Taxi fares review 2026

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Tell us your views on our options for this year's fares and tariffs review.


We review taxi (black cab) fares every year.

By clicking on the buttons below you can find detailed information about our proposals, supporting documents and how you can provide your feedback or ask questions. To submit a response, please click the button ‘Tell us your views’.

The consultation will close on Sunday 22 November 2026.


Why?

We normally review taxi fares and tariffs annually and aim to implement changes in April of each year. Details of the current tariffs are available on our website.

This short video explains why we review fares and the structure and content of this website.



Why is TfL reviewing taxi fares and tariffs?

The Cost Index, which is used to track changes to taxi drivers’ operating costs and average national earnings, shows that taxi drivers’ operating costs and average national earnings have increased.

We need to ensure that:

  • Taxi drivers can cover their operating costs and are fairly compensated for their work

  • Taxi driving remains a viable career to encourage licensed drivers to remain in the trade and to encourage new applicants

We have prepared two supporting factsheets which expand on or support the information contained on this page. These are:


To tell us your views, please click the button ‘Tell us your views’ at the top of the page.


Return to the top of the page
Tell us your views on our options for this year's fares and tariffs review.


We review taxi (black cab) fares every year.

By clicking on the buttons below you can find detailed information about our proposals, supporting documents and how you can provide your feedback or ask questions. To submit a response, please click the button ‘Tell us your views’.

The consultation will close on Sunday 22 November 2026.


Why?

We normally review taxi fares and tariffs annually and aim to implement changes in April of each year. Details of the current tariffs are available on our website.

This short video explains why we review fares and the structure and content of this website.



Why is TfL reviewing taxi fares and tariffs?

The Cost Index, which is used to track changes to taxi drivers’ operating costs and average national earnings, shows that taxi drivers’ operating costs and average national earnings have increased.

We need to ensure that:

  • Taxi drivers can cover their operating costs and are fairly compensated for their work

  • Taxi driving remains a viable career to encourage licensed drivers to remain in the trade and to encourage new applicants

We have prepared two supporting factsheets which expand on or support the information contained on this page. These are:


To tell us your views, please click the button ‘Tell us your views’ at the top of the page.


Return to the top of the page

  • Additional changes to taxi fares and tariffs

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    We propose some additional changes to taxi fares and tariffs, as follows:

    Booked taxi extra

    As well as being hailed on the street or hired at taxi ranks, London taxis can also be booked by phone, online or in an app. Up to £2.00 can be added to the fare when a taxi is booked by phone, app or online and this is known as the ’booked taxi extra’. We are aware that there are some circumstances where passengers are being charged the ‘booked taxi extra’ twice, as both the taxi booking company and taxi driver add it to the fare. We therefore propose to remove the booked taxi extra to prevent taxi passengers being charged this twice.


    Starting and stopping the taximeter

    While it is clear when the taximeter must be started and stopped for taxis hailed in the street or hired at a taxi rank, there are some issues with regards to when taxis are booked.

    We’re aware that some taxi drivers start the taximeter when they accept a job in an app and then leave the taximeter running while they travel to the passenger’s pick-up location. This can mean that there is a significant amount on the taximeter even before the taxi has arrived at the pick-up location or the passenger has gotten into the taxi.

    We are therefore proposing that for booked taxi journeys:

    • The taximeter must only be started once the passenger is safely in the taxi and any mobility aids are safely loaded and secured, although taxi drivers would be able to start the taximeter later than this if they wanted to do so

    • The taximeter must be stopped once the taxi has arrived at the passenger’s destination and the passenger is ready to pay, but before passengers have disembarked from the vehicle, although taxi drivers would be able to stop the taximeter sooner than this if they wanted to do so

    • These requirements would apply to all booked taxi journeys, regardless of how the booking was made (e.g. by app, telephone, mobile phone, online, in person)

    Making these changes would mean that taxi drivers cannot have the taximeter running while they drive to pick up a passenger and waiting time cannot be charged by taxi drivers.

    We do not have the legal powers to regulate taxi booking companies, and these changes would not prevent taxi companies from charging fees (e.g. for waiting time or cancellations) but these additional charges could not be passed to the taxi driver and could not be added to the taximeter. We have called on the Government to give us the powers to regulate taxi booking companies to improve safety and security for passengers and drivers.


    Taxi fares for longer journeys

    The distance and time rates for journeys over six miles are sometimes referred to as Tariff 4. There has been some feedback that taxis have become uncompetitive for longer journeys and that Tariff 4 should be reviewed.

    Therefore, to help make taxi fares for longer journeys less expensive we are proposing to change Tariff 4 so that when a journey reaches 12 miles the tariff rate would switch to the Tariff 1 rates. This would mean that after 12 miles the fare increases at a lower rate, as Tariff 1 is the lowest/cheapest tariff.

    We have prepared a supporting factsheet which expands on the information on this page.


    We propose some additional changes to taxi fares and tariffs, as follows:

    Booked taxi extra

    As well as being hailed on the street or hired at taxi ranks, London taxis can also be booked by phone, online or in an app. Up to £2.00 can be added to the fare when a taxi is booked by phone, app or online and this is known as the ’booked taxi extra’. We are aware that there are some circumstances where passengers are being charged the ‘booked taxi extra’ twice, as both the taxi booking company and taxi driver add it to the fare. We therefore propose to remove the booked taxi extra to prevent taxi passengers being charged this twice.


