Changes to our hackney carriage and private hire policy from 1 September 2026

We’ve updated our hackney carriage and private hire taxi licensing policy on 1 September 2026 to make travel:

• safer
• more accessible
• better for the environment

From 1 September, we've made it simpler to apply for (and renew) a hackney carriage taxi or private hire licence.

Drivers now need:

• 12 months of driving experience (with a full GB licence)
• to be 21 or over (with limited exceptions for under 21s)
• a medical check from their GP or an approved provider (full medical history will only be required for the first medical)
• proof of working in Buckinghamshire (for hackney carriage drivers)
• a certificate of good conduct if they’ve lived abroad for 12 months or more in one country in the last 10 years

Vehicle rules also changed from 1 September, including these changes:

• most vehicles will be able to be licenced for 12 years instead of 10 years
• wheelchair accessible and low emission vehicles may be licensed for 15 years
• greater flexibility to advertise on vehicles

Changes to Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles (WAV) include:

• any new hackney carriages taxis must be wheelchair accessible (once the current vehicle reaches its age limit)
• existing wheelchair accessible vehicles can stay on the road for 15 years
• vehicles that meet new enhanced WAV requirements may be licensed for longer than 15 years

To improve air quality:

• all licensed vehicles will need to meet Euro 6 emissions standards at first licence
• from 2035, all licensed vehicles applications must be ultra low or zero emission at first licence
• existing licensed vehicles can continue operating until they reach their age limit

View more information about the changes if you're a hackney carriage vehicle licence holder.

Other changes include:

• new approach to dealing with driver DVLA points
• a new zero-tolerance declaration on abuse
• mandatory contactless payment options for customers for all journeys
• safeguarding and disability awareness training for customer facing operator staff
• no requirement for operators to provide a local landline number
• more flexibility for executive drivers to do occasional non-executive work

These changes help to create a taxi hackney carriage and private hire service that’s safer, more accessible, and better for the environment.

View the new policy.

If you have any questions about these changes, email [email protected]