Local authorities across Scotland enforce strict dress codes for taxi and private hire drivers to maintain professional standards. Over the past three years, more than 200 warnings have been issued to drivers who failed to comply with these licensing conditions.
Varying Dress Code Requirements Across Councils
Dress code rules differ among Scotland’s 32 local authorities, but most require drivers to wear smart attire such as shirts and ties paired with trousers, skirts, or shoes. Common prohibitions include football tops and clothing with offensive slogans.
Specific restrictions vary by region. For instance, Aberdeen bans jeans outright, while West Dunbartonshire permits them if they remain in good condition. East Renfrewshire allows denims provided they appear clean and tidy.
Footwear guidelines also differ. West Dunbartonshire accepts sandals if they look smart and well-maintained, but Edinburgh and North Lanarkshire prohibit sandals and trainers entirely. Flip flops are generally banned due to their casual nature.
Scottish Borders Council mandates trousers or a knee-length skirt or kilt as the minimum standard. Western Isles Council rejects white sport shoes, vests, tracksuits, and shellsuits. East Ayrshire Council forbids baseball hats, beanie hats, hooded sweatshirts, headbands, bandanas, and military-style clothing, including camouflage patterns.
Some areas, like Falkirk and Orkney, lack formal dress codes but insist drivers maintain a clean and tidy appearance. Similar expectations apply in Glasgow, South Ayrshire, Dumfries and Galloway, Stirling, and Aberdeenshire. Midlothian Council currently has no dress code but plans to introduce one following a review.
Enforcement and Warning Statistics
Many councils report minimal enforcement actions from January 2023 to December 2025. Dundee City Council leads with the highest numbers, issuing 10 warnings in 2023, 56 in 2024, and 107 in 2025.
North Ayrshire recorded 26 warnings over the period, Fife issued nine, and Scottish Borders ten. Perth and Kinross advised 14 drivers on the dress code in 2024 and issued four or fewer warnings each in 2024 and 2025.
In November, Highland Council Trading Standards conducted an operation with Police Scotland, resulting in several informal verbal warnings for non-compliance, though exact figures remain undisclosed. East Ayrshire notes occasional requests for drivers to stop operating and change into appropriate attire, but it does not track formal records for dress code violations.
Scotland counts more than 18,000 licensed taxi and private hire drivers who must adhere to these standards.
Perspectives from Drivers and Officials
Jim Kyle, chairman of the Scottish Taxi Federation, states that most drivers follow the dress code voluntarily. ‘If they don’t, they can be pulled up and taken off the road,’ he explains. ‘Some guys think the dress code is a good thing while others don’t. In my experience, most drivers dress smartly.’
In one case, North Ayrshire Licensing Committee denied a taxi license application partly due to the applicant’s attire. Tory group leader Cameron Inglis commented, ‘The one that annoyed me most was the wearing of the football top. I think as soon as you put that on, you are looking to antagonize people, especially if you are working in a public role.’
A Dundee City Council spokesman encourages reporting concerns: ‘Anyone with any concerns that a licensed taxi driver is not meeting Dundee City Council taxi driver’s licence conditions can email the licensing board. The council will continue to talk to the local taxi trade about any issues.’
