East Sussex taxi

County advice overview

Many taxi companies operating throughout East Sussex are accessible to wheelchair users.

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.

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

Selected accessible taxi companies 

Eastbourne Borough Council has provided a list of wheelchair-accessible vehicles for the Eastbourne district.

Lewes District Council has provided a list of wheelchair-accessible vehicles for the Lewes district.

Hastings 

Town Trip Taxis

Wheelchair-accessible taxis. Services include airport transfers.
Contact: 01424 44 70 70

247247 Taxis

Wheelchair-accessible vehicles. Local and national travel.
Contact: 01424 247247 or email taxi@247.uk.com

Bexhill

TOWN TAXIS 

Specialise in wheelchair-accessible vehicles.

Contact: 01424 733733 

Cooden Taxis 

Contact: 01424 846464 or email info@coodentaxis.co.uk

Eastbourne

WTS -Wheelchair Transport Specialists

Six specially adapted vehicles which are able to transport 1 – 4 wheelchairs, plus seats for accompanying passengers. All staff are fully trained.
Contact: 01323 400 429 or email info@wtsplus.co.uk

Advanced Wheelchair Transport Eastbourne

Specialise in wheelchair transport. 
Contact: 07437 719719

Hailsham

847847 Taxis

Can provide wheelchair-accessible taxis.
Contact: 01323 847847

Just Travel Sussex

Contact: 07900 780340 or email airportsjts@gmail.com .

Heathfield

French and Son

Vehicles can transport up to three wheelchairs, with room for other passengers.
Contact: 01435 867777 

JRP Direct

Wheelchair-accessible minibuses for hire, with drivers. 
Contact: 01435 515099 

Newhaven and Seaford

Newhaven and Seaford Taxis

Wheelchair-accessible cars. Request at time of booking.

Freephone: 08000 688 677 
Newhaven: 01273 510 051 
Seaford: 01323 896 666 

Uckfield

R and R Taxis

Contact: 01825 765322/ 765885

Crowborough

Crowborough Ashdown Cars

Call in advance to request a wheelchair-accessible vehicle.
Contact: 01892 571966

Planning a journey

• Book a licenced 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.

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 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.

Hackney Carriages

These vehicles generally look like London style cabs and all have an illuminated TAXI sign on the roof. Taxis can be hailed in the street or hired at taxi ranks. 

Hackney carriages are wheelchair accessible, 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.

Operator obligations

The law states that to comply with the Equalities Act 2010, licenced 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; and 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 also 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.

You can view further information on the GOV.UK website.