For anyone using a Reading Taxi or working in the local taxi and private hire trade, 2026 has brought several licensing changes worth understanding. Reading Borough Council approved a new Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy on 12 February 2026, with the policy taking effect the following day. The changes are being introduced through a stepped approach, meaning some requirements apply immediately while others will come into effect as existing licences are renewed or re-issued.
A New Licensing Framework for Reading
The updated policy brings together requirements covering hackney carriage and private hire vehicles, drivers and private hire operators. For drivers, licences that expire after 13 February 2027 will be re-issued to allow the new and amended conditions to be introduced. The council has stated that this process will take several months, so existing licence conditions remain applicable until a new licence is issued.
For private hire vehicles, the amended conditions and specifications apply to new grants and renewals from 13 February 2026. Existing vehicle licences continue until renewal, when the updated conditions are issued. This phased approach gives licence holders time to move from the previous requirements to the revised framework.
Changes Affecting School Transport Vehicles
One notable change concerns school transport licensing. From 13 February 2026, Reading Borough Council stopped issuing new school transport vehicle licences as a separate category. New applications and renewals are instead issued as private hire vehicle licences.
The same change applies to operators. From the policy’s effective date, only private hire operator licences are issued, while the separate school transport operator licence category has been discontinued. Existing arrangements are being transitioned through the licensing and renewal process.
This is particularly relevant to operators involved in school journeys because the vehicle’s licensing category now needs to be considered when planning renewals and future applications.
Door Signs Are Also Changing
The updated vehicle specifications include a requirement for door signs rather than a roof sign. However, Reading Borough Council has explained that arrangements were still being made with its supplier when the policy was introduced. Until the new ordering system is available, existing door or roof signs should continue to be used.
For passengers, this may gradually change the way licensed private hire vehicles are identified around Reading.
The 216 Hackney Carriage Licence Limit
Another significant development came in July 2026, when the Licensing Applications Committee considered the latest Unmet Demand Survey for hackney carriage services.
Reading currently limits the number of Hackney Carriage vehicle licences to 216. The 2025 survey found no evidence of significant unmet demand for hackney carriage services within the borough. Following consideration of the survey, the committee resolved to retain the existing limit of 216 licences. The council said the policy should be reviewed again within five years, with another unmet demand survey scheduled for 2030/31.
For the local trade, the decision provides an important snapshot of how the council currently views demand for licensed hackney carriage services. For passengers, it provides context about the structure of the licensed taxi market in Reading.
What Private Hire Passengers Should Remember
There remains an important distinction between a hackney carriage and a private hire vehicle. Licensed hackney carriages can be hailed in the street or picked up from taxi ranks within Reading Borough. Private hire vehicles, on the other hand, must be pre-booked and cannot legally be hailed in the street.
Understanding this difference can make everyday journeys clearer, particularly for visitors, commuters and people unfamiliar with local licensing arrangements.
New Requirements for Operators
There are also changes affecting private hire operators. From 1 October 2026, Reading Borough Council states that all operators must conduct right-to-work checks on their drivers and keep records of those checks. The council expects these records to be retained at the operator’s base and made available for inspection when required.
This adds another administrative responsibility for operators and forms part of the wider licensing framework governing private hire services in the borough.
What Happens Next?
The 2026 changes show that taxi licensing in Reading is continuing to evolve through updated conditions, revised vehicle categories and regular reviews of local demand. For drivers and operators, keeping track of licence renewal dates and updated conditions is particularly important. Passengers can also benefit from understanding whether they are using a hackney carriage or a pre-booked private hire vehicle.
As the revised policy continues to be implemented, the council’s licensing pages and official decisions remain the key sources for checking current requirements. For anyone using a Reading Taxi, understanding these changes offers a clearer picture of how local taxi and private hire services are regulated in 2026.