    Starting and stopping the taximeter

    While it is clear when the taximeter must be started and stopped for taxis hailed in the street or hired at a taxi rank, there are some issues with regards to when taxis are booked.

    We’re aware that some taxi drivers start the taximeter when they accept a job in an app and then leave the taximeter running while they travel to the passenger’s pick-up location. This can mean that there is a significant amount on the taximeter even before the taxi has arrived at the pick-up location or the passenger has gotten into the taxi.

    We are therefore proposing that for booked taxi journeys:

    • The taximeter must only be started once the passenger is safely in the taxi and any mobility aids are safely loaded and secured, although taxi drivers would be able to start the taximeter later than this if they wanted to do so

    • The taximeter must be stopped once the taxi has arrived at the passenger’s destination and the passenger is ready to pay, but before passengers have disembarked from the vehicle, although taxi drivers would be able to stop the taximeter sooner than this if they wanted to do so

    • These requirements would apply to all booked taxi journeys, regardless of how the booking was made (e.g. by app, telephone, mobile phone, online, in person)

    Making these changes would mean that taxi drivers cannot have the taximeter running while they drive to pick up a passenger and waiting time cannot be charged by taxi drivers.

    We do not have the legal powers to regulate taxi booking companies, and these changes would not prevent taxi companies from charging fees (e.g. for waiting time or cancellations) but these additional charges could not be passed to the taxi driver and could not be added to the taximeter. We have called on the Government to give us the powers to regulate taxi booking companies to improve safety and security for passengers and drivers.


    Taxi fares for longer journeys

    The distance and time rates for journeys over six miles are sometimes referred to as Tariff 4. There has been some feedback that taxis have become uncompetitive for longer journeys and that Tariff 4 should be reviewed.

    Therefore, to help make taxi fares for longer journeys less expensive we are proposing to change Tariff 4 so that when a journey reaches 12 miles the tariff rate would switch to the Tariff 1 rates. This would mean that after 12 miles the fare increases at a lower rate, as Tariff 1 is the lowest/cheapest tariff.

    We have prepared a supporting factsheet which expands on the information on this page.


  • Arrangements at Heathrow and London City Airports

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    Current Arrangements

    The current arrangements in place at Heathrow Airport and London City Airport are:

    Heathrow Airport

    • Taxi drivers must pay Heathrow Airport a £2.20 taxi feeder park fee each time they pass through the taxi feeder park, and taxi drivers can add an extra charge of up to £1.60 to the taximeter for journeys that start from one of the Heathrow Airport taxi ranks

    • Taxi drivers must pay Heathrow Airport a £6.00 terminal drop-off charge (TDOC) when dropping off passengers in one of the terminal drop-off zones at the airport, and taxi drivers can add up to £6.00 to the taximeter when dropping off passengers in one of the terminal drop-off zones at the airport

    • Heathrow Airport is planning to increase the drop-off fee taxi drivers pay to £7.00


    London City Airport

    • Taxi drivers must pay London City Airport a £2.00 fee each time they use the taxi rank at the airport and cannot add this fee to the taximeter
    • Taxi drivers must pay London City Airport a £7.00 fee each time they drop off at the terminal forecourt, and taxi drivers can add an extra charge of up to £6.00 to the taximeter when dropping off passengers at the terminal forecourt


    Proposed Arrangements

    We are proposing to:

    • Increase the drop-off extra for Heathrow Airport to £6.80

    • Increase the drop-off extra for London City Airport to £6.80

    • Not make any further increases to the extra charges for dropping off or picking up at Heathrow Airport or London City Airport for at least the next three years


    We have published a factsheet which expands on the summarised information on this page.


    Current Arrangements

    The current arrangements in place at Heathrow Airport and London City Airport are:

    Heathrow Airport

    • Taxi drivers must pay Heathrow Airport a £2.20 taxi feeder park fee each time they pass through the taxi feeder park, and taxi drivers can add an extra charge of up to £1.60 to the taximeter for journeys that start from one of the Heathrow Airport taxi ranks

    • Taxi drivers must pay Heathrow Airport a £6.00 terminal drop-off charge (TDOC) when dropping off passengers in one of the terminal drop-off zones at the airport, and taxi drivers can add up to £6.00 to the taximeter when dropping off passengers in one of the terminal drop-off zones at the airport

    • Heathrow Airport is planning to increase the drop-off fee taxi drivers pay to £7.00


    London City Airport

    • Taxi drivers must pay London City Airport a £2.00 fee each time they use the taxi rank at the airport and cannot add this fee to the taximeter
    • Taxi drivers must pay London City Airport a £7.00 fee each time they drop off at the terminal forecourt, and taxi drivers can add an extra charge of up to £6.00 to the taximeter when dropping off passengers at the terminal forecourt


    Proposed Arrangements

    We are proposing to:

    • Increase the drop-off extra for Heathrow Airport to £6.80

    • Increase the drop-off extra for London City Airport to £6.80

    • Not make any further increases to the extra charges for dropping off or picking up at Heathrow Airport or London City Airport for at least the next three years


    We have published a factsheet which expands on the summarised information on this page.


Page last updated: 13 Oct 2026, 09:54 AM