Taxi passengers are reminded that a below-inflation fare increase, of 1.7 per cent, will take effect from Saturday 6 April.

The new fares seek a balance between maintaining income levels for drivers while ensuring passengers still get a fair price for the high quality and unique service provided by the capital's taxi drivers. 

  • 1.7 per cent increase equates to 21 pence on average fare
  • Lowest fare increase since TfL began licensing taxis in 2002

This year both fuel prices and operating costs have increased, raising the costs associated with driving a taxi.

Taxi fares are reviewed annually and calculated by TfL based on a cost index that has been used since 1981. 

Two other changes to taxi fares that take effect on Saturday 6 April may affect some journeys.

To help compensate the upfront charge that drivers have to pay when entering the Heathrow feeder ranks, which is increasing in April, an additional charge known as the 'Heathrow Extra' is added to passenger's Heathrow fares. This 'Heathrow Extra' will increase by 80 pence, taking it from £2.40 to £3.20.

Since July 2008 a special provision has been in place to allow taxi fares to be increased if diesel costs reach a specified level. To date this provision has not been implemented. This provision has been extended for the coming year. Therefore a 40 pence increase to all taxi fares will be implemented if diesel reaches 179.7 pence per litre.

The Board approved the new fares earlier this year following consultation by TfL with the taxi trade and others, including London TravelWatch, Age UK, London Boroughs, London Assembly and London MPs.

 

 

Current average (£)

 New average (£)  Increase (£)  Increase (%)
Tariff 1 11.24   11.43

 0.19

  1.7
Tariff 2 13.02  13.25  0.22  1.7
Tariff 3 15.30   15.57  0.27  1.7
All week  12.42  12.63  0.21  1.7

 

Notes to editors:

  1. The changes to fares were approved by the Transport for London (TfL) Board in February
  2. Transport for London's Taxi and Private Hire is responsible for licensing and regulating London's taxi and private hire services
  3. Read the relevant TfL Board paper - (PDF 277KB)
  4. Taxi fares are calculated according to one of three tariffs. These are:
  1. Monday to Friday, between 06:00 and 20:00
  2. Monday to Friday, between 20:00 and 22:00, and weekends between 06:00 and 22:00
  3. Nightly between 22:00 and 06:00 and on public holidays