Peterborough City Council is preparing a consultation on taxi and private hire rules that could force older licensed vehicles out of the fleet.
Licensing Committee members were due to decide whether to open a one-month statutory consultation on a draft Taxi and Private Hire Policy for 2026–2031. Officials say the package is likely to have a significant impact on the trade.
Older vehicle rights
A key proposal would remove acquired “grandfather” rights that currently protect vehicles licensed before 26 July 2022.
The council also wants tighter age and emissions settings to push petrol and diesel cars out sooner, with zero-emission vehicles allowed to stay licensed for up to 18 years. An ultra-low-emission category would be replaced by a broader hybrid group covering mild, full and plug-in hybrids.
Operators and testing
Robust financial checks are proposed for all new and renewal private hire operator applications, including capacity to deliver contracts and safeguards against money-laundering risks.
Vehicle testing could move from the current MOT-exemption model toward DVSA MOT tests, with Aragon kept as a priority garage and a possible small number of extra authorised centres.
No implementation date is set. Any final policy would need Full Council approval after consultation.