Trafford taxi drivers under pressure as retrofit grants run out, leaving many facing hardship
Updated: Feb 4, 2024

Trafford taxi drivers and their families are facing financial pressures due to new emissions standards, with one driver disclosing the challenges posed by the updated emissions regulations.
Many drivers, having invested in Euro 5 compliant vehicles upon recommendation, now find themselves without grant support for necessary retrofits to meet the current Euro emission standards.
The oversight is not only impacting drivers' livelihoods, but will likely also affect the public due to lower cab availability and longer waits.
To operate a taxi in Trafford, South Manchester, vehicles must be under 15 years old and comply with specific Euro emission standards—Euro 4 for petrol vehicles registered from 1st January 2006 and Euro 6 for diesel vehicles registered post-September 2015. The lack of financial assistance for retrofit updates is now placing an undue burden on drivers, forcing cabbies to contemplate leaving the trade.
A Trafford taxi driver told TaxiPoint: “Lots of drivers such as myself bought Euro 5 as at the time it was advised it was the right thing to do.
“Yet I’ve now had an email basically saying no grants towards retrofit. It’s now taking extra life off the cab causing severe hardship to our family and yes even the public.”