RETRO SILENCE: London cabbies left in limbo as TfL stay silent on any decision over retrofit taxi age lifelines
- Perry Richardson
- 6 minutes ago
- 3 min read
London licensed taxi drivers are warning that continued silence from Transport for London (TfL) over black cab age limits is pushing some cabbies towards financial hardship, forced vehicle changes and, in some cases, leaving the trade altogether.
The issue centres on whether TfL will allow age extensions for diesel taxis fitted with approved emissions retrofit systems that bring them up to Euro 6 equivalent standards.
Drivers say the absence of clarity is as damaging as an outright refusal, leaving them unable to plan vehicle purchases, financing or retirement timelines. The uncertainty comes against a backdrop of rising operating costs and long-standing pressure on the black cab trade.
John Monaghan, a London licensed black taxi driver with 35 years in the trade, said the lack of direction from TfL is placing drivers like him in an impossible position. Monaghan, who completed The Knowledge over three years, said operating conditions in London have already deteriorated sharply due to road closures, low traffic neighbourhoods and congestion.
London taxi drivers say the lack of a decision from Transport for London on vehicle age extensions is creating financial uncertainty and threatening livelihoods.
He said changes introduced between 2019 and 2022, which reduced the permitted age of London taxis from 15 years to 12, had already cost him thousands of pounds. “I lost perfect cabs to the scrapyard,” he said, adding that the policy significantly disrupted his working life.
Monaghan, now 62, said his current taxi will have to come off the road in February 2026. He said retirement is not financially viable and replacing the vehicle is increasingly unrealistic. “Electric taxis are out of my price range,” he said. “This means I will have no choice other than to go back to renting, which will put pressure on me to work longer hours just to pay the rent.”
Some drivers argue that approved exhaust after-treatment systems, such as the HJS retrofit technology, would offer a practical alternative. The systems upgrade older Euro 5 taxis to Euro 6-equivalent emissions, allowing them to meet TfL’s environmental standards without the need for full vehicle replacement.
“The HJS system would be a lifeline for me,” Monaghan said. “Another three years of life for my cab would allow me to work without the burden of high payments for an electric cab or the cost of renting. If TfL refuse to give an age extension it will affect many hard-working cabbies who provide a fantastic service to the public.”
He added that similar systems have been deployed successfully in other cities, often with grant support. “This needs to be the case in London too,” he said.
Industry suppliers say the lack of a policy decision is also undermining investment and innovation. Robin Trompetter, chief executive of HJS Group, said on LinkedIn that an already approved retrofit project for TX4 black cabs is now at risk, not because the technology has failed, but because no decision has been made on adjusting vehicle age limits.
“Doing nothing is a decision, and it creates real economic damage,” Trompetter said. He warned that the uncertainty could prevent a certified Euro 5 to Euro 6 upgrade from ever being deployed at scale in London, despite its potential to reduce emissions and extend vehicle life.
TfL has not publicly committed to whether it will allow age extensions for retrofitted taxis since the retrofit solution was approved in June. TaxiPoint approached TfL for comment on the situation earlier this week and have so far not received a comment.
Drivers and suppliers say the window for a workable solution is closing. Without clarity soon, many fear the outcome will be even fewer black cabs on London’s streets, higher costs for drivers approaching the end of their careers, and further erosion of a trade that has already been under sustained pressure for two decades.
