How are taxi and private hire fares calculated?
All hackney carriages (taxis) are fitted with taxi meters. These calculate the fare based on the distance travelled and any ‘waiting time’ which includes time when the taxi is stopped in traffic. Fares are the same in hackney carriages regardless of whether it is day or night. There is a different price around Christmas and new year. We set a maximum tariff but taxi drivers can charge less and may offer special promotional discounts. They also offer fixed fares for journeys to airports. Private hire fares are not subject to council regulation and you should agree a fare (or rate per mile) with the operator when booking the journey.
