TaxiPoint March 2022 Edition 35

The UK’s #1 Taxi News Source Over 3.4

Edition 35 | MARCH 2022

million magazine reads and counting...

Image credit: Ross Campbell

EURO 6 UPGRADES SLOW SPEED LAWS SEATBELT QUESTION CAPITAL ALLOWANCE AND MUCH MORE...

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EDITORIAL

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TAXI TRADE

UNDERSTANDING Welcome and thank you for reading the latest edition of TaxiPoint.

In this edition our focus turns to Glasgow where the trade faces a critical situation when it comes to the size of black cab fleet. Most major cities are currently finalising Low Emission Zone (LEZ) details and Glasgow look set to be hit hard unless things change.

There’s also the interesting potential offered by Clipper Cabs and their 100% electric taxi retrofits.

Weekly rentals for these vehicles could be as low as £230 per week, which could drastically cut costs and increase age limits in some cities.

Amongst the new content you’ll also find a ‘day in the life’ article which I hope will show some of the journeys a taxi driver makes during a dreaded Tube Strike and how the flexibility of driving a cab can fit into family life.

As always this magazine aims to release fresh taxi industry news stories.

For daily news stories as they break, make sure you visit our website, subscribe to our email updates, download our free app or check out our social media pages.

Thank you!

TaxiPoint Chief Editor: Perry Richardson TaxiPoint Editor: Michael Murphy TaxiPoint Publishing & Advertising Manager: Lindsey Richardson Visit us online at: www.taxi-point.co.uk Write to us at: contact@taxi-point.co.uk Advertising enquiries at: advertising@taxi-point.co.uk The publishers reserve the right to refuse, withdraw, amend or otherwise deal with all advertisements without explanation. All advertisers must comply with the British Code of Advertising practice.

The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publishers.

All written and image rights are reserved by the author as displayed.

Reproduction in whole or in part without prior permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited.

Copyright brand TaxiPoint 2022.

Creative Common image licenses displayed where applicable.

Be lucky!

Perry Richardson TaxiPoint Chief-Editor and Founder

WWW.TAXI-POINT.CO.UK

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VEHICLES

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Image credit: CLIPPER CABS

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VEHICLE Clipper Automotive, a tech start-up firm that specialises in electric vehicle (EV) conversions, has said a fleet of FULLY ELECTRIC black taxis could be made available to drivers costing just £230 a week.

In the quest to speed up its green credentials, the taxi industry may have found an interim solution to quickly convert more of its current fleet into more cost effective and environmentally friendly taxis.

and real world emissions are then a whole other kettle of fish.

With these batteries it also depends on summer/ winter, how many auxiliary systems you have running and so forth. Like, running the radio takes almost no energy, running LED lamps is also almost free, incandescent bulbs like the headlights take a little bit more, but still not that much. As soon as you

The firm behind the technology, Clipper Automotive, was set up by two experts in their field, Dr Alexander Howard and Janosch Oppermann.

Their aim has always been to turn diesel black taxis into Zero Emission Capable (ZEC) vehicles.

The London taxi industry has already invested heavily in new EV taxis since new vehicle regulations were introduced in January 2018. Since then over 5,000 electric taxis have been licensed by Transport for London (TfL), leaving roughly 9,000 licensed diesel cabs still working in the capital.

TaxiPoint’s Founder and Editor Perry Richardson caught up with Janosch to find out more…

Can you tell us a little more about the taxi? What range can it achieve and what has the feedback been like?

Hi Perry, thanks for talking to me. Yes of course, we have driven it ourselves and had some local drivers have a go. You can watch their reactions in our YouTube channel, just search for “Clipper Automotive”, the reactions there are real, we had someone from the LTDA in it, then a real driver Andrew that we knew from before, and Aiden the singing cabbie, who we reached out to just for this.

They all enjoyed the smoothness of it.

Image credit: CLIPPER CABS

start heating things you reduce the range is what I am getting at, so the cabin heater is the biggest consumer, and the de-fogger of the rear window, so ideally you want to run these while charging and less when driving if you can. In any event, you shouldn’t In terms of range, it has the same cells in it as the have less than 100mile range with these unless you van conversion you know of. So 40kWh worth of are in a snowstorm. On a summer’s day you might battery pouches. That gives you 150 miles WLTP, a get a lot closer to the 150miles. Also keep in mind little less if you correct for vehicle weight. Now WLTP that they can be charged rapidly, so from 20% to includes highway driving and such, and it is a bit of a 80% it takes you around 35 minutes, so you can do technical term really, a bit how exhaust emissions north of 100 miles without much trouble if you plug are measured with the hose in a clinical environment it in when you are on a break.

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VEHICLE From talking to drivers, we understand that most bigger difference to change vehicles that are driven a London cabbies do about 120miles per day, so that is lot! very realistic.

You asked about TfL and licensing. We are engaging with licensing offices across the country, I have Are there plans to bring the retrofit to market? Have Transport for London (TfL) emailed dozens of them in 2020 to test the water, and we are just now re-engaging with them. TfL or any other licensing authorities shown want what is called type-approval and that costs a interest? fortune and might include multiple crash tests, so we are carefully looking elsewhere first. Some smaller cities have been very welcoming, and will accept our vehicles with an extra inspection per vehicle, so that is what we are really after. As a matter of fact, if you are a driver outside London and think this would be great for your city: get in touch with us, tell us where you are, tell us who your local trade representative is, and let your licensing officer know that you want this (you can reach me at contact@clipper.cab).

How much will it cost and could there be an option to offer the retrofits outside of London?

