Increase in maximum taxi fares

New taxi fare rates to apply from 5 December 2023 to address the challenge of taxi availability.

The Department for Infrastructure (DfI) has announced a decision to increase maximum taxi fares, coming into force on Tuesday 5 December 2023.

Maximum fares will increase by 9.5 per cent during the day and 19.5 per cent at all other times. Drivers may charge less than the maximum if they wish.

This increase is being put in place by DfI in the context of challenges about the availability of taxis, particularly in the evenings and at weekends, which has led to concerns around public safety.

The detail below presents the four rates by operating times and a summary of the approximate cost of the first mile of a journey by taxi (which includes the initial charge) and then the added cost for each additional mile. 

• Rate 1: (Monday to Friday, from 6am to 8pm) Initial charge of £3.20, approximate charge for first mile £4.20 and £1.86 charged for all additional miles.
• Rate 2: (Monday to Thursday, from 8pm to 6am) Initial charge of £4.00, approximate charge for first mile £5.10 and £2.03 charged for all additional miles.
• Rate 3: (Friday 8pm to Monday 6am and specified days) Initial charge of £5.00, approximate charge for first mile £6.10 and £2.03 charged for all additional miles.
• Christmas and New Year Rates: (From 2pm on Christmas Eve to 6am on 27 December and from 8pm on 31 December to midnight on 1 January) Initial Charge £5.80 and approximately £7.70 for first mile) and £3.60 for every additional mile.

Find out more about the decision to increase maximum taxi fares.

First published 29 November 2023