AGE LIMITS: Older Hartlepool taxis may stay on the road if emissions targets are met under new policy shift
- Perry Richardson
- Apr 4
- 2 min read
Hartlepool Borough Council has approved a draft revision to its Private Hire and Hackney Carriage Licensing Policy, proposing the removal of age restrictions on licensed vehicles. The new policy places full focus on meeting Euro 6 emissions standards rather than using vehicle age as a determining factor for suitability.
The move follows a petition from local drivers requesting changes to the existing rules, which were due to come into force on 1 April 2025. Under the original policy, only vehicles less than five years old could receive a first-time licence, and all vehicles would be required to be Euro 6 compliant by that date.
Council officers confirmed that many licence holders had already upgraded their vehicles in anticipation of the deadline. They raised concerns that any relaxation of the policy could disadvantage those who had complied early. However, members of the Licensing Committee agreed that emissions should be the core consideration rather than age.
Following discussions with trade representatives at the February 2025 AGM, the Committee agreed to extend the Euro 6 compliance deadline to 1 September 2025. Wheelchair accessible vehicles have until 1 September 2026 to comply.
The Council highlighted that these changes align with national best practice guidance, which discourages fixed age limits and encourages targeted policies to reduce emissions.
A formal consultation will now begin on the draft policy, which also includes provisions around insurance categories and mandatory driver assessments. If approved following consultation, the new policy will take effect later this year.
As of mid-March 2025, 32 of Hartlepool’s 225 licensed vehicles are not yet Euro 6 compliant. The Council has reminded those drivers that the extension is only temporary and they should act promptly to meet the updated standard.
