What happens when a taxi driver forgets to start the meter? Legal limits and customer expectations
- Perry Richardson
- Jul 5
- 1 min read
Updated: Jul 6
Forgetting to activate the meter is a rare but costly mistake for any cab driver. Under most taxi authority regulations, a taxi fare can only be charged if the meter is running, meaning any trip taken without the meter switched on becomes legally unenforceable. This leaves the driver at the mercy of passenger goodwill.
Tom the Taxi Driver recently shared this situation in one of his latest videos, where a missed meter start meant a fare to Battersea Park could not be properly charged. He resorted to setting a token fare on the card machine, most likely the flag-fall starting rate when the meter is first engaged, with the passenger voluntarily adding a tip.
These incidents highlight a key aspect of licensed taxi work. Unlike minicabs or app-based services, black cabs operate under strict fare guidance, and failing to start the meter can impact earnings. While most customers are accommodating and may offer compensation voluntarily, drivers have no authority to request payment beyond what the meter displays.
With so many checks to make and distractions when a passenger first gets in, it’s easy to miss the meter. Sometimes the start button can more difficult to engage than others or a button pressed one too many times can stop the meter.
Whatever the problem, cabbies should double check early on into the journey to ensure that the meter is running as it should be to minimise the impact on their pocket.
