Taxi and private hire licensing

Taxi fares vary based on:

• time of day
• day of the week
• number of passengers
• how much luggage
• type of vehicle

The fares are different if the vehicle:

• is a saloon type vehicle which has four passenger seats or
• is a people carrier type vehicle which can seat from five up to a maximum of eight passengers

We do not license taxis to carry more than eight passengers.

We set a maximum Hackney carriage tariff (taxi fare).

This means the taxi driver:

• cannot charge more than the maximum fare
• must display the fare on the meter in the taxi

The taxi driver can negotiate to charge a lower fare.

The Braintree District Hackney Carriage Association apply to our Licensing Committee for increases in taxi fares. The last increase was July 2025.

Mileage tariff 1

If the distance does not exceed 482.8 metres (528 yards or 0.3 mile) for whole distance - £4.00

If the distance exceeds 482.8 metres, for the first 482.8 metres (528 yards or 0.3 mile) - £4.00

For each subsequent 160.93 meters (176 yards) or uncompleted part thereof - £0.20

Waiting time

For each period of 1 minute or uncompleted part thereof - £0.44

Extra charges

1. Mileage tariff 2 - for hiring’s between the hours of 11.00pm and 6am or for any commenced on a Sunday for a public holiday (excluding those stated at (b) below) a charge equivalent of 50% extra (i.e one and a half times) the tariff 1 fare will be charged.
2. Mileage tariff 2 (i) - for hiring’s between 6pm and 11pm on Christmas Eve (24 December) and New Years Eve (31 December)
3. Mileage tariff 3 (ii) - for hiring’s between 11pm on Christmas Eve and New Years Eve and 6am on the day succeeding Boxing Day (27 December) & New Years Day (2 January) – a charge equivalent to 100% extra (i.e double) of the tariff 1 charged.
4. Soiling fee - £100 per occasion vehicle is soiled and is required to be withdrawn from service for valeting.
5. Carriage of 5 persons or more - Vehicles licenced to carry 5 or more passengers may charge Tariff 2 for journeys only when 5 or more persons are travelling and Tariff 3 for journeys only when 5 or more persons are travelling between the hours of 11.00pm and 6am or for a journey commenced on a Sunday or a public holiday. Tariff 1 applies when 4 or less passengers travel

Note: These are the maximum fares allowed. Passengers may negotiate a lesser fare at the discretion of the owner/driver. Hiring covering two tariff periods may be charged proportionately according to time or distance in each tariff period.

Passenger complaints with respect to the Hackney Carriage and/or its Driver should be made, in writing, to the licensing team:

Braintree District Council,
Causeway House,
Bocking End,
Braintree,
Essex,
CM7 9HB.

quoting the licence number displayed in the front window or on the rear and sides of the vehicle.

Commencement Date
July 2025