place since April 2025, requires all newly licensed PHVs to be no more than five years old from the date of first registration.
This follows pressure from the private hire trade, which has questioned whether the five-year rule remains necessary in light of advances in vehicle technology. A petition to scrap the rule was rejected by the Committee in June, but councillors did agree to explore alternatives through a formal consultation.
Vehicle inspection data covering April 2024 to March 2025 has helped inform the proposals. Of 68 PHVs inspected, 34% were found to have serious defects, the majority linked to older vehicles. Those manufactured before 2015 were significantly more likely to have structural issues, particularly suspension-related. In contrast, vehicles aged seven years or younger showed a much lower rate of serious problems.
The Council says any age limit must strike a balance between maintaining public safety and supporting a viable and inclusive trade. Officers noted that while the five-year rule promotes a newer, more reliable and lower-emission fleet, it can also create financial barriers for new entrants and existing drivers needing to replace their vehicles.
The current policy also goes beyond what is required for environmental standards. Since January 2025, all new PHVs in Derby must meet Euro 6 diesel or zero emission capable (ZEC) standards, which can apply to vehicles up to nine years old.
Neighbouring authorities such as Wolverhampton, Nottingham and South Derbyshire have more relaxed policies, with maximum vehicle age limits ranging from seven to over eleven years. Derby’s tighter rules could be encouraging some drivers to register elsewhere, undermining local enforcement and regulatory oversight.
Removing the age limit entirely could improve affordability and driver recruitment but would place more pressure on inspection and enforcement teams to identify vehicle defects. Meanwhile, relaxing the limit to somewhere between seven and nine years may offer a middle ground, aligning more closely with inspection data and regional policies while still maintaining safety and environmental goals.
The Council also flagged several equality and socio-economic issues. High replacement costs can disproportionately impact drivers from low-income or ethnic minority backgrounds. There is also a risk that maintaining a stricter policy could reduce the availability of wheelchair-accessible taxis, affecting disabled and elderly passengers.
A 12-week public consultation is set to begin once the Committee formally approves the next steps. The results will help inform a future decision on whether to amend or retain the current policy.
