Posted on the 13th March 2026 in PHTM News

VICTORY FOR PH DRIVERS AS DERBY COUNCIL RELAXES PHV AGE RULE DESPITE SAFETY WARNINGS

Derby city bosses have voted to soften a controversial rule regarding the age of private hire vehicles, raising the age limit for newly licensed cars from the suggested five years to nine years.

The decision comes after a wave of driver protests after Derby City Council bosses ruled that private hire vehicles should be five years old or less when licensed for the first time, arguing the strict policy was putting their livelihoods at risk and forcing them to seek licences from other cities.

The five-year rule was initially introduced to ensure cars were in top condition and met modern emissions standards. However, drivers claimed the financial pressure was too great, especially since many were already choosing to get licensed in places such as Wolverhampton to avoid Derby’s tougher requirements.

Councillor Martin Repton supported the change, arguing for a “fair and reasonable system” to keep drivers registered locally. He stated: “At the present time, taxi drivers can go outside this authority, and they can get a badge to work in this city with cars older than 10 years.”

Some committee members argued that the maintenance of a car is more important than its age. Councillor Stephen Lakin told the meeting: “I don’t think age is any actual limitation – I think it is the condition of the car.” 

He added that as long as a vehicle passes strict safety tests and is “clean, tidy and safe,” the specific mileage or age should not matter.

However, the move faced sharp criticism from those worried about declining vehicle standards. A council report suggested that at nine years old, car reliability begins to “decline more sharply.” 

Councillor Jamie Mulhall lashed out at the decision, claiming that relaxing the rules ignored the well-being of passengers. “If we vote for an age limit of nine years, we will be putting people of the city at risk. We will be putting their health and safety at risk. The evidence is clear,” he warned.

Despite these safety concerns, the committee voted for the nine-year compromise. This follows a public consultation where nearly 60 per cent of respondents asked for the age limit to be scrapped entirely to help the trade remain viable.


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