You must carry an assistance dog unless you have a medical reason not to. You must apply for a medical exemption certificate and display the exemption notice if you are exempt.

It is illegal to refuse to carry a passenger with an assistance dog and you could risk losing your licence or face a fine.

You cannot charge passengers more for a taxi or private hire journey because they have an assistance dog.

Assistance dogs must be seated with their owners at all times.

Identifying assistance dogs

There are different types of assistance dogs providing a wide range of support to different people. Some passengers may have health conditions that are not obvious or visible but will still have an assistance dog.

Many assistance dogs are easily recognisable by their jacket, harness, lead, or bandana but there is no legal requirement for them to wear these.

There is no official registration or certification process for assistance dogs in the UK so there is no legal ‘proof’ that you can ask for from someone who is accompanied by an assistance dog.

For more information, read the assistance dog guide for all businesses on the Equality and Human Rights Commission website. Assistance Dogs UK have also created a quick guide on welcoming customers with assistance dogs.