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INQUIRY RESPONSE AND BUDGET BOMBSHELL: TaxiPoint launches November 2026 magazine with licensing reform and industry costs in focus
TaxiPoint has published its November 2026 magazine, Edition 91, featuring coverage of proposed changes to taxi and private hire licensing, variation in council fees, insurance fraud and enforcement activity across the UK.
A leading story examines the Government’s response to a Transport Committee inquiry into taxi and private hire licensing. Ministers said drivers should ordinarily be licensed by the authority where they do most of their work, while stopping short of committing to a legal requirement. The Government also plans consultations on national standards and mandatory in-vehicle CCTV.
The issue reports new TaxiTools data showing that comparable three-year driver licence costs range from £90 in the Shetland Islands to £976 in Lewes. The figures cover 148 of 318 licensing areas listed by TaxiTools and include compulsory application fees where these are charged separately. The dataset does not generally include additional costs such as DBS checks, medicals or training.
Insurance is another focus, with an article on ghost-broker scams targeting taxi and private hire drivers. The feature explains how fraudulent sellers can issue convincing-looking documents for cover that does not exist, leaving drivers out of pocket and potentially uninsured. It includes checks drivers can make to verify a policy with the insurer and confirm that a vehicle appears on the Motor Insurance Database.
The magazine also covers a national TaxiPoint survey inviting licensed drivers to report their experiences of licensing authorities. Responses are intended to inform a new annual Industry Intelligence report, with questions covering fees, enforcement, application and renewal processes, and contact with councils.
Regional coverage includes Luton’s relaxation of private hire vehicle rear-window tint rules, South Cambridgeshire District Council’s consultation on proposed taxi policy changes, and vehicle licensing developments in other areas. The edition also reports enforcement cases, including inspections that led to vehicles being suspended from service over tyre condition and suspected “ghost plates”.
The November issue combines policy, business and operational reporting with updates from across the UK taxi and private hire trade.
