The maximum charges for taxis and private hire cars fitted with taxi meters are detailed below.
Taxi fares
| Distance | Fare |
|---|---|
| First 950 yards | £2.60 |
| For every additional 180.5 yards (Time locked in meter) | £0.20 |
Waiting
A sum calculated at the rate of £23.00 per hour.
Surcharges
Surcharges 1 to 6 and 9 to 11 apply to all taxis and private hire cars fitted with a meter. Surcharge 7 applies only to hires commencing at the airport for taxis zoned to operate there.
| Surcharge | Fare |
|---|---|
| (1) For each hiring between 10pm on Mondays to Thursdays inclusive and 8am the following day (Time Locked in Meter) | £1.00 |
| (2) For each hiring between 10pm on Friday and 8am on the following Monday (Time Locked in Meter) | £1.00 |
| (3) For each hiring between 2am and 5am on Saturday and Sunday mornings (Time Locked in Meter) | £2.00 |
| (4) For each hiring pre-booked | £1.00 |
|
(5) For each hiring on the Spring, May Day, Midsummer and Autumn holidays |
£1.00 |
| (6) For each hiring between 10pm on 24 December and 5am on 27 December and between 10pm on 31 December and 5am on 3 January (Time Locked in Meter) | Add 50% to basic tariff |
| (7) Airport Fees – Any current charge levied by Aberdeen International Airport in relation to dropping off or picking up passengers.
(Passengers must be made aware that additional charges may be incurred in advance) |
|
| (8) For each hiring dropping off passengers at the inner forecourt of the Airport (Non-airport zoned taxis only) | £2.00 |
| (9) For each hiring commencing at Aberdeen Railway Station | £0.50 |
| (10) A charge per incident of fouling a taxi | £50.00 |
| (11) Where more than four passengers carried | Add 50% to basic tariff plus surcharges (excluding surcharges 4,7, 8 and 9) |
- The Council is required to set a maximum amount that can be charged for journeys in Taxis and Private Hire Cars fitted with Taximeters which it licences. Fares are reviewed at regular intervals to take into account of the operational costs of the vehicle and the driver's time, to allow the operator to make a reasonable return and to encourage the operation of taxis. Comparisons are made with taxi fares in other areas of the UK. There is opportunity for the public and trade to participate in the setting on the levels of fares proposed and taxi operators have the right to appeal against the Tariff set down by the Council before it comes into operation.
- Please note that a taxi driver is not required to take you on a journey ending outside the city boundary. Typical Destinations in the City – Aberdeen Airport, Bridge of Don, Cove, Dyce, Kingswells and Peterculter. Outwith the City – Banchory, Blackburn, Ellon, Kemnay, Kintore, Inverurie, Oldmeldrum, Portlethen, Stonehaven and Westhill. If the driver does agree to take you outwith the city, these maximum fares do not apply and it is up to you to reach agreement with the driver as to the fare. You should do this before you start.
- If you have booked a taxi to arrive at a particular time and keep it waiting, the driver can start the meter running once he has made his presence known to you and you can be charged at the maximum Waiting Time Rate shown on the Tariff.
- The taximeter contains an electronic clock and calendar and calculates the correct fare based on the date, time of day and distance travelled. If the vehicle's speed falls below a predetermined speed, the taximeter will automatically switch over from calculating the fare based on the distance travelled to a calculation based on the time spent in the vehicle. You will be able to see the fare mounting up on the taxi meter as the vehicle goes along.
- The driver is required to take you to your destination by the shortest practicable route.
- The maximum fare you are required to pay is the sum calculated in accordance with the Tariff overleaf.
- Please note that - (1) The fare payable may differ for the same journey on different days if the taxi has been held up in traffic and (2) a very short journey may be relatively expensive, due to the way the meter works. The fare will also vary depending on whether the trip was during the evening, early Saturday or Sunday morning or during certain public holidays.
- If you are asked to pay VAT on the fare, please ask for a proper VAT receipt.
- It is up to you to decide whether you wish to give the driver a tip.
- It is a criminal offence for you to take a taxi journey without having the money to pay for it.
You can find out more about making a complaint on our complaints pages. The licence number of the vehicle or its driver and the name of the company should be quoted.
For advice or to submit an application, contact the Licensing team
Contact us