Cashless payment mandate set to reshape taxi and PHV operations in South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse
- Perry Richardson
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
Taxi and private hire vehicle drivers operating in South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse look set to face a significant operational change under proposals to mandate card and mobile payment acceptance across the licensed fleet from 1 January 2027.
The requirement forms part of a wider review of the councils’ Joint Taxi Licensing Policy, which is now moving to public consultation.
Under the draft policy, all licensed vehicles would be required to accept debit cards, credit cards and mobile wallet payments, while retaining the option to accept cash where drivers choose to do so. The councils have also confirmed that licence holders would be prohibited from levying any surcharge on passengers who pay using personal cards or mobile payment methods, reflecting existing consumer protection regulations.
For many drivers, particularly those operating older vehicles or working primarily in rural areas, the shift is expected to introduce new upfront and ongoing costs. These may include the purchase or rental of card terminals, transaction fees charged by payment providers and potential upgrades to mobile connectivity.
Proposed licensing changes would require all licensed vehicles to accept card and mobile payments from 2027, with cost and compliance implications for drivers and operators
Council officers argue the requirement delivers broader safety and accessibility benefits. In the summary of proposed changes, the councils state that reducing reliance on cash lowers the risk of theft for both drivers and passengers, while improving convenience for customers who may not carry cash. The measure is also positioned as improving accessibility for vulnerable users, including those who rely on digital payments.
The payment mandate is not being introduced in isolation. It sits alongside a package of policy changes that increase compliance expectations across the trade, including more frequent checks for drivers with six DVLA penalty points and additional reporting requirements around safeguarding and licence history with other authorities. Taken together, the proposals point to a more closely regulated operating environment over the next licensing cycle.
