UK local councils implement taxi fare updates and new penalty schemes

Somerset Council has approved an update to the maximum fares licensed taxi drivers can charge across the county. The changes, intended to address rising operating costs and a 10.69% increase in the cost of living, include raising the maximum standard fare for journeys up to one mile from £4.60 to £5.06. A standard two-mile journey will now have a maximum charge of £8.60, up from £7.60. These rates represent the ceiling for licensed hackney carriage taxis; operators may still choose to offer lower prices. The new structure will be implemented no later than 19 September 2026.

In Tewkesbury, Borough Council is introducing a new penalty points scheme for the taxi and private hire trade starting 28 September. The system allows for points to be issued for minor infringements of licensing conditions, with points remaining on a record for three years. Drivers who accumulate 12 points within that period will face a review by the council’s Licensing sub-committee, which has the authority to suspend or revoke licenses based on the circumstances.