Yellow taxi rule could face the axe as Hartlepool Borough Council launches consultation
- Perry Richardson
- Jul 13
- 1 min read
Hartlepool Borough Council has opened a public consultation on plans to change its hackney carriage licensing policy by removing the long-standing requirement for licensed taxis to be painted or wrapped in a non-standard shade of yellow.
The council, which is the licensing authority for hackney carriage and private hire vehicles, in the borough, said it had received a request to amend the existing policy covering vehicle colour. Under the current rules, all hackney carriage vehicles “are required to be professionally painted or wrapped in a non-standard production shade of yellow”.
The consultation asks taxi drivers, operators, residents and other stakeholders to provide comments on the proposed change before a decision is made. The council said: “We would welcome your views and invite you to share any comments, observations, or concerns you may have. Your feedback will help inform the Council’s consideration of the proposed change.”
Hartlepool’s distinctive yellow taxis have formed part of the borough’s licensing policy for a number of years, helping hackney carriage vehicles stand apart from private hire vehicles. Removing the requirement could reduce costs for new vehicle owners entering the trade or replacing vehicles, as operators would no longer necessarily need to pay for specialist paintwork or vehicle wraps if the proposal is approved.
The consultation is available through the council’s Your Say Our Future engagement platform and will remain open until Friday 28 August 2026. Responses will be considered before any amendments are made to the Private Hire and Hackney Carriage Licensing Policy.
