Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles Disabled Persons Act 2022

Advice for disabled taxi passengers

Wheelchair accessible vehicles

Taxi drivers have a responsibility to:

• carry the passenger while in the wheelchair, and provide reasonable assistance to enable the passenger to get into or out of the vehicle
• carry the wheelchair if the passenger chooses to sit in a passenger seat and help to load the wheelchair into or out of the vehicle
• help to load the passenger's luggage into or out of the vehicle
• make sure that the passenger is carried in safety and reasonable comfort
• not charge extra for any of the above

It is a criminal offence if drivers do not carry out the above duties unless they have an exemption.

Vehicles on our list must be capable of carrying some, but not all, types of occupied wheelchairs.

Travelling with a guide dog

Drivers should not refuse to take a blind or partially sighted person travelling with a guide dog, unless the driver has a medical exemption certificate, to show that they are unable to carry the assistance dog because of health reasons. An exemption notice must be displayed in the vehicle when it is being driven by the exempted driver.

The  guidance can be found by following this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/access-to-taxis-and-private-hire-vehicles-for-disabled-users

Should you have any questions please email licensing@spelthorne.gov.uk.