Switched on Taxis Loan

Interest-free loans of up to £150,000 are available to help owners and operators of hackney cabs (purpose-built taxis) or private hire taxis to replace their current vehicle with an eligible ultra-low emission vehicle. Limited companies are eligible for up to £150,000 of loan support, and sole traders or partnerships are eligible for up to £75,000 of loan support.

Hackney (purpose-built taxi) drivers only

The funded vehicle must be eligible for the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV)'s plug-in grant. See full details of eligible vehicles, external link which will open in a new window on the UK Government site (under ‘Taxis’).

Private hire drivers only

The maximum amount of loan support available to purchase one electric car is £30,000, or £35,000 for one electric van. The vehicle must cost £50,000 or less.

The loans are available from Energy Saving Trust, funded by Transport Scotland (an agency of the Scottish Government).

To be eligible, applicants must meet the following criteria:

Hackney (purpose-built taxi) drivers only

The vehicle must be eligible for the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV)’s plug-in grant. See full details of eligible vehicles, external link which will open in a new window on the UK government site (under ‘Taxis’).

You must have owned your current vehicle for at least 6 months before applying to replace it.

Private hire taxi drivers only

The vehicle purchased with the loan must cost less than £50,000.

There are no application fees. 

Owners and operators of hackney cabs or private hire taxis looking to replace their current vehicle with an ultra-low emission vehicle.

Before applying for a loan, visit the Energy Saving Trust website to complete an online form. A sustainable transport coordinator will then be in touch.