County Durham taxis

Taxi Travel overview 

Various taxi companies, operating throughout County Durham, are accessible to wheelchair users. 

Durham, Darlington and Middlesborough County Councils all list taxi companies with wheelchair-accessible vehicles on their websites.

Always check your accessibility requirements with the individual taxi operator before booking your journey. 

Selected accessible taxi companies

Durham County Council provide information for taxi companies which have wheelchair- accessible vehicles. They are listed by area, with contact details here.

Darlington County Council provide information and contact details for taxi companies which have wheelchair-accessible vehicles here.

Middlesbrough County Council provide contact details for wheelchair-accessible taxi operators here.

Hackney Carriages

Are white and display a yellow licence plate at the back of the vehicle, with yellow rectangle decals on the front doors. Drivers with a hackney carriage licence can pick you up at a taxi rank or from the roadside if you flag the taxi down.

All hackney carriages are wheelchair-accessible vehicles, although drivers may not be able to carry all types of wheelchairs. Drivers will perform a risk assessment for less standard wheelchairs to establish if they are able to transport them safely.

Planning a journey

• Book a licensed vehicle in advance and use a trusted company or driver.  
• When booking a taxi from a firm which is not solely a wheelchair specialist, ensure you mention at the time of booking that you will need an accessible car. 
• Check that your destination is accessible before leaving for your journey.
• When booking in advance, keep a record of your phone, email or app booking and your journey information.

Keeping safe when travelling

Many taxi companies now offer wheelchair-accessible vehicles, which you should specify when booking if required.

Wheelchair-accessible taxis are usually black cabs, wheelchair-adapted vehicles, people carriers, minibuses or converted small vans. They may have a ramp or a passenger lift to assist the wheelchair user with getting into the vehicle, which is far easier than transferring from a wheelchair to a car seat and dismantling the wheelchair for the journey. 

As wheelchairs are carefully designed to support a disabled person, wheelchair-accessible taxis allow disabled people to stay in the position that is best for their body and posture.

Wheelchair-accessible taxis must be equipped to secure the wheelchair when the cab is in motion. Seat belts or lap belts should be available to keep the wheelchair user steady.

Wheelchair accessible taxis are also adding different forms of lighting to help the visually impaired.

All the equipment in a wheelchair taxi should be regularly tested by the driver to ensure it remains in good repair.

Operator obligations

The law states that to comply with the Equalities Act 2010, licensed drivers are under a legal duty to carry wheelchair users, guide, hearing and other prescribed assistance dogs in their vehicles without additional charge. 

The law expects drivers:

• to carry the passenger while in a wheelchair
• not to make any additional charge for doing so
• if the passenger chooses to sit in a passenger seat, to carry the wheelchair
• to take such steps as are necessary to ensure that the passenger is carried in safety and reasonable comfort
• to give the passenger such mobility assistance as is reasonable

All taxi and minicab drivers must make sure they do not discriminate against disabled people and should not treat them less favourably than non-disabled customers. 

They should make reasonable adjustments to ensure you receive the same services, as far as this is possible, as someone who is not disabled.

If a taxi driver does discriminate against you, you should complain to your local authority’s Licencing Department.