Newport Black Cab Fares Could Rise by Up to 17% Under New Council Proposal

Black cab fares in Newport could rise by between 15% and 17% under new proposals being considered by the city council.

The potential increase follows a request from the Newport Hackney Carriage Association and would represent the first change to the city’s maximum hackney carriage fares in four years.

Newport City Council has not yet approved the higher fares. The proposal is currently at the review stage and, if supported by the relevant cabinet member, would move to a public consultation.

According to a council report covered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the licensing manager considers the proposed increase reasonable in light of the financial pressures facing the trade.

The council points to increases in operating costs since fares were last changed in 2022, including the cost of diesel and petrol.

The proposed increase is understood to be between 15% and 17%, although the final tariff would depend on the outcome of the council process and any subsequent consultation.

Importantly, the change would apply to hackney carriages rather than Newport’s wider private hire fleet.

Hackney carriages can be hailed in the street or hired from designated taxi ranks and operate using metered tariffs. Newport City Council’s current passenger guidance confirms that licensed hackney carriages must have a valid tariff and use a meter when operating within the council boundary.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service says around 80 hackney carriages would be affected by the proposed fare review, compared with more than 1,500 other taxis and private hire vehicles licensed in Newport.

The council sets the maximum amount a hackney carriage can charge for a metered journey. Drivers are permitted to charge less than that maximum if they choose.

No fare increase should therefore be treated as confirmed at this stage. A decision is expected on whether to progress the review, after which the travelling public and wider taxi trade would have an opportunity to respond through consultation.

If ultimately introduced, the change would give Newport’s hackney carriage drivers their first tariff increase since 2022 at a time when vehicle, fuel, insurance and other operating costs remain an important issue across the taxi trade.

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