Councillors have snubbed taxi drivers’ bid to use 15-year-old cars and vans.
Kirklees Council’s licensing and safety committee considered the issue following a petition by dozens of Hackney carriage and private hire drivers.
Cabbies said the council should extend the current ten year age limit and should scrap rules requiring a taxi to be no more than six years old at first registration.
But councillors opted to keep the status quo.
Chair of the committee, Clr Ken Smith, told the Examiner they would wait for the outcome of research into the matter by the Leeds based West Yorkshire Combined Authority, due next year.
“We want to be consistent with other areas in West Yorkshire,” he said.
“But we would look at it again if there are recommendations for change.”
London ‘Black Cab’ style cars are exempt from the rules but they must be tested twice a year once they are 15 years old.
Wheelchair accessible vehicles also have different rules, allowing them 12 years.
The committee did agree to change the fees taxi drivers must pay to reflect the government’s change from annual licensing to every three years.
