Changes to Total Mobility scheme
The Government has today announced changes to the Total Mobility scheme, alongside consultation on how to improve the service.
Total Mobility subsidises 75% of taxi fares for disabled and older people for which public transport is inaccessible. From 1 July 2026 this subsidy will be reduced to 65%.
The Government is reducing the subsidy to stabilise the cost of Total Mobility, which has increased significantly since 2022, when the subsidy increased from 50% to 75%.
The Ministry of Transport, which administers the scheme, has opened consultation until 22 March 2026. Consultation will not include the subsidy reduction but will consider other aspects of Total Mobility such as:
- the purpose of the scheme
- the consistency and fairness of assessment to be Total Mobility user
- capping the number of trips based on need and circumstances
- incentivising providers to offer more wheelchair accessible trips
- enabling new providers to offer the service, eg ride-sharing services
- introducing a national public transport discount for disabled people (in addition to Total Mobility.