Understanding your Taxi Fare
National Transport Authority (NTA) is responsible for setting the maximum fare that can be charged by taxi drivers nationwide. The way the taxi fare is calculated is set out in legislation.
To help you understand and estimate your fare, Transport for Ireland has created a Taxi Fare Estimator. While driving conditions on the day can impact your actual final fare, as calculated by the taximeter, this online tool will help you estimate your journey cost by accounting for the factors below.
- With each additional adult passenger, €1 is added to the metered fare.
- One child travels for free. After this, €1 is added for every two children under 12 to the metered fare.
- If you pre-book your taxi, by phone, app or in person, a €2 booking fee is added to the metered fare.
- Road toll charges are added as incurred and should be recorded in writing on the receipt.
- The timing of your journey impacts the fare you are charged.
Passengers should also consider the following potential penalties:
- If the taxi is soiled a maximum charge of €140 can be applied.
- If you do not pay your fare or pay a lesser fare than agreed in advance you are committing an offence.
If a driver has a concern that a passenger may not be able to pay for their fare, they are entitled to request you to show proof of funds before agreeing to provide their service.
All the above information is available in every taxi on the Taxi Information Card.
Your taximeter receipt
Drivers must offer passengers the legal taxi fare receipt from the taximeter (not the card terminal). Passengers should keep the taximeter receipt for any queries after the trip, as it shows the vehicle and trip details.
Remember, the taximeter receipt may be different from an app receipt, if you chose to book your taxi via app. App providers can charge their own fees that are separate to the taximeter fare, so be sure to shop around!
Cashless payment in taxis
From 01 September 2022, every taxi in Ireland must accept credit and debit card payments as well as cash – it’s the passenger’s choice. Drivers are not permitted to operate without a working card payment facility and they may not charge surcharges on any card payments.
Taxi information videos
Understanding your Hackney and Limousine Fare
Except for prior written agreement, taxi drivers must not charge more than the metered fare and must give passengers a printed receipt upon request.
As a passenger you are required to pay the total metered or lesser agreed fare for each hire. A pre-agreed fare should be recorded in writing before the journey commences.
Hackneys and limousines must not charge you more than the agreed fare and must provide you with a receipt upon request.
Customer’s Rights and Responsibilities
The customer’s rights
Fares and receipts
- Taxis: Taxi drivers may not charge more than the metered fare and must give customers a printed receipt.
- Hackneys and limousines: Drivers may not charge more than the agreed fare and must give customers a written receipt.
Regulations
- SPSV drivers must display their driver identification card and the passenger information card in clear view of the customer.
- At a taxi rank, the passenger may choose to travel in a taxi other than the one at the head of the queue.
Guide dogs/assistance dogs/mobility aids
- SPSVs must carry guide dogs and mobility aids at no extra charge for customers who need them.
Wheelchair accessible journeys
- Wheelchair accessible taxis and hackneys must give priority to bookings for people with disabilities.
Unreasonable refusal of service
- Taxi drivers may not unreasonably refuse service for journeys of 30km or less.
Customer service
- SPSV operators should be courteous, helpful and neatly dressed.
- SPSV operators should have a good working knowledge of major routes and destinations and should follow any direction or route chosen by the passenger.
- SPSV drivers must offer reasonable assistance with luggage.
- The vehicle should be clean and roadworthy.
The customer’s responsibilities
Fares
- Taxis: Customers are required to pay the full metered fare or agreed fare, including booking fees where appropriate, for each hire.
- Hackneys and limousines: Customers must agree the fare before the journey begins.
Behaviour
- Customers’ behaviour should be civil and orderly.
- Customers must not damage or dirty the vehicle, consume food or drink in it, or smoke in it.
- A soiling charge is payable by passengers who dirty or damage a taxi to the extent that it has to be taken out of service or will have to be cleaned or repaired at a cost.
- Customers should comply with any reasonable request by the driver to leave or not to enter the vehicle.
Safety
- Customers should not ask the driver to carry more passengers than the maximum permitted for their vehicle.
- Customers should not ask the driver to break any road traffic legislation – for example, to exceed the speed limit.
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