Posted on the 13th March 2026 in PHTM News

INVERCLYDE TAXI FARES SET TO RISE BY 8 PER CENT AS DRIVERS FACE SURVIVAL BATTLE

Taxi passengers in Inverclyde are facing an 8 per cent increase in fares after local councillors moved forward with plans to raise the cost of travel across the district.

The proposal, which includes hikes to both the initial "flag fall" charge and the rate per mile, will now be put out for public consultation before likely starting later this year.

Under the new rates, a daytime taxi journey from a rank would start at £3.56, up from the current £3.30.

Fares for late-night trips and pre-booked hires are also set to increase. Local taxi representatives initially asked for a 7 per cent rise, noting they purposely kept the request lower than industry recommendations to account for the "ongoing cost-of-living crisis affecting many local residents."

Chris McAteer, general fleet manager for Inverclyde Taxis, told the council’s general purposes board that while other areas are seeing double-digit increases, they wanted to be "sensible" and cautious.

"We're looking for a sensible discussion, with a sensible agreement, and that can get rolled out, and hopefully the public will understand why," Mr McAteer said.

The trade is currently struggling with soaring overheads, reporting that insurance costs have jumped by up to 60 per cent, while technical updates and vehicle parts have also become significantly more expensive.

In a joint message to the council, industry groups warned that they "continue to face challenges to sustain the status quo" and "find ourselves caught squarely in the middle of a survival battle."

Operators stressed that they provide an essential service, particularly in helping people get home safely at night, but warned that the post-pandemic years have seen a "significant downturn in business."


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