Transport for London's 2026 taxi fares review closes on Sunday 22 November 2026. For a booked journey, the proposal is that the taximeter starts only once the passenger is safely in the taxi and any mobility aids are safely loaded and secured. TfL normally reviews fares each year and aims to bring changes in each April. Taxi fares review 2026
When the meter would run
The consultation describes drivers who start the taximeter on accepting an app job and leave it running while they travel to the pick-up, so a fare can already be showing before the taxi arrives or the passenger gets in.
The rule would cover every booked journey, whether the booking was made by app, telephone, mobile phone, online or in person. A driver could start the meter later than the point at which the passenger is in and any mobility aids are secured, but not earlier. It would stop once the taxi had arrived and the passenger was ready to pay, before anyone got out, though a driver could stop it sooner.
Under that rule, a driver could not leave the meter running on the way to a pick-up, and could not charge waiting time. A booking company could still charge a fee, including for waiting or a cancellation. There is no legal power to regulate those companies, and the Government has been asked for powers to improve safety and security for passengers and drivers. A company fee could not be passed to the driver and could not be added to the taximeter.
The same proposals would remove the booked taxi extra of up to £2, which can be added when a taxi is booked by phone, app or online. In some circumstances the passenger is charged that extra twice, once by the booking company and once by the driver.
Additional changes to taxi fares and tariffs
The association's column
LTDA executive Anthony Street, writing in TAXI on 27 October 2026, treated the proposal as unpaid work for a driver who has already arrived. Drivers pay for the vehicle, insurance, licensing, maintenance and fuel, directly or through a rental garage, and income depends on the jobs and the hours. The rule would apply to pre-booked work in general, not only to passengers with disabilities.
"You arrive at the agreed time. The passenger is still getting ready. 10, 15 or 20 minutes pass. You cannot accept another fare because you have committed yourself to this booking. Your costs continue, but the meter stays off. Repeat that several times during a working day and the financial losses soon begin to add up. Are drivers expected to absorb it, or go ahead and work longer hours to recover the lost money? Neither answer, as you're aware, is acceptable. There is an important distinction between charging while travelling to collect a passenger and charging for waiting after arriving at the agreed place and time. I believe TfL should recognise this too. A reasonable grace period, followed by transparent waiting charges, would protect passengers against unfair charges while ensuring drivers are paid for their time. Fair cancellation and no-show arrangements are equally important in this conversation as well."
A company might still collect a waiting fee while the driver who supplied the vehicle, attended the booking and missed other work received nothing. Where those fees go, and what is taken in commission, technology charges and other deductions, still needs to be clear. Incorrect charging of the booked extra should be dealt with, rather than a legitimate part of the fare removed without evidence and a proper assessment of the effect on drivers. Unpaid waiting, lost booking extras and commission should be judged together. A booking that meant travelling to the collection point, waiting unpaid and then paying commission could become uneconomic, with fewer taxis in suburban areas and for people who depend on accessible vehicles. The response looked for is a driver's own waiting times, cancellations, missed work and costs.