Taxi driver news

This webpage is for taxi drivers to receive news about licensing laws, helpful travel news and more.

Newsletters are released throughout the year containing helpful information, but this webpage will also contain bulletins as they arrive.

Latest news

Update on proposed taxi fare increase

Following the end of the proposed taxi fare consultation on 26 February 2024, we can confirm that objections to the proposed increase have been received by the Licensing department.

As stated in our previous notice, this means that the objections will be referred to the Licensing and Regulatory Committee for consideration and for a decision as to whether or not to adopt the proposed fare increase with or without modifications.

Next steps

The objections will be referred to the committee members and will be considered at the next meeting, which is scheduled for Monday 15 April 2024.

This means that the proposed fares have not come into effect from 26 February 2024.

Proposed Hackney carriage fares 2024

Following the Licensing and Regulatory Committee meeting on Monday 29 January 2024, it was voted to accept the proposal for a new table of fares to be submitted for consultation.

Details of the revised increase in the table of fares and how you can make comments can be found on Proposed Hackney carriage fares 2024

The consultation closes on 26 February 2024.

Improved webpages

(added 14 November 2023)

We have listened to feedback from the trade and in an effort to prevent application delays, we have simplified and improved our webpages which are now available for you to view: Taxi and private hire licensing

We have started to produce 'quick how to guides'. These are designed to assist you in submitting a complete application which can be processed without unnecessary delays.

From 20 November 2023, we will only start processing driver and vehicle applications once you have completed all of the information requested and paid the fee. It is very important that you check your application before submitting it.

Any application that has missing or incorrect information, or where the fee has not been paid will result in us being unable to issue a licence. Where this is the case, we will reject the application and refund the fee.

Please note that it can take up to five working days for payment to return to your account.

We also ask that where drivers have printed off old versions of the form for badge or plate re-licence, that these print outs are placed in their recycling bin. The new versions of the form are required for all future applications. Continuing to use a previous version will result us being unable to process your application.

Finally, this is just a general reminder to check when your licence is due to expire and to make sure you submit your application to re-licence at least 28 days before the expiry date. This is especially important if your licence is due to expire over the Christmas and New Year period as this will help to ensure we can process this in good time.

Hackney carriage and private hire newsletter

Previous newsletters:

West Suffolk Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Drivers Forum

Mobility bill

All licensed drivers are under a legal duty to provide mobility assistance to disabled passengers. A licensed driver may only refuse to do so where the driver has a medical exemption.

Section 164 of The Equality Act 2010 as amended by The Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles (Disabled Persons) Act 2022, places duties on drivers of hackney carriage or private hire vehicles which have been hired by or for a disabled person, or by another person who wishes to be accompanied by a disabled person. The West Suffolk policy reflects the changes – please familiarise yourself with the act: Legislation - Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles (Disabled Persons) Act 2022