
Aberdeen City Council is set to launch a public consultation on significant changes to taxi licensing rules, including the controversial proposal to scrap the stringent "street knowledge test" following a notable drop in driver numbers.
Licensing chiefs have put forward several proposals aimed at addressing driver shortages and modernising the service.
The review follows a period where roughly 200 drivers quit after the Covid-19 pandemic, leading to "queues of passengers regularly seen standing along Union Street waiting for a ride home." While numbers have since risen, the local authority is looking to consult on whether the current street knowledge exam should be "ditched entirely" or amended.
The move to potentially axe the test has previously met with resistance from existing drivers. One driver argued the move "would make a mockery of all the hard work us taxi drivers went through to obtain our badge."
Key Proposed Changes:
Abolishing or Changing the Street Knowledge Test: The exam has been a "regular topic of debate" and is being reviewed to encourage more drivers to apply for licenses.
Merging Taxi Zones: The city is currently split into two zones—the city and the airport. Proposals seek to combine the two so that all taxis are "licensed for the whole council area."
Allowing Private Hire Flexibility: Plans include asking the public if private hire vehicles, such as Uber, should be allowed "to take passengers on journeys other than pre-booked routes," effectively blurring the line between taxis and PHVs. Uber finally launched in the city in October last year after a previous failed attempt.
Vehicle Age Limits: The council will seek views on the appropriateness of current vehicle age limits. Currently, all wheelchair accessible vehicles must be "no more than 10 years old at first licensing," while other vehicles must be "no more than five years old."
The public consultation is scheduled to run from February 2026 until March 2026, with the results to be reported back to the Licensing Committee for consideration on May 20, 2026.

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