Image credit: CLIPPER CABS

Yes most certainly, we built a few on different plates now, we have an ‘07 as well as a ‘62 for example. We did a TX2 as the very first prototype too, but we are deliberately focusing on the TX4s at the moment.

We get approached by people to do Fairways, wedding vehicles and some such, who we politely have to decline at the moment. We are very deliberate in our focus on the taxi trade for now, because they are real working vehicles that will make a difference to air quality in city centres.

Changing someone's luxury weekend convertible to be electric is all fair and well, but it makes a much

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The big question! We understand that this can only be a success when the price is right, one of the new hybrid taxis costs £70,000 if you factor all the bells and whistles in, the van is at £50,000, so we are looking at £39,950 + VAT which makes us the most affordable option already. Now, that is still a lot of money, so we are discussing with financing partners how that can be offered at a lower monthly rate.

But that is buying, I don’t think that's our most enticing offer just yet, much more interesting initially is try before you buy! We will rent them out at competitive rates, a diesel cab can be rented at £230, and then you have ~£30 worth of fuel per day with it, so realistically you pay £380 per week to drive currently.

We are aiming for £230 per week. And the fuel savings are for the driver. Charging this all the way up costs £4 or so I think, so even if you charge twice a day you are winning. It is cheaper if you charge them overnight at home.

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VEHICLE Once a few of you have tried these in a realistic environment I am sure they are interesting for purchase as well. This only works if it is affordable enough for drivers, which is why we are very driven to offer these at the lowest price that we can.

If you are interested, drop me an email, the numbers will be strictly limited in 2022, so we will have to rent them on a first come first served basis.

Should funding be offered by Government to help fund diesel to electric retrofitting on taxis?

Ha! Yes, I mean that is the story here really. Drivers choosing to go electric benefit not only the passengers, but every single bystander benefits from it! Everybody who stands at a junction next to one of our electric vehicles benefits from breathing cleaner air, so why shouldn’t the local councils help their drivers to make a choice that is good for everyone? Solar panels on the roof were subsidised on homes, people are encouraged to eat less meat, the NHS helps you to quit smoking with classes, why not make switching to electric even more attractive by giving drivers a little extra to sweeten the transition?

car?” That is the point! It is meant to be older and older, we think of it as not the-next-taxi you buy, but instead the last taxi you ever have to buy!

Once they are all electric, that’s it, you might have to swap the batteries out every decade or so - and batteries are getting cheaper and cheaper every year, so why not stick to the chassis for good? We are next to a fleet operator and “regular” taxi mechanic and he has a customer's Fairway there.

Aren’t they gorgeous! They just re-sprayed it, treated it for some rust and the owner is hoping to drive it for many more years, and he should, maybe get an electric upgrade for it at some point from us, but why throw something away that looks great, and replace it every 12 years? That’s the whole point here really, to make them electric and then you can drive a TX4 forevermore.

Image credit: CLIPPER CABS

WATCH A TEST DRIVE OF THE CLIPPER CAB HERE

Bringing this all the way back to licensing, some licensing offices tell us about their age limits which were meant to encourage you to switch from Euro4 to Euro5 and then Euro6. Now they tell us we can’t drive an ‘07 plate because it is bad for the environment, even though we turned it into Euro999, or EuroInfinity by removing the emissions altogether, that has been frustrating at times. In other councils that was less of a problem and they said we can have long extensions on the vehicle lifetime. One council even said we can run them indefinitely. Then sometimes people say: “Well, why would I want to spend so much money on an old

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So, yes please, if you are reading this, and you want to have our all-electric black cabs in your city: 1) tell your councillor, 2) tell licensing about it, 3) tell us where you are and who your local representatives are. We are currently doing demo days around the southeast, but will come to any city in England where licensing, council and drivers want us. You can email me at contact@clipper.cab.

Perry it was nice to talk to you, let’s have another chat in summer and I will tell you about the first drivers collecting real fares with our vehicles, which will be a great milestone for us, that we are really looking forward to, it will be very exciting!

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RETROFITTING

Q&A WITH MARK BOWDEN, CYBRAND AEC LIMITED PROJECT MANAGER More can be done to understand and promote the benefits of taxi engine retrofitting technology says one retrofitting firm looking to help the industry deliver a greener fleet.

TaxiPoint spoke to Mark Bowden, Project Manager at Cybrand AEC Ltd, to ask what more could be done to help cabbies shift to retrofit options and what retrofits are currently available.

Retrofitting existing cabs to meet Euro 6 compliance standards is seen as one way to keep the number of licensed taxis high and coverage wide for passengers during a period of huge transition. Eventually all taxis will be 100% Zero-Emission Capable (ZEC), however the industry must first recover from the devastating financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic in the short-term.

Should Local Authorities (LA’s) do more to support and promote the option of EURO 6 upgrade retrofitting? What could they offer or do better?

Undoubtedly. As the most cost-effective option for a driver to keep their cab on the road for a longer period without falling foul of the CAZ/ULEZ regulations we thought LA’s would be helping us get the message out as much as possible. For an industry Using a fully approved retrofit conversion could help that is on its knees since the pandemic, this is a save money on new Clean Air Zone (CAZ) charges, and chance for LA’s to offer the taxi trade a viable option, quickly provide a fleet less harmful to the complete with grant-funding, which will allow them environment which carries long-term benefits for to realise some of the benefits of the economy everybody. opening up again, whilst polluting far less! The issue

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RETROFITTING always been getting the end users, the drivers, aware achievable for them. We have also had great of the options available to them. This is where LA help feedback on the quality of the installs and of the would be most beneficial. equipment itself which is all stainless steel and comes Why do you think some Local Authorities have been with a 2-year warranty. slow to implement this technology as an option?

