I am very concerned that the 15 year rule, alongside the extortionate price of the new TXE Black Taxi, is beginning to bite very hard on our trade. Could you please tell me how many taxis have come off the road under this rule and how many new taxis have been registered over the last 5 years, on a month by month basis?

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Our ref: FOI-1443-1819/GH

Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 27 August 2018 asking for information about taxi vehicle age restrictions.

Your request has been considered under the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and our information access policy. I can confirm that we do hold the information you require.

The table below holds the number of taxi vehicles that had a licence expiring in each year and where aged 15 years old or older.

Year of licence expiry	Number of taxis aged 15 years or older with an expiring licence
2013	943
2014	1502
2015	1626
2016	1518
2017	1290
2018 (up to mid-September)	1055
Total	7934

To comply with air quality standards, all taxis must be within a certain age limit to be licensed. However, a limited number of exemptions are possible that allow certain vehicles to be licensed for an additional period. Find out more about the exemptions on our website: www.tfl.gov.uk/info-for/taxis-and-private-hire/licensing/apply-for-a-taxi-vehicle-licence.

With respect to the number of newly licensed taxis for the past five years, please find this information in the attached spreadsheet.

If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for some reason, please do not hesitate to contact me.

If you are not satisfied with this response please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.

Yours sincerely

Graham Hurt

FOI Case Officer

FOI Case Management Team

General Counsel

Transport for London

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