Should all taxis in Glasgow be required to accept card payments?
- Perry Richardson
- 3 hours ago
- 3 min read
Glasgow City Council is considering a public consultation on whether taxi drivers should be required to accept credit and debit card payments, a move that could reshape payment practices across the city’s 1,200-strong fleet.
Glasgow City Council’s Licensing and Regulatory Committee have launched a formal consultation on mandating card payment facilities in taxis across the city. A report presented under the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 sets out proposals to seek views on whether taxi drivers should be required to accept credit and debit cards, and how any such requirement would be implemented.
At present, there are no licence conditions in Glasgow requiring taxis to carry card readers, although some drivers have installed devices voluntarily. The report notes that no Scottish local authority has yet introduced mandatory card payment conditions for taxis, while several English authorities have done so and a growing number of European cities have adopted similar requirements.
Glasgow currently has 1,217 licensed taxis and historically cash was the dominant method of payment, but the committee paper acknowledges that payment habits have shifted significantly, with many passengers now relying on cards or smartphone wallets. The council’s Licensing Section has received queries from members of the public requesting that card payments be made mandatory, and operators within the trade have also asked for the issue to be explored.
For passengers and the wider visitor economy, the case in favour centres on convenience and alignment with consumer expectations. In a city with a strong night-time economy and major events calendar, the ability to pay by card can reduce disputes over payment and minimise situations where passengers are unable to settle fares due to a lack of cash. Businesses such as hotels and corporate travel bookers may also view universal card acceptance as consistent with modern service standards.
There are also operational considerations. Mandatory card acceptance could help reduce incidents linked to cash handling, including disputes and alleged non-payment. Digital transactions provide an auditable record, which may assist in resolving complaints or enforcement matters. For regulators, standardising payment methods could simplify passenger messaging and reduce confusion over which vehicles accept cards.
However, the financial burden would fall squarely on drivers and operators. The council report makes clear that while there would be no financial implications for the authority, taxi operators and drivers would incur costs in purchasing and maintaining card payment devices. Beyond upfront hardware costs, drivers would face ongoing transaction fees charged by payment processors, which could erode margins in an industry already contending with rising fuel, insurance and vehicle compliance costs.
Some in the trade may also raise concerns about network reliability and technical faults. Card terminals rely on mobile data connectivity, and service interruptions could delay payments or lead to disputes at the end of journeys. There may also be apprehension among drivers who prefer cash-based operations for budgeting or administrative reasons, particularly sole traders who manage their own accounts.
Legal powers are not in question. Under the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982, the Licensing Authority can impose conditions on taxi driver and vehicle licences.
For Glasgow’s taxi drivers, the debate reflects a broader shift in how transport services are consumed and regulated. The outcome could set a precedent within Scotland, where no local authority has yet mandated card acceptance in taxis. Whether the move strengthens competitiveness and passenger confidence, or adds further cost pressures to drivers, will depend on the detail of any eventual licence condition and the balance struck between consumer demand and trade sustainability.