Which taxi vehicles can you currently upgrade to EURO 6? How much does the upgrade cost and how quickly can it be fitted?

I think a lot of it comes down to a lack of understanding of both the technology we are talking about and offering and the process itself, whereby Our current offerings cover the Euro 5 models of the the kits are fully type approved and therefore comply following: with all UK regulations, whichever country, city or • Mercedes Benz Vito/Viano borough they are sold and fitted in.

• Ford Transit Councils and Local Authorities don’t need to worry • Peugeot E7 about approvals and accreditations, that’s been • LTi TX4 handled by the Energy Saving Trust and their CVRAS • Mercedes Sprinter scheme.

• VW T5 What has been the feedback from taxi drivers who Along with several others, mainly vans. have converted?

Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Many of The upgrade itself is in the region of £5,600 plus VAT our customers are trying to ensure their current taxi depending on the vehicle and can be completed in two days at one of our fitment centres. lasts a few years longer, a good few just until their retirement. The combination of grant funding, where available, and our quality kits means this is now

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MOTORING

A Glasgow minicab driver came under-fire from the city’s licensing committee after being fined and handed penalty points for driving significantly below the speed limit along the M8 motorway.

speed limit on most motorways but travelling too slowly can be considered dangerous by police forces.

According to Glasgow Live, the private hire driver told police that he was driving slowly Minimum speed limits are rarely because he was changing lanes, found in the UK, but are located preparing to exit at the next on roads where going too slowly junction. can cause increased congestion Facing Glasgow's licensing or high risk of a crash, such as in committee, the man faced tunnels. allegations of constantly looking The limits are marked by a circular blue sign displaying the minimum speed limit.

The end of a minimum speed limit road is relayed using the same sign, but with a red diagonal line through it.

down while he was driving, which is why the police pulled him over.

The council decided to allow the man to keep his private hire driver's licence but issued him with a warning for his behaviour.

The offence reported by the police did however produce a £480 fine and seven penalty In this recent case in Scotland points added to minicab driver's there was however no such sign. licence.

There isn’t an official minimum

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THE SOCIAL QUESTION

The rules on when and how to use seatbelts for drivers, adult passengers and children in taxis and minicabs can be confusing.

person over the age of 14 MUST wear a However, in this article we’re going to breakdown the seatbelt to avoid rules on what you can and cannot do according to committing a Department for Transport (DfT) guidelines, and also criminal offence. take a look at what taxi drivers across the UK are doing when it comes to seatbelt usage.

In taxis and minicabs, the driver is unlikely to be able to provide the correct child car seat required in Stephen McCaffrey, a regulatory defence barrister privately owned vehicles. Children can therefore who specialises in taxi and private hire licensing law, appeals and defence, states seatbelt laws differ for all travel without one - but only if they travel on a rear seat: the riders in a taxi compared to privately owned vehicles.

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and wear an adult seat belt if they’re 3 or older

The rules for a taxi or minicab driver means they are • without a seat belt if they’re under 3. exempt from wearing seatbelts under the following How many taxi drivers WEAR a seatbelt circumstances (reg. 6 The Motor Vehicles (Wearing of given the exemption?

Seat Belts) Regulations 1993): •

a licensed taxi while it is being used for seeking hire, or answering a call for hire, or carrying a passenger for hire, or

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a private hire vehicle while it is being used to carry a passenger for hire.

Most importantly this exemption does NOT apply to passengers who are required to wear seatbelts. Any

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Based on a question put to the readers of TaxiPoint, the UK’s most read taxi industry news source, the industry is pretty much split down the middle when it comes to drivers exercising their right to not wear a seatbelt and those wishing to belt up.

Drivers not wearing a seatbelt said they felt safer without the seatbelt on, especially in non-purposebuilt taxis, when passengers were onboard.

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THE SOCIAL QUESTION Darren Daines said: “I don't after being half throttled to death by passengers grabbing it and pulled round my throat. Made a mess of my face also during attempt robbery.”

TX taxi MUST wear their belts for the taxi to move due to airbags located within the cab.

Other taxi drivers only use their seatbelts on quicker roads and motorways but see little use of them in heavy city traffic.

do with safety.

London cabbie Cliff Mahoney said: “I never did but these TXE’s won’t drive Aneel Ghafoor said: “No, never wear without and have airbags. So best my seatbelt while passengers in the wearing one.” car. Last thing I would like is a belt Of the drivers that do wear a seatbelt wrapped around my neck by some whilst working as a cabbie their main drunk passenger.” reason to do so is unsurprisingly to Nick Adams said: “I want to leave the cab via the door not the windscreen.”

Some cabbies have only recently Mark Warren said: “I always do, begun wearing their seatbelts as would rather bruise my chest than technology within new vehicles headbutt the windscreen.” forces the seatbelt to be engaged before setting off. Drivers of the LEVC

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TAXI SHORTAGES

Image credit: Ross Campbell

With Low Emission Zone (LEZ) rules coming into play next year, real concerns are being raised about the number of taxis which could be left to actively operate in the city.

Glasgow Taxis Chairman Dougie McPherson said: "To look at this issue we are well served to take a step back to pre-Covid times. Running into 2020, many Glasgow Taxi business owners had made the required investment to be LEZ compliant - others had held off Unite Union Glasgow Cab Section have stressed that around 1,000 iconic taxi vehicles could be taken off the but were budgeting and intending to do so ahead of roads in one swoop if an additional extension to meet the original deadline. Then along came Covid. requirements isn’t implemented.

