Posted on the 5th November 2025 in PHTM News

GUERNSEY TAXI DRIVERS MUST WEAR LANYARDS TO COMBAT OVERCHARGING COMPLAINTS

Guernsey taxi drivers will be required to wear lanyard IDs starting 1 January 2026 as part of an effort to make them more identifiable, especially following complaints of overcharging.

Laura Oxburgh, head of on-island travel and transport implementation at the States, noted that feedback highlighted the difficulty in identifying both vehicles and drivers when customers needed to raise concerns or complaints. She explained that while vehicles must display a licence plate, the number is "often hard for people to capture as the vehicle drives away."

The new ID system was agreed upon with the Guernsey Taxi Drivers Association (GTDA). The ID cards can be worn on lanyards or "displayed in a prominent place in the vehicle if the driver does not feel comfortable wearing the lanyard when driving," according to Ms. Oxburgh.

She added that it "will be implemented formally from January 2026 and encouraged from now, being assessed over time before consideration is given to alternative or extra options."

GTDA president Peter Blondel confirmed the association's full backing, stating: "We, as the GTDA, were in discussion with the DVL earlier this year and suggested the introduction of lanyards... This is so drivers are more identifiable and professional when meeting clients at locations such as the airport.”

The move comes amid repeated reminders to drivers about charging fixed fees without prior customer agreement. A local transport official, in a letter seen by the Guernsey Press, noted that drivers had been informed of this problem “many times previously.” 

The official warned that drivers "that are choosing to act illegally are tarnishing all taxi drivers with the same brush because customers are presuming that all taxis are ripping customers off.”

Traffic & Highway Services confirmed that for all journeys from a rank, when a taxi is hailed, or booked through the Guernsey Taxi App, the fare must be calculated on the meter. Fixed fares are only appropriate for specific advanced notice bookings or specialist jobs like airport transfers.

Miss Oxburgh confirmed that authorities are taking action against non-compliance.

"A suspension for overcharging was issued a few months ago, and we are currently investigating some reported incidents of this," she said.

She also stressed the importance of transparency: “It is set out in legislation that taxi tariffs must be on display within vehicles, which enables customers to have the opportunity to check the rates being charged against it.”

 


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