Taxi drivers asked… who wants a national taxi tariff?
- Perry Richardson
- Jul 23
- 2 min read
Updated: Jul 29
TaxiPoint recently asked the trade whether there should be a national minimum taxi fare. The replies showed just how divided the industry remains on thistopic.
Some drivers argued a national minimum would be pointless unless private hire companies also had to follow it. Lee Flanagan dismissed the idea, saying Uber would undercut any national fare, leaving hackney drivers at a disadvantage. Zulf Ali made a similar point, highlighting that hackneys already operate under strict fare structures set by councils, while private hire firms can set their own rates.
Others focused on the reality of today’s earnings. Jamos Clark described waiting ninety minutes to make just £5. Mick Fox said a minimum of £5 should apply even for the shortest journeys. Simon Lee suggested £3 as a base figure. For Mark Jones, he says the pressures on drivers are huge - diesel, operator commissions, tax and time spent getting to jobs all eat into fares. He even went as far as to say customers expecting cheap rides should take the bus instead.
The idea of setting one national rate drew strong objections from drivers in less busy or lower cost areas. Jim Muir argued different standards of living across the country mean a flat minimum would not work. Paul Reay said fares in London should be higher than the north-east, reflecting regional costs. Others compared it to house prices: uniformity wouldn’t fit the reality of regional economies.
A few wanted tighter rules on private hire. Tommy Steele said all private hire should follow hackney carriage standards, with meters on and no surge pricing. That would, in his view, bring fairer competition and help set reliable fares for passengers and drivers alike. Junaid Ahmed floated an idea where operators cover any gap if passengers pay less than a minimum fare - something he said already happens during certain promotions.
Frustration with the current system came through in other comments. Drivers said there are too many licensed drivers, poor enforcement of standards and huge differences in local council policy.
Regional differences were a constant theme. Drivers from the north complained southern fares were too high, while southerners argued their costs were much steeper. Graham Gray pointed to Scottish Borders, where local fares rose for the first time in eight years. He still felt the increases were needed to keep up with rising costs.
Some warned any national minimum fare would be undermined by competition, especially from Uber and app-based firms. Other drivers complained of undercutting by operators taking on too many drivers willing to work for lower rates.
In the end, there was little consensus. Some drivers wanted immediate action to set a minimum fare to protect earnings. Others called for better local enforcement, tougher licensing rules and more focus on private hire regulation rather than a single nationwide figure.
One clear thread ran through almost every response: drivers feel squeezed on costs and undercut by competitors. Whether a national minimum fare could fix those problems remains an open question.