"As we all know, Covid more or less halted income, or a reasonable level of income, for operators and drivers Currently, out of the 1,420 taxis licensed by Glasgow for the best part of 18 months. For that primary City Council, around 1,000 do not meet the requirements set to come into play in just over a year. reason, while Glasgow Taxis is supportive of the Low Emission Zone and all it aims to achieve, we believe a Councillor Thomas Kerr spoke of the potential crisis, deadline extension closer to a length of time in line saying: “These are the real life implications if with the 18+ months during which we faced serious Councillors don’t give our cabbies an exemption to the financial disadvantage would be much fairer than the LEZ. They’ve had a horrendous time due to the pandemic. The Glasgow Conservatives stand with them, time for others to do the same.”

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Image credit: LEVC

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TAXI SHORTAGES five month extension currently in place (31 December 2022 to 1 June 2023).

"When you combine the looming deadline with an ageing workforce, a lack of sufficient second-hand vehicles available on the market and the level of investment needed, it all adds up to a major problem not only for the trade but for the city. You only need to look as far as Edinburgh, Dundee and Aberdeen for a much more sensible compromise whereby the deadline has been pushed back by around a further year.

"We feel sympathy for those Glasgow Taxi operators who invested early as much as we feel sorry for those whose intention to was completely kyboshed by Covid.

It is also important to note that the latest emergency Covid funding is currently being paid out to drivers, yet the same support to operators is

not available yet - that's how critical this Low Emission Zone timeline is. Operators continue to sit last in that queue for support while being expected to make a significant investment by the end of the year.

"Glasgow Taxis is supportive of the Low Emission Zone but not of the deadline currently applicable to our taxis. We believe it is not unreasonable to ask, due to the hardship Covid has caused, to have that deadline and opportunity to invest extended by a year."

Image credit: Ross Campbell

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EDITORIAL

ARTICLE BY: PERRY RICHARDSON

TAXIPOINT FOUNDER

I passed the Knowledge of London (KOL) in September 2009 at the age of 27. Since then, I’ve been a full-time taxi driver in the capital transporting residents and visitors of London to their desired destinations.

Over the 12-year period, the way I’ve worked my hours has changed dependent on life milestones and where I’ve lived. When I first got my ‘Green Badge’ I lived in South-East London and worked shorter shifts five-days a week. Now, married, two young-girls under the age of seven and living in the Cotswolds, the way I work has changed. Luckily the job has allowed for such flexibility and I certainly consider this to be one of the huge perks of the job.

Given the longer commute I now condense my hours into three long shifts. At the moment I’ve settled on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. The cost of the commute means staying over in London at a ‘cheap and cheerful’ hotel is more viable over the back-toback days.

So what does a normal long-shift look like to me?

There’s no two-ways about it… it’s long! But, don’t feel too sorry for me as it is only three days a week and it’s broken up with work on TaxiPoint too. To beat the

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EDITORIAL traffic from the village I live in I’m on the road for early doors down the A40, M40 and then back on the A40 reaching West London for the start of the morning rush -hour.

begins to die down for yet another charge, a welcomed hot-meal and another story.

Since November 2018 I’ve driven a LEVC TX taxi. I’ll use the petrol fuel tank for the motorway and then switch over to electric upon picking up my first job which usually arrives in the Ladbroke Grove or Notting Hill area.

Given the nature of TaxiPoint the other four days away from the cab isn’t free from work, but that too is flexible. Daily stories, website maintenance and development, and designing a monthly magazine publication are just a few of the ongoing tasks.

Having worked the morning rush-hour, I’ll normally stop for a break, quick battery top-up and to write some articles. During that hour I’ve usually written a couple of daily stories for TaxiPoint and got a coffee onboard.

After that it’s a final push towards my target and then a 90-minute trip home.

Tube Strike is NOT a normal day!

On Tuesday 1 March there was a huge Tube Strike in the capital. Over 10,000 London Underground workers downed tools which meant all tube lines were closed.

On a wet and cold day there was little sign of more With a full-battery, and myself feeling fully charged, the cyclists, but demand for taxi and private hire services aim now is to deplete the electric battery and turnover sky-rocketed. as many fares as possible. I’ll have lunch onboard and Despite the heavily congested roads, due to more that’ll be consumed as I go between fares. The next vehicles on the roads, several key roads shut for works planned stop will be when the evening rush-hour

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EDITORIAL

Image credit: Google

and also the usual pinch points experienced around new Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) and underused cycle lanes, I managed 21 fares throughout the day.

Whilst the total number of fares were down, my earnings were up due to longer journeys and it taking longer to complete the rides. Here’s a breakdown of my day and a visual of the journeys made across London.

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Stonebridge Park Station to Southampton Row

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Tavistock Square to ‘as close to’ Bank

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Ludgate Hill to New Burlington Place

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Regent Street to Upton Park E13

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E13 to Southwark Bridge Road

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Southwark Street to Hampstead (Gayton Road)

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Hampstead to Grafton Way / UCL Hospital

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Euston Road to Design Museum

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Kensington High Street to The Buckingham Palace Shop

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St James Station to Sawyer Street

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Pont Street to Harrods

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Harrods to Sloane Square

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Sloane Square to Piccadilly

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Piccadilly to Harrods

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Harrods to Gloucester Millennium

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Gloucester Road Station to Covent Garden

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Aldwych to Angel

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Holborn to Paddington

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Marble Arch to Kennington

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Elephant to London Bridge Station

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TAX

Q&A WITH

GARY

JACOBS

Tax can be confusing and sometimes scary at the best of times for taxi drivers, but getting your heads around the benefits of Capital Allowance can help cabbies save thousands of pounds.

Lots of newcomers and rental taxi drivers are sometimes unaware of the tax advantages when it comes to vehicle ownership and the capital allowance. Of course, every person’s situation is different, and professional help via an accountant or tax specialist may be preferable.

