Posted on the 20th April 2026 in PHTM News

READING PRIVATE HIRE OPERATORS FIGHT NEW RULES AS VEHICLE AGE LIMITS DROP

Private hire opersators in Reading are sounding the alarm over new council regulations they say will cripple the local trade.

Reading Borough Council has introduced rules that lower the maximum age for licensed vehicles from 12 down to 10 years and encourage a shift toward electric cars.

Operators warn these changes are already driving hundreds of workers to register their cars with other councils that have fewer restrictions.

The new age limit is particularly devastating for specialised services like Crown Wheelchair Travel, which transports disabled students to school.

Nazneen Ali, whose family owns the business, explained that their expensive, specially adapted minibuses are now facing a "shorter life cycle." 

She noted that replacing just one vehicle costs roughly £45,000, adding: "These are purpose-built vehicles for mobility and it's a real shame that these are being scrapped by the council."

Executive car drivers are also feeling the pressure. Manzoor Hussain, who provides luxury travel for global tech firms, argued that new branding requirements would ruin the look of high-end cars and alienate corporate clients.

He claimed the council is constantly "penalising" those who stay local, stating: "They've lost 300 drivers to other boroughs who are still working in Reading, whereas the people who are loyal to Reading - they're being punished."

A major point of frustration for the trade is the lack of financial help. While the council-owned bus company received government funding to go green, minicab drivers have received no such aid.

Councillor John Ennis said the council wants to be "understanding," but made it clear that the responsibility for upgrading cars sits with the owners. He stated: "We'll work with them, but ultimately they'll have to do a lot of that themselves."


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