Since June 2022 the Equality Act 2010 has required the driver of any taxi or private hire vehicle hired by or for a disabled person to carry them, carry their wheelchair and mobility aids, give reasonable help, and not charge extra for any of it. Drivers of designated wheelchair-accessible vehicles have a further duty: to carry a passenger who stays in their wheelchair. Taxi and private hire drivers must also carry assistance dogs at no extra cost unless they hold a medical exemption certificate. Designated vehicles appear on a list kept by the licensing council, so it helps to know what to ask for when you book.
What the law requires of drivers
Two sections of the Act do most of the work. Section 164A, added by the Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles (Disabled Persons) Act 2022, applies to any taxi or private hire vehicle hired by or for a disabled person, or by someone who wants to travel with them. Section 165 applies to drivers of designated vehicles, meaning those on the list the council keeps under section 167, when the passenger is a wheelchair user. Between them, the driver must:
- carry the passenger, and in a designated vehicle carry them while they remain in the wheelchair if they wish;
- carry the wheelchair if the passenger prefers to sit in a passenger seat;
- carry any mobility aids the passenger has with them;
- take reasonable steps to make sure the passenger is carried safely and in reasonable comfort; and
- give the mobility assistance that is reasonably required, such as help getting in or out, or loading luggage, mobility aids or the wheelchair.
No additional charge can be made or proposed for any of this. A driver need not carry more than one wheelchair user on a journey unless the vehicle is of a prescribed type, and failure to comply is an offence with a fine of up to level 3 on the standard scale. Both sections provide defences, for example where a wheelchair or mobility aid could not be carried safely. The 2022 changes also extended the duties to taxis and private hire vehicles used for certain local services.
Assistance dogs
Section 168 requires the driver of a taxi hired by or for a disabled person with an assistance dog to carry the dog and let it stay with the passenger, without charging extra for it; section 170 does the same for private hire vehicles. The bar on proposing an extra charge, not just making one, was added in 2022. Non-compliance is an offence with a fine of up to level 3 on the standard scale. Cannock Chase repeats the duty in its driver conditions, which state that assistance dogs such as guide dogs and hearing dogs must be carried free of charge. Ordinary pets are a different matter, covered in dogs and pets in taxis and minicabs.
Medical exemptions
A driver with a medical reason can apply for an exemption from carrying assistance dogs. The Cannock Chase policy says such claims go through the council's medical adviser as part of the DVLA Group 2 medical. Where an exemption is granted, the driver receives a certificate, which must be displayed in the vehicle they drive. If a valid certificate is on display, that driver's refusal to carry a dog is lawful. Without one, refusing is not. The Act has a similar exemption scheme for the wheelchair duties, again only on medical or physical grounds.
Designated vehicles and how many there are
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What makes a vehicle "designated"? | It appears on the list the licensing council keeps under section 167 of the Equality Act 2010 |
| Who publishes the list? | The licensing council. Cannock Chase links to its list from its Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles page |
| How many hackney carriages are accessible? | The council's page, last updated in April 2025, says it licenses eight wheelchair-accessible hackney carriages |
| Can a private hire car be designated? | Yes. Designated private hire vehicles carry the same duties as designated taxis |
Eight vehicles is not many for a whole district. A wheelchair user who needs a ride at a particular time should not rely on one waiting at a rank; book in advance and say plainly that the vehicle has to take a passenger seated in a wheelchair.
Booking and travelling
- Tell the operator when you book that you use a wheelchair, and give your chair type and size if it is unusual. The council's operator conditions require staff to be trained in how to help wheelchair passengers.
- Confirm that a suitable vehicle will be sent and agree the price, remembering that no extra charge can be made for the help described above.
- On arrival, check that the driver secures the chair and fastens a restraint. The Cannock Chase conditions include ensuring the proper restraint of wheelchair passengers.
- If a tail lift or ramp is used, you are entitled to expect it has been maintained and inspected. The council requires inspection certificates under the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 where a tail lift is fitted.
The Cannock Chase policy also says children should not be carried in pushchairs or prams in a wheelchair-accessible vehicle, because that may be considered negligent and a breach of the driver's duty of care. For vehicle standards in general, see taxi and minicab vehicle rules.
If you are refused
Note the date, time, plate number and driver badge number, the name of any booking firm, and what was said. Then complain to the licensing authority that licensed the vehicle; taxi complaints and lost property explains what to include and how serious incidents are treated. For general driver obligations, see what a licensed driver must and must not do. The council's own page on wheelchair accessible vehicles links to the designated list and the exemption policy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a taxi driver charge extra for a wheelchair?
No. Since 2022 the Equality Act 2010 has barred the driver of any taxi or private hire vehicle from making, or proposing, an extra charge for carrying a disabled passenger, their wheelchair or their mobility aids.
Do guide dogs have to be carried in taxis?
Yes. Section 168 of the Equality Act 2010 covers taxis and section 170 covers private hire vehicles. The dog must be carried and allowed to stay with its owner at no extra cost, unless the driver holds a valid medical exemption certificate.
Are all taxis wheelchair accessible?
No. Only some vehicles can carry a passenger who stays in their wheelchair, and those on the council's designated list carry extra legal duties. Cannock Chase reported eight wheelchair-accessible hackney carriages in April 2025, so it pays to book ahead.
What happens if a driver refuses to carry my wheelchair?
Refusing without a lawful reason is an offence carrying a fine of up to level 3. Report it to the licensing authority with the plate and badge numbers.
Does the driver have to help me get in?
Yes, within reason. The driver must give the mobility assistance that is reasonably required, for example help getting in and out and with loading the wheelchair or mobility aids.