EAZITAX A driver has purchased a taxi at a total cost of £70,000 over a five-year period on a PCP agreement, can you please give us an example showing how this will impact a taxi driver’s annual tax bill?

Example based on 20% taxpayer: You will have an option to claim 100% capital allowance in the 1st year or over 5 years.

Gary Jacobs, CEO of Eazitax, has agreed to help us understand Capital Allowance benefits and how it can If 100% claimed in 1st year £70,000 @ 20% = £14,000 possibly help you save money on your tax bill. total tax savings in 1st year.

What are the tax benefits to a driver buying a taxi either via a cash purchase or using PCP funding?

In truth both attracts a capital allowance (lowers your tax bill). So, in reality the only difference is the interest you will pay on a loan…. HOWEVER, Interest is actually claimed as an expense in your tax return/ accounts.

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If claimed over 5 years, £14,000 annual capital allowance for 5 years. Tax rate of 20% = £2,800 saving for 5 years plus NI savings.

Remember as well, interest payments are an expense that can be offset. Based on the payment plan, annual interest is deductible against profit and loss.

If at 7% p.a £70,000 @ 7% = £4,900. Tax rate of 20% = £980 tax savings in 1st year plus NI savings.

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TAX Remember as well, interest payments are an expense hire and reward vehicles are high mileage and that can be offset. Based on the payment plan, annual therefore valued less than a private car would be. interest is deductible against profit and loss If your taxi is sold for £5,000 and 100% capital If at 7% p.a £70,000 @ 7% = £4,900. Tax rate of 20% = allowance claimed, then tax written value is nil. £980 tax savings in 1st year plus National Insurance Therefore, sales proceeds create a balancing charge.

(NI) savings.

If 20% taxpayer, £5,000 taxed at 20% = £1,000 tax If the taxi is owned after the five-year (plus National Insurance if applicable).

period, how will the tax liability change for the driver owner?

The tax will just revert to normal because the capital allowance will be fully claimed. That’s why some people change their cars every three to five years. You can also claim a balancing allowance (basically more off your tax bill) if the cab is worth less than its written down value (accountant speak for paper value) when it is sold.

Will a taxi driver pay tax on the vehicle if or when it is sold?

Example based on 20% taxpayer:

As I mentioned above there will either be a balancing charge or balancing allowance (money owed or money back, depending on the difference between its trade in value and its paper value). Remember most

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I hope this answers your questions, I’m sorry people If this is all gobbledygook to any of you, please feel free to hassle your accountant. We are always ready with a whiteboard and sticky back plastic to those who want to go deeper.

If you want to read more about anything tax related you can always go to our resource centre and download our free Tax Jargon Buster.

Or call us and ask us to send you a free Tax Jargon Buster Book on 020 8529 2600.

GARY JACOBS

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GUEST FEATURE

In efforts to move towards more sustainable urban mobility — cities, taxi, ride-hail and PHV operators, and consumers alike are all rushing towards electric cars. But electric vehicles alone will not solve all urban mobility issues at hand. We also need to radically improve vehicle utilisation, and taxi, ridehail, and PHV operators need to play a big role in this shift.

for themselves — authorities and service operators are ushering in a new electric era for vehicle transportation.

ARTICLE BY: FOUNDER OF MILEUS AND CO-FOUNDER OF LIFTAGO

What’s driving

By 2025, it is expected that 10% of car sales globally the shift to sustainable urban mobility? will be EVs. Norway is leading this charge full speed; just this month, EV car sales reached 65% of car sales We know what’s pressing this proverbial electric gas pedal; contributing 19% road transportation is the on the market. It’s a bolstering industry that is only single largest CO2 emission contributor. As countries going to grow exponentially before it slows down. like the UK race to meet carbon neutrality goals, they Ride-hail, taxi, and PHV operators are following suit. know cars are an essential part of the puzzle to be Big players like Uber, Lyft, and Didi are pushing to fixed. shift to EV fleets, while local players like Sherbet in The urgency for green solutions is heightened in cities London and Go Eco Cabs in Lyme Regis are with mounting pressures from growing populations committing to 100% EV fleets. that increase strain on public infrastructure. Cities Ride-hail and taxi customers are no exception to this and transportation stakeholders desperately strive to EV demand. Research by FREE NOW showed that make the best use of urban space and make over a quarter of Brits are willing to pay more for an transportation equitable for all. Several cities are EV ride. regulating traffic to give more space for pedestrians Across the map, cities are rolling out low emission and bikes, while also working to provide greener zones in their urban centres, while London recently alternatives for commuters to help meet their carbon introduced a development bylaw that calls for emission goals. electric charging docks on all new buildings, residential and non-residential. Their actions speak

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GUEST FEATURE However, if we were to swish a green magic wand to make all the cars in our cities electric, we would still be mounted with urban mobility issues. Sound pollution would be alleviated, but CO2 emissions will not be eliminated until we are using 100% renewable energy, and 100% EVs still do not tackle the issues of congestion or sustainable and equitable urban space at all.

Let’s get smarter about how we use cars in cities.

I want you to zoom out for a moment and imagine your city from a birds-eye view. Think about how much of its space is given to cars, be it if they’re parked or taking up lanes of traffic.

Private cars vs. ride-hail & taxi cars? The more sustainable of the two is clear.

Compared to private ownership, cars in professional fleets have more sustainability capabilities and potential. They can scale and adapt to the latest and greenest EV technologies much more rapidly than a private owner. If a private owner buys a car, it is used for 4% of the time on average, making the car's life cycle last longer and therefore become more outdated. It’s an advantage of scale.

