Perry Richardson

Private hire drivers could benefit from higher mileage tax allowances after the Government announced plans to increase the rate available for business journeys exceeding 10,000 miles annually.HM Treasury confirmed on Monday 26 October that the higher-mileage rate would rise from 25p to 35p per mile, alongside plans to make the existing 55p allowance for the first 10,000 miles permanent.The announcement forms part of a package of measures ahead of Wednesday’s Budget, aimed at reducing costs for p

Taxi fares in Sevenoaks could increase by 10% from 1 December 2026 as councillors prepare to decide whether to approve revised hackney carriage tariffs following consultation with licensed drivers and the public.Sevenoaks District Council’s Licensing Committee will meet on Tuesday 3 November to consider the proposed changes, which would represent the first adjustment to the district’s maximum taxi fares since May 2022.Council officers have recommended a 10% increase across existing fare charges,

The Government has confirmed plans to introduce Euro 7 emissions standards for new cars registered in Great Britain from 29 November 2027.The Department for Transport announced the decision yesterday following a consultation on updating vehicle emissions requirements.The new standards will apply to mass-produced cars and vans, including models purchased for taxi and private hire use. Euro 7 introduces requirements covering exhaust emissions, brake particles, tyre wear and electric vehicle batter

A private hire vehicle has been suspended from service after a further set of “ghost plates” was found in the Avon and Somerset area, according to PC Patrick Quinton of Avon and Somerset Police.In a message accompanying an image of a silver Toyota Camry with its rear registration plate removed, Quinton said: “Another ghost plate found … Vehicle suspended from service until road legal plates put back on. If in doubt, ask me to check yours…”Ghost plates are number plates made or altered so cameras

Changes to motoring tax relief, household electricity VAT and energy bills could affect the running costs of Britain’s taxi and private hire drivers, although not every measure announced is new.Taxi and private hire drivers face changes to their operating costs following the Government’s latest tax and cost-of-living measures, with business mileage allowances, fuel duty and electricity costs among the main issues affecting the trade.The developments are likely to impact self-employed cabbies who

The Government has revealed plans to make large private hire operators like Uber, Bolt and other ridehail giants liable for VAT on the full value of passenger fares from January 2028, with a proposed £50million annual turnover threshold potentially protecting smaller firms.Further details buried within the Chancellor’s Autumn Budget 2026 documents have revealed how the Government intends to apply full 20% VAT to larger private hire vehicle (PHV) operators, potentially creating a significant gap

South Yorkshire Police said officers were called in the early evening on Saturday, 24 October, after a report that a man had stolen a taxi following an alleged racial abuse incident.Barnsley South neighbourhood officers attended Tesco on Wombwell Road to obtain witness statements and CCTV footage. Police said the footage showed the man arriving in his own vehicle before going to the customer service desk and claiming he had run out of diesel.He then called for a taxi. When it arrived, the man al

Transport for London (TfL) uses real-world emissions factors in its emissions inventories and only recognises emissions benefits from petrol plug-in hybrid cars at lower speeds, the Mayor has said, citing uncertainty over how the vehicles perform in practice.The response came after City Hall Green Zack Polanski asked Mayor Sadiq Khan how the Greater London Authority and TfL account for the risk that plug-in hybrids emit more carbon dioxide in real-world use than manufacturers’ official figures s

Uber has rejected a proposal to temporarily reduce the commission it retains from UK private hire journeys, despite renewed pressure from drivers facing higher operating costs.The decision was disclosed by GMB following its third-quarter meeting with the ride-hailing company on 27 October.GMB had proposed a temporary 5% commission reduction or equivalent rebate, arguing that the measure would provide financial assistance to drivers affected by rising fuel prices.According to the union, Uber decl

The Government has confirmed further details of how its planned mileage-based electric vehicle tax will operate, with high-mileage taxi and private hire drivers facing additional annual costs from April 2028.HM Treasury announced on Wednesday 28 October that it will develop a digital reporting system called eVED Connect, alongside new mileage estimation tools and automated refund arrangements.The announcements form part of Budget 2026 and build on the Electric Vehicle Excise Duty proposals first