Taxi Driver Online

Licence fee hike may force cabbies off road

Cabbies in Fareham could be forced off the road if plans to triple vehicle licensing fees are given the go-ahead. Taxi drivers across the borough are outraged at plans by the council to drive up licensing costs by up to £155 and they fear for the future of smaller firms.

If councillors agree tonight, the cost for taxi drivers in the borough to transfer their taxi or private hire plates to another vehicle will rise to £176.

The current fee to carry out a transfer of a vehicle plate from one car to another is £53. If the decision is taken to go ahead with the proposed plan, cabbies will see an increase of £123.

They will also witness a massive rise in the cost to temporarily transfer a vehicle plate - the cost is set to go from £21 to £176. Costs are all met by the individual driver.

Cabbies have expressed their disbelief at such a steep rise in prices and are angry that if this decision is taken many could be forced to hang up their plates for good.

Terry Bailey, of Terry's Taxis, said: "This is an outrageous hike in charges and I cannot see how the council can justify such increases. Smaller firms like myself could be hit really hard, being forced to spend extra money that they can't really spare. Some may even decide it's not worth the cost.

"The ability to transfer plates allows drivers to buy a slightly older and therefore cheaper car if their current car is getting ropey, as new plates can only be issued on cars under two years old."

Colin Borton, a shareholder from Radio Taxis, added: "Fareham Borough Council is always looking to get more income from our trade.

Well overdue "If they do this they shouldn't come back to us and complain if we raise our tariffs because drivers will need to cover the new costs. Drivers won't be happy."

Garry White, director of regulatory services, said: "The procedure for the temporary transfer and transfers of vehicle licences is the same as that for a new or renewal vehicle application and they were well overdue for review to bring them into line with the other charges currently in use for the trade in the borough."

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IDFIMH

So it's an age rule that's not an age rule at all?

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Taxi Driver Online
www.taxi-driver.co.uk

I wish I could pay what they are paying at the moment, ours is £172 per year and a transfer is £70.
I don't know why some have said they may go out of business it would be cheaper to buy new than second hand
here is an example
a new Skoda Octavia tdi 45 plus mpg £46,99 a week
there new licence fee £176 £3.39 a week
insurance with 4 or more years NCB £12.99 a week
total £63.37 a week

When you fee's go into four figures start complaining! Then there are the four Compliance Tests a year, the Badge renewal, the annual CRB check - oh twice if you carry children or vulnerable adults (so thats all of us!) the annual renewal of "crests" and "logos" ..... oh and lets not forget the additional insurance as we all have to have WAV's and the relevant training and insurances that go with this!

Any one need an op?

The bit that always gets me is the bit where they say the extra £50 will kill their trade.

I agree any increase is not nice, but FFS if this trade is going to get into the press let's not make ourselves look even more stupid.

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IDFIMH

Hi skippy 41
Can you tell me who you are insured with, £12.99 a week. I pay £27-47 per car.
Regards
Alun

AK5222, get in touch with the taxi centre, www.thetaxicentre.co.uk they will sort you out