Furthermore, beyond considering emissions, fleets can be much better optimised in a sustainable way for two simple reasons.

Firstly, taxi and ride-hail vehicles are kept moving and don’t take up space with parking. They simply move people at a higher rate than a privately owned car.

Secondly, taxi and ride-hailing services have a better ability to synchronise with other modes of transport, namely public transport, and hone in specialising where they work best.

If cars are kept moving people, not parked, and used in conjunction with other forms of transport, namely backbone, rapid transit, it will improve road space use and traffic flow.

With less traffic, road space could be given to support other modes of active transportation like bike lanes and pedestrian pavilions in denser urban areas. Or, this roadside space could be given to flora to help offset carbon emissions.

It’s not just in London that cars take up a lot of space; it’s an issue that mayors across the map are trying to solve. We simply need to reduce the number of cars in our cities. This involves increasing active mobility and public transportation — but it also calls on rethinking how cars are used and making private cars use an archaic fad of the past.

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Some cities, such as Cambridge and Leeds, have implemented park and ride schemes to allow outer city residents to park their cars at public transit hubs.

While this is a good intermediary move, it simply moves the car space issue from urban centres to parking lots in suburbs, regardless if these cars are EVs or not.

We just need to dare to think out of our private car comfort zone box to understand that ride-hailing and taxi cars are better for commuters and our cities — optimising how we use cars.

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GUEST FEATURE the taxi and ride-hailing services and step back to assess where within a city and an urban mobility ecosystem they work best and have the most Beyond using EVs, taxi and ride-hail operators have a potential. lot more potential to lessen their impact on cities, All cars alike usually get stuck in congestion in inner help motivate people from using their own cars, and city areas and along major transit routes; these are optimise their business — all in the same stride. areas where active mobility and public transportation respectively should be optimised.

1) Use mileage to move people.

Taxis and ride-hail cars should complement this and While those empty miles are necessary to pick up work more where they work best: in low density passengers, they’re undesirable — they don’t bring areas. It is here that they have the most potential to in any income and they contribute to road optimise and specialise their services. congestion and traffic. The goal is to cut them down and optimise every mile driven as much as possible. 3) Let’s make taxi and ride-hail services

The role of ride-hail and taxi operators in going green, beyond just EVs.

One way to do so is by integrating intermodality with public transportation into taxi and ride-hail routes.

This makes pickup points more flexible so drivers don't have to drive as far without a passenger.

Shorter journeys and pickup times open the door for more flexible order stacking and shorter but more frequent rides.

2) Use taxis and ride-hail cars where they work best.

Division of labour and specialisation — this is what Adam Smith taught us in regards to running a business efficiently and effectively. Let’s apply it to

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an easy choice over private cars.

So, we know taxis and ride-hail vehicles have less environmental impact than privately owned cars, largely because they fit into a mobility ecosystem much better. In addition to the ability to scale to implement greener technologies faster, taxi and ridehailing services allow for optimised car use compared to private cars which are parked 96% of the time on average in the UK. To motivate people to leave their cars at home, we need to think from the commuters’ standpoint. They want to get from their unique A to B journey

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GUEST FEATURE efficiently, affordably, and comfortably.

Let’s first look at the case for just using public transportation. It’s more likely than not that commuters don’t live within a timely or comfortable walking distance to a public transport station. They may also have further connections that take up more time. Generally speaking, public transport can be inconvenient and uncomfortable.

And what about the case for just using ride-hail or taxi services? Ask the average person and they’ll say it’s too expensive to use daily. Plus, they can get stuck on major traffic routes or in inner city areas.

What about a combination that uses the best of ridehail and taxi on the first or last mile paired with the best of rapid, public transit? Perfect. It’s much more affordable, comfortable, and time effective.

Driving beyond electric cars and to a more sustainable future.

While we do need EVs, we also need to integrate them into the urban mobility ecosystem mix — and for this, taxi, ride-hail, and PHV operators play a central role. And it’s up to them to shake up the traditional roles of their services, both by collaborating with other urban mobility providers and by equipping themselves with the right intermodal tool to make their services more affordable, comfortable, and convenient for people to use over using their own car.

Juraj Atlas is the co-founder of the largest Czech ride-hailing company, Liftago. With his current project Mileus, they provide technology for intermodal transportation that combines ondemand transportation services with public transport for rapid, yet sustainable growth of taxi & ride-hailing operators and more liveable cities.

Mileus was ranked Top 5 Intermodal Mobility Solutions by StartUs Insights.

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Image credit: Mileus

LICENSING

ARTICLE BY:

DBS Checks are a standard part of applying for a taxi or private hire licence. But in some situations, you might also be asked to provide a ‘Certificate of Good Conduct’. Certificates of Good Conduct are used alongside DBS Checks to make sure that licensing authorities have all the information they need to make safe licensing decisions.

What is a Certificate of Good Conduct?

A Certificate of Good Conduct is basically a kind of letter or certificate from an overseas authority confirming a part or all of your criminal record history. They are sometimes called different things.

Some of the more common names for these certificates are: •

Certificate of Good Standing

•

Police Clearance Certificate

•

Letter of Good Conduct

•

Certificate of No Criminal Record.

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These certificates are usually equivalent to a Basic DBS Check but can sometimes go into more detail.

Why Would I Need a Certificate of Good Conduct?

DBS Checks only check against UK records. This means that if someone has committed crimes overseas, a DBS Check will not reveal this information. Most licensing authorities state that if you have not lived in the UK for at least 5 years, or have lived overseas for longer than three months within the past 5 years, they need to see a Certificate of Good Conduct.

