Posted on the 27th October 2026 in PHTM News
SEVENOAKS TAXI FARES SET FOR 10 PER CENT HIKE AS COUNCIL VOTES ON FIRST INCREASE SINCE 2022
Taxi fares in Sevenoaks could rise for the first time in over four years, with Sevenoaks District Council’s Licensing Committee meeting on 3 November to vote on a proposed 10% increase.
If approved, the higher maximum tariff for hackney carriages will take effect from 1 December. Sevenoaks is the last of West Kent's four boroughs to adjust its rates,following similar moves by Maidstone, Tonbridge & Malling, and Tunbridge Wells over the past 18 months due to shared economic pressures on drivers.
Council officers are recommending a flat 10% increase across the board, noting that this only sets a price ceiling and that drivers "can still charge less than the maximum if they choose."
The proposed adjustment is the first since May 2022, with officers pointing to official government fuel price data to justify the rise.
However, a collective response from 74 licensed drivers submitted during the consultation requested further changes. They called for the night surcharge to begin earlier at 9pm or 10pm rather than 11pm, an increase in the night surcharge to £2.40 instead of the recommended £2.20, and a higher Bank Holiday surcharge of £2.57 rather than £2.44.
Neighbouring councils have already adjusted their rates to help drivers manage rising operational expenses. Maidstone approved a fare increase in September 2025 after trade representatives reported a "30% rise in vehicle insurance costs and a 50% rise in vehicle upkeep costs."
Tonbridge & Malling introduced a new tariff in mid-2025, raising the starting fare for the first two-thirds of a mile from £4 to £5, representing a 25% increase.
Tunbridge Wells updated its fares in December 2024 following a review opened that November, which was its first adjustment since April 2022.
Although each local authority acts independently based on its own trade consultations, the underlying motivations remain identical: balancing rising insurance, fuel, and maintenance costs for drivers against what local residents can reasonably afford.
Currently, PHTM figures show a 2-mile journey costs £9.00 in both Maidstone and Tonbridge & Malling, compared to £8.70 in Sevenoaks and £8.60 in Tunbridge Wells.
If the proposed 10% increase is passed, Sevenoaks will move from the middle of the local pricing order to become the most expensive of the four boroughs for a typical journey.
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