Tyne and Wear taxis

Taxi Travel overview 

Various taxi companies operating throughout Tyne and Wear are accessible to wheelchair users.

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

North and South Tyneside Councils and Sunderland Council provide a list of wheelchair-accessible taxi operators. 

Selected accessible taxi companies

North Tyneside Council

Offer a list of available companies operating wheelchair-accessible taxis.

• Hackney cab details, via the North Tyneside Council website.
• Designated private hire vehicles, via the North Tyneside Council website.

South Tyneside Council

Offer a list of available companies that have wheelchair-accessible taxis.  

Sunderland Council

Offer a list of available companies that have wheelchair-accessible taxis. 

Newcastle City Taxis

http://newcastlecitytaxi.co.uk/

LA taxis

https://lataxis.co.uk/services/

Based in Newcastle with wheelchair-accessible taxis.
Contact: 0191 287 7777

Walker Taxis

Based in Newcastle and operate wheelchair-accessible vehicles.
Contact: 0191 265 2237 or 0808 123 2237

Campbells Minibuses

Based in Newcastle and operate wheelchair-accessible vehicles. 
Contact: 0191 300 2838 or 07908 266038

Gateshead Central Taxis

http://www.gatesheadcentraltaxis.com/
Contact: 0191 469 9999

Streetcars Taxis

Based in Gateshead and operate wheelchair-accessible vehicles. 
Contact: 0191 4232323

Station Taxis

https://www.stationtaxis.com/services/

Based in Sunderland and operate wheelchair-accessible taxis.
Drivers have Passenger Assisted Training.
Contact: 0191 555 5555

B&B Taxis

Based in Sunderland and operate wheelchair-accessible vehicles. 
Contact: 0191 514 1414

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; 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.