Licensing authorities have a statutory responsibility to make sure anyone that wants to become a taxi or private hire driver is ‘fit and proper’. The fit and proper test is a tool used in several regulated industries to make sure that only suitable individuals are employed to do certain jobs. A big part of this is carrying out a criminal record check. A Certificate of Good Conduct gives them the information they need

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LICENSING about any potential criminal activity committed abroad.

How Do I Get a Certificate of Good Conduct?

The process for getting a Certificate of Good Conduct depends on where you have lived abroad. The process generally involves applying to the relevant country’s embassy online for a certificate and providing them with some personal documentation.

The Home Office have a complete list of how to apply for every country internationally. You can find the guidance here.

What Do I Do Once I Have My Certificate?

This also depends on the licensing authority where you are applying for your taxi badge. Some councils will not let you apply for your taxi or private hire licence until they have seen a copy of your Certificate of Good Conduct.

If you have lived outside the UK in the last 5 years or spent longer than 3 months in any other country, contact your licensing authority before beginning any application. You could end up wasting money if you don’t.

Rules for Asylum Seekers If you were given asylum or refugee status then you may not need to get a Certificate of Good Conduct.

Licensing authorities usually have specific guidance for refugees and asylum seekers. If you hold either of these statuses, contact your licensing authority before applying for your badge as you may need to provide other additional documentation to support your application.

For a frank and unbiased discussion of industry news, you can also check out our ‘What Time You On ‘Til?’ podcast, available on all major platforms.

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ARTICLE BY:

TaxiPlus help deliver online pre-licensing solutions.

You can drop them an email to hello@taxiplus.co.uk to learn more.

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UK NEWS

CAZ The Government has banned the sale of all new diesel and petrol cars from 2030, with hybrid cars given an additional five years – until 2035. The rules were put in place to help tackle greenhouse gas emissions caused by transport.

Currently hackney carriage drivers do not have to pay the charge, but private hire drivers do.

GREATER MANCHESTER

A Clean Air Zone (CAZ) was set to be introduced on 30 May this year, but government has agreed to postpone Here we take a look at some of the the implementation due to the impact UK’s busiest cities and what lies ahead of coronavirus. Representatives of as Low Emission Zones (LEZ) and Ultra Greater Manchester are now working Low Emissions Zones (ULEZ) are with government to deliver a new implemented by local authorities.

Clean Air Plan by July 2022.

LONDON

Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Being the capital and always looking to Burnham, said: “Now that we have lead the way, London was the first secured a delay in the introduction of major city to introduce a LEZ. And it the Greater Manchester CAZ, there is hasn’t just stopped there as they have an opportunity to reset the debate and gone on to introduce a ULEZ to tackle find a much fairer solution.” pollution in the heart of the city, as Defending himself from allegations well as the Congestion Charge. that it was himself who was the main On 25 October 2021, London’s ULEZ was expanded from just central London up to (but not including) the North and South Circular roads. The new zone is 18 times the size of the central London Zone and now covers 3.8 million people.

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“architect” of the CAZ, which faced criticism, Mr Burham hit back saying: “There have been many claims that I am the main architect of the CAZ. This narrative has been mainly promoted by the Conservative Party.

“It is the Government which holds the Anyone who drives a vehicle which primary decision-making role. does not meet the ULEZ requirements Ministers set the precise terms of the must pay a daily charge of £12.50. directives placed on each of our 10

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UK NEWS councils – and have final sign-off on any local plan developed by the councils. At local level, the formal decision-makers are the individual councillors in the 10 local authorities who vote on the local response to the Government directive.”

LGVs such as vans, campervans and pickup trucks and minibuses must be at least Euro 6 diesel or Euro 4 petrol; buses and coaches must be at least Euro 6 diesel; HGVs must be at least Euro 6 diesel.

BIRMINGHAM

Vehicles that do not meet these minimum standards will be charged £10 per day for LGVs and taxis, and £50 per day for coaches, buses and HGVs.

Birmingham’s Clean Air Zone covers all of the roads within the A4540 Middleway Ring Road. It has been in operation since 1 June 2021. Currently cars, taxis and LGV’s, which don’t meet requirements, pay a daily charge of £8.

Coaches, buses and HGV’s pay a daily charge of £50.

PORTSMOUTH

Launching on 29 November 2021, Portsmouth’s CAZ issues a daily charge to drive in the zone. For non-compliant vehicles such as buses, taxis, private Stephen Arnold, Head of Clean Air Zone hire vehicles, coaches and HGVs that at Birmingham City Council, has said: don’t meet Euro 6 standards if diesel, “We have a comprehensive package of or Euro 4 standard if petrol, a charge is funding to support Birmingham’s taxi implemented. For taxis and private hire community with the upgrade or vehicles, that charge is £10 per day. All replacement of vehicles that don’t of the other types of vehicles listed, the meet the emission standards for the charge is set at £50 per day. Privately Clean Air Zone. used vehicles are not currently charged to drive in the zone.

“We have worked closely with drivers and their representatives to ensure that BATH there is a wide range of funding options With an active CAZ, which runs from that suit the needs of private hire and midnight to midnight, 7 days a week, all hackney carriage drivers. We have also year round, Bath charges nonworked closely with the trade to ensure compliant vehicles anywhere from £9 that everyone was aware of the all the way up to £100. Taxis, private introduction of the scheme and the hire vehicles, minibuses, vans, LGVs, support that was being made campervans, as well as some four-byavailable.” fours which don’t meet the minimum SHEFFIELD standards are charged £9 per day.

