Edinburgh taxi drivers handed 12-month extension on vehicle age limits
- Perry Richardson
- 2 hours ago
- 2 min read
Taxi drivers in Edinburgh have been granted a one-year extension allowing older vehicles to remain on the road despite previous rules requiring them to be phased out.
On 19 May, councillors on the Regulatory Committee agreed to continue a temporary relaxation of the city’s hire vehicle age and emissions policy. This means petrol and diesel taxis and private hire vehicles over 10 years old can keep operating, provided they meet other licensing requirements.
Under the existing rules, which came into effect in 2021, vehicles must be 10 years old or less and either meet Euro 6 emissions standards or be retrofitted Euro 5 vehicles that meet Council standards. Electric vehicles are treated differently, with some allowed to operate up to 14 years of age if they pass six-monthly compliance tests.
The move follows ongoing concerns from trade representatives about the lack of available compliant vehicles and the costs of replacement. Council records show that 67% of vehicles over 10 years old are currently failing their annual roadworthiness tests, a key concern for licensing officers.
Despite this, the taxi and private hire fleet has modernised overall, with the average vehicle age now under six years. There are 1,111 licensed taxis and 2,882 private hire cars in the city. Nearly all now meet Low Emission Zone standards, which began enforcement in June 2024.
The temporary extension was first introduced to help the trade recover from the pandemic and adapt to new emissions requirements. It will remain in place for another year while the Council consults on future policy, including potential changes around accessibility and rear-loading vehicle options.
The Committee also noted that any future changes could require wider consultation with licence holders, passengers and other stakeholders.
