Aberdeenshire Council's Licensing Sub-Committee fixed a maximum taxi fare scale 5% above the previous charges, from 1 November 2026. The increase is uniform, and the fare structures, times and dates stay as they are. The figure on the scale is a maximum. An operator may charge less. Taxi fare review decision
The charges being raised have applied since 1 December 2024. The first 880 yards, or part of that distance, is £3.15 on the standard rate, £4.50 on the late-night rate and £4.85 in the festive season. Each further eleventh of a mile, or part, is 23p on the standard and late-night rates and 35p on the festive rate. Waiting time is 12p for every 10 seconds on all three rates. The booking fee is 50p, and the maximum for an unacceptable mess in the taxi is £100. Each of those charges rises by 5%. Taxi fare calculator from December 2024
When each rate applies
The standard rate covers every hiring outside the late-night and festive periods.
The late-night rate applies from 10pm to 6am the next morning, Monday to Thursday; from 6pm on Friday to 6am on Monday; and on public holidays from 6am to 10pm. Those holidays are 3 January, Good Friday and May Day.
The festive rate applies from 6pm on 24 December until 6am on 27 December, from 6pm on 31 December until 6am on 3 January, and on weekends in December from 6pm on Friday until 6am on Sunday.
Where a vehicle is licensed to carry more than four passengers, a surcharge of 50% of the fare may still be added. A driver may add the airport charge incurred for a drop-off or a pick-up. The passenger must be told in advance that an extra charge may be added, and a booking fee is shown on the meter. Fare scale appendix
Taxis and the meter
Under the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 the council, as licensing authority, fixes the maximum fare a taxi may charge. Private hire car fares sit with the operator. Private hire operators receive a copy of the taxi scale for information. A change to the scale means taxi meters have to be recalibrated, at a cost to the trade, including where the driver charges below the maximum. Taxi fare review report
The vote on 28 August
The review is required every 18 months. Officers recommended that the existing scale, with no increase, take effect on 1 October 2026. The report records a small majority for leaving the scale unchanged, a low response from the trade and the public, and the cost of resetting meters.
Paul Anderson, managing director of Central Taxis, told the sub-committee that rising operating costs had reduced the company's fleet, that a higher maximum was needed if the service was to continue, that larger operators need that ceiling to cover overheads, and that any fare change means a meter recalibration.
Councillor Gifford, seconded by Councillor Menard, moved a 5% increase across the scale, with the structures, times and dates unchanged. Councillor Cox, seconded by Councillor Crowson, moved a 10% increase and an increase in the festive season tariff from 50% to 100%.
Five members voted for the 5% motion: Councillors Ewenson, Gifford, McWhinnie, Menard and Whyte. Three voted for the amendment: Councillors Crowson, Cox and Mason.
The sub-committee set 1 November 2026 as the start date, to leave time for meters to be recalibrated after an appeal period ending on 16 September 2026. The Head of Legal and People was to bring the scale in if that period produced no objection or representation. An objection would go back to the sub-committee for a final decision.
What the consultations found
The trade consultation ran from 2 March to 2 April 2026. It drew 35 responses, 2.3% of the trade. Of those, 48.6% wanted no change, 37.1% wanted a change, and 14.3% were unclear. On 1 May the sub-committee agreed to consult the public on that same scale, with no increase, and to ask whether the festive rate should drop the December weekends and cover the traditional holiday period only.
The public consultation ran from 22 May to 22 June 2026. Six members of the public replied, and 17 people from the trade, 1.1% of the trade. Half of the public replies asked for a change, mainly a reduction. Among the trade replies, 58.8% asked for a change, mainly an increase, and the increases they suggested ran from 10% to 19% because of operating costs. On the festive period, 62.5% of respondents, including every public respondent, wanted the dates left as they were. Of the trade replies across both consultations, 52.4% expected that dropping the December weekends would affect the business negatively. Of the public replies, 66.7% expected no change in their own use of taxis. Taxi fare scale consultation