Essex taxis

Taxi travel overview 

Many taxi companies in Essex now offer wheelchair-accessible vehicles.

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. 

Selected accessible taxi companies

Chelmsford City Transport

Chelmsford City Transport website

A specialised wheelchair taxi service in the Chelmsford area. 
Contact: 07952 878308 

Nightingale Disabled transport 

Nightingale Disabled transport website

The service has a range of vehicles fitted with tail-lifts or ramps for easy wheelchair access. Drivers are experienced in assisting clients who need to travel in a wheelchair or have difficulty accessing a normal vehicle.

Contact: 01992 579300 or email: info@nightingale-disabled-transport.co.uk

Happicabs

Happicabs wesbite

The service covers Maldon, Chelmsford and South Woodham Ferrers. Over 70 vehicles are available across Essex, 24/7, ranging from cars, people carriers, minibuses and wheelchair-accessible vehicles.

Contact: 01245 443443 (Chelmsford) 01621 833833 (Maldon) 01245 321321 (South Woodham Ferrers) 01376 500737 (Witham) 

Weston’s Taxis

Weston’s Taxis website

Weston’s Taxis have the largest fleet of wheelchair-friendly vehicles in the Clacton-On-Sea area. They specialise in providing transport for customers using wheelchairs or mobility scooters.

Contact: 01255 220050

Perry’s Taxi

Perry’s Taxi website

All taxis are equipped with ramps, are wheelchair accessible and provide services within Braintree and the surrounding area. They cover Chelmsford, Coggeshall, Colchester, Felstead, Maldon, Witham. 

Contact: 01376 709709

AB Taxis – Colchester

AB Taxis – Colchester website

Wheelchair-accessible taxis with fully trained drivers who all hold a valid training certificate. 

Contact: 01206 701 701

Planning a journey

• Mention at the time of booking your taxi if you will require an accessible vehicle.
• Ensure your drop-off point is accessible to you and consider any support you may require for onward travel. 

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.

Operator obligations

The law states that to comply with The Equalities Act 2010, licenced drivers are under a legal duty to carry wheelchair users, assistance dogs including 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 reasonably possible. 

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.