The council has said it will introduce a Trucks and lorries which fail to meet the standards are hit the heaviest with CAZ later this year to help bring NO2 emissions within legal limits set out by a daily charge of £100. central government. Vehicles are to meet these minimum requirements: Taxi and private hire vehicles must be at least Euro 6 diesel or Euro 4 petrol;

A number of other cities are set to introduce Clean Air Zones this year, including Bradford and Bristol.

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MOTORING

The latest research from the UK’s largest independent road safety charity, IAM RoadSmart, has revealed positive longterm trends, with motorists continuing to find speeding LESS ACCEPTABLE for the last six consecutive years.

IAM RoadSmart’s latest Safety Culture Report, which tracks drivers’ changing attitudes to key road safety issues over time, discovered that 42% of the 2,000 people surveyed at the end of 2021, thought it was acceptable to drive at 80mph on the motorway, compared to 56% six years ago. Furthermore, 21% thought it was acceptable to drive even faster than 80mph on the motorway compared to a chilling 28% in 2016.

five miles per hour over the speed limit on a residential street, compared to 17% of those surveyed back in 2016.

Neil Greig, Director of Policy and Research, said: “Acceptability of speeding on motorways is still far too high but the downward trends of drivers’ opinions are a positive sign. Actual speeding behaviour in towns and cities has also improved as more and more drivers appear to understand the link between speed and serious injury.

“Those who believe it is acceptable to drive at speeds greater than the limit are simply not listening to the warnings or taking notice of the frequent police messaging.

Speeding is responsible for around 12 people being killed or injured each day on Meanwhile, self-reported speeding in UK roads, we clearly need to do more to towns and cities in the last 30 days has also educate drivers on the fatal consequences reduced in the last five years, with 10% of of speeding.” those surveyed in 2021 admitting to driving

Table credit: IAM RoadSmart

Drive 10 miles per hour Drive more than 10 miles Drive 5 miles per hour over the speed limit on a per hour over the speed over the speed limit on motorway limit on a motorway a residential street

North East North West Yorkshire and Humber East Midlands West Midlands East of England London South East South West Wales Scotland/ Northern Ireland

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49% 41% 44% 39% 40% 52% 35% 45% 51% 37% 35%

17% 20% 22% 18% 17% 25% 22% 20% 22% 22% 19%

16% 21% 24% 20% 22% 27% 19% 22% 21% 22% 21%

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GLOBAL NEWS

Taxi and Limousine Commission records show that 253 taxi medallions have been seized just months after the city implemented a $65 million medallion relief program to help restructure loans and provide financial support to help cover debts incurred during the pandemic. In addition to the financial collapse of the taxi industry due to COVID-19, medallion owners had previously seen the value of each licence plummet due to the rise of ridehailing firms Uber and Lyft.

Three more dealerships are now offering full sales and aftersales support for its electric TX taxis. The TX taxi was originally used by taxi drivers in London, but has more recently been made available to cab drivers in other cities around the world.

Traditional cabbies have seen an increase in customers in recent weeks according to RMIT Senior Marketing Lecturer, who says consumers are growing tired of Uber’s surge pricing, putting taxis back on the field and well and truly in the fight against the growth of ride-hailing apps. Since the introduction of apps by traditional taxi players, consumers now have the convenience of booking a cab on the go, but without the worry of sudden surge-pricing.

Image credit: LEVC

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Image credit: ComfortDelGro

GLOBAL NEWS

Flying taxis are set to hit the skies of Singapore within the next two years, with electrified vertical take-off and landing company, Volocopter, entering the race to be the first to offer an air taxi service. CCO of Volocopter, Christian Bauer, said: “Having manufacturing and MRO (manufacturing and maintenance, repair and overhaul) facilities in Singapore, coupled with collaboration between industry partners, government agencies, and regulators, will enhance Singapore’s position as a top aviation hub and a leader for AAM industry in the region.”

Uber has announced that it has launched a new line of “luxury” vehicles for use by its drivers in Istanbul. The new service is being offered under a commercial cab licence as per the regulations of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Transportation Coordination Centre.

Image credit: VOLOCOPTER

Image credit: UBER

A French entrepreneur, a wine connoisseur, is using traditional London taxis to conduct Bordeaux wine tours, offering a spin on the popular tourist attraction. Three classic iconic Fairway FX4 London taxis have been purchased which add a unique romantic twist for wine tasters who enjoy that French taste with a piece of English classical heritage.

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WORLD TAXI FEATURE

Welcome to part NINE of our ongoing series of global taxis. We continue looking at the world’s most distinctive looking cabs outside of the iconic black taxi we see and love in most big UK cities.

Budget Direct have released a new series of

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illustrated posters, showcasing different taxis from every country.

We continue to run through the A-Z of the 57 most iconic taxis. In this edition we look at Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, UAE, Uganda and finally… the United Kingdom.

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WORLD TAXI FEATURE

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TRAINING

ACCOUNTANTS

FINANCE

INSURANCE We have been arranging specialist insurance since 1989, and have become a one stop shop for all your taxi insurance needs. We offer exclusive rates from a panel of leading insurers, tailored to your exact needs.

Click here for a quote or more information.

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BUY, RENT OR REPAIR A TAXI

APPS

COMMS

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Challenger provides business mobiles backed up with award-winning support, and with its market leading app you can keep your drivers safe with lone worker protection.

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CLAIMS

EMISSIONS SYSTEMS HJS HJS are Europe's leading manufacturers of emission reduction systems for commercial vehicles. Retrofit your taxi to meet EURO VI standards.

For more information visit the website by clicking here or phone 01344 566050.

MEMBERSHIP

CARD PAYMENTS

CARD PAYMENTS

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TAXI SCREENS

The FixiCover Driver Shield is an in-car partition that separates drivers from their passengers and serves as a sneeze guard. Find out more here.

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