Cheshire and Wirral taxi

Taxi Travel overview

Many taxi companies 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

Cheshire

Abbey Taxis (Crewe)

01270 212125

Beeline (Crewe)

01270 656461

Chester Radio Taxis (Chester and surrounding areas)

01244 372372

Expedition Mini Coaches (Macclesfield)

01625 500355

Fareways Taxis (Congleton)

01260 298008

Silvertown Taxis (Macclesfield)

01625 611333

Wirral

All of the operators below use accessible hackney carriages (‘black cabs’):

Argyle Satellite Taxis

0151 201 1111

Eye Cabs

0151 201 0000

Hackney Direct

0151 601 8888

Planning a journey

When booking a taxi, remember to inform the company if you require an accessible vehicle.

Ensure that the vehicle that arrives is a genuine taxi (look for a local authority registration plate, on the front and rear of the vehicle). 

A taxi driver cannot refuse your fare because you are disabled and cannot charge extra for you or an assistance dog. They must accept an assistance dog unless they have an exemption – in that case, they must be able to show you the exemption certificate provided by the council.

Keeping safe when travelling

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.

Always ensure that the vehicle that arrives is a genuine taxi – look for a local authority registration plate, on the front and rear of the vehicle.

Operator Obligations

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

• to carry a person in their wheelchair
• not to charge extra for doing so
• ensure the passenger can travel safely
• provide whatever reasonable assistance as necessary.

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 service, as far as this is possible, as someone who’s not disabled.

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