A district council cannot simply announce a new taxi fare. Under section 65 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 it has to publish the proposed table of fares in a local newspaper, leave it open for objections for at least 14 days, and only then bring it into force. Once the new table is in effect, every hackney carriage meter in the district has to be reprogrammed to it, resealed, and accompanied by an updated fare table on display in the cab. Private hire prices are outside this process altogether.
Why fares change at all
A table of fares is a regulated maximum, and the cost of running a cab moves over time: fuel or electricity, insurance, vehicle prices, licensing fees and drivers' own living costs. When those costs rise, the trade often asks its council to look again at the tariff. Councils with a formal liaison group between the licensing team and the trade, as Cannock Chase has, can talk proposals through there before anything is published. The decision itself belongs to the council, which has to run the formal notice process described below before any new table can apply.
The legal route, step by step
The procedure comes straight from section 65 of the 1976 Act and applies wherever a council outside London licenses hackney carriages under that Act.
| Step | What the law requires |
|---|---|
| 1. Draft | The council prepares a table of fares, or a variation to the existing one |
| 2. Notice | The proposal is published in at least one local newspaper, with a stated deadline for objections |
| 3. Inspection | A copy is available for the public to inspect, free of charge, at the council offices during the objection period |
| 4. Objection period | At least 14 days from the first publication |
| 5a. No objections, or all withdrawn | The table takes effect at the end of the period or on the date the last objection is withdrawn, whichever is later |
| 5b. Objections remain | The council sets a later start date, no more than two months after the original date, and may adopt the table with or without changes |
| 6. Effect | The table is treated as hackney carriage byelaws, and it replaces earlier fare byelaws or tables in the district |
Anyone can object, including passengers. A notice in the legal columns of a local paper is easy to miss, so it is worth checking the licensing pages of the council's website as well.
What happens to the meter
Once the table is in force, the Cannock Chase policy says the council's tariff is the only tariff allowed on the meter. That means every meter in the district has to carry the new rates. A fitter loads the new tariff, checks the unit, and reseals it; the proprietor then presents the vehicle for inspection if the council asks. Because a new table applies to every hackney carriage in the district from one date, owners have to arrange the work around that date. If a meter has not yet been updated, the driver still cannot charge more than the meter shows on a journey inside the district, so a changeover should never cost the passenger more than the display.
The new fare table must also replace the old one inside the vehicle. The conditions require a copy of the current table to be exhibited where hirers can see it. For the equipment side, how a taximeter works explains the calendar clock and tariff memory involved.
What passengers can do
- Check the date on the fare table in the cab if the number on the meter seems out of line with what you expected.
- Ask the driver whether the tariff has changed recently.
- Look for the council's notice if you wish to comment on a proposed increase. Objections need to reach the council before the stated deadline.
- Report a meter that seems to be running on an out-of-date or unfamiliar tariff, with the plate and badge numbers and the time of the journey.
What drivers and owners should be doing
Licence holders are expected to keep the meter and fare card in line with the current table, to present the vehicle for testing when called, and to avoid tampering with the meter or its seals. The wider duties of drivers are summarised in what a licensed taxi driver must and must not do. If a meter shows the wrong tariff after a change, the correct response is to have it reset by a competent fitter, not to charge by guesswork.
Private hire and fare changes
Because operators set private hire prices, no council tariff applies, and no consultation is required when an operator changes its rates. That is why a minicab quote can change overnight while a hackney carriage tariff takes weeks to alter. The practical comparison of both types is in taxi or private hire: how to tell the difference.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take for a taxi fare increase to come into force?
The objection period is at least 14 days from the first publication. If there are no objections the table can take effect when that period ends. If objections are not withdrawn, the council sets a new date no more than two months after the original one.
Who can object to a proposed taxi fare table?
Anyone can object; the process is not restricted to the trade. Objections must be made by the deadline in the published notice.
Do private hire fares need council approval?
No. Operators set their own prices. Council tables of fares cover hackney carriages only.
Why do all taxi meters in a town change on the same date?
A new table of fares applies to all hackney carriages in the district from the date it takes effect, so owners have to arrange for their meters to be reprogrammed and resealed at around the same time.
Where can I find the current fares?
The table must be displayed inside each hackney carriage, and the licensing authority's website normally publishes it. Check that the table in the cab matches the council's current version.