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Canterbury City Council taxi and private hire licence fee increases proposed for April 2027
Taxi and private hire drivers in Canterbury could face changes to their licensing costs from 1 April 2027 under proposals published by Canterbury City Council.
The council is consulting on revised charges under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, with most existing fees remaining unchanged. However, private hire vehicle renewal fees would increase by 3%, from £295 to £303.90, bringing them into line with hackney carriage renewal charges.
New initial licensing fees of £273.51 are proposed for electric-powered taxis and private hire vehicles. This compares with the existing standard initial charges of £466.96 for taxis and £347.83 for private hire vehicles, which would remain unchanged.
Private hire driver badge renewal fees would rise from £95.86 to £97.72, while electric private hire vehicle renewal charges would increase from £158.56 to £161.62. The replacement cost for a lost driver badge would see the largest percentage increase, rising 33% from £7.89 to £10.50.
Other charges, including initial driver badges at £301.21, taxi driver renewal badges at £97.72 and private hire operator licensing fees of £66.38 per vehicle, would remain unchanged. The operator charge applies to a maximum of 20 vehicles, with no additional charge beyond that number.
The consultation closes at 9am on Wednesday 6 January 2027. The council's Overview Committee will review the proposals on 21 January, followed by Cabinet consideration on 9 February and the final budget decision on 22 February. Any approved changes would take effect on 1 April 2027.
