Which councils are shifting towards emissions-based taxi policies rather than age limit tightening
- Perry Richardson
- 18 minutes ago
- 1 min read
Several UK councils are moving away from strict vehicle age limits for taxis and private hire vehicles, opting instead for emissions-based policies. This shift contrasts with Derby City Council’s recent proposal to reduce the licensable age of vehicles from 15 to 5 years for new applications, a move that has sparked protests from local drivers.
In Manchester, the city council has extended taxi age limits by two years, aiming to support drivers during the transition to cleaner fleets. Similarly, Wakefield Council has proposed allowing full battery electric vehicles to operate for up to 20 years, acknowledging the high costs associated with electric vehicles.
Leicester City Council is consulting on increasing the entry age for licensed vehicles from five to nine years, provided they meet Euro 6 emissions standards. Milton Keynes Council has removed age restrictions for electric and hydrogen vehicles and increased the maximum age for petrol, diesel, and hybrid vehicles from 10 to 12 years.
Wolverhampton Council has proposed removing vehicle age limits entirely in favour of an emissions-based policy, particularly for electric taxis. In Edinburgh, the age limit for Euro 6 or CVRAS retrofitted Euro 5 taxis has been extended to 14 years, subject to regular compliance tests.
The UK government’s statutory guidance does not mandate specific vehicle age limits, leaving such decisions to local authorities. The guidance emphasises vehicle safety and emissions standards over age, recommending regular testing to ensure ongoing compliance.
As Derby City Council faces criticism for its proposed age limit reduction, other councils are adopting more flexible, emissions-focused approaches, balancing environmental goals with the economic realities of taxi operators.
