Who decides whether a trip is metered?
For hackney carriages in England and Wales the council's table of fares sets what the meter may charge. For pre-booked private hire, the price is a matter between operator and customer, so fixed quotes are common.[1]
What are the trade-offs for an operator?
Fixed fares win bookings because the customer knows the price, but the operator carries the risk of traffic and diversions. Metered fares pass that risk to the customer and reward long waits, but put people off at booking time. Many fleets quote fixed prices for airports and accounts and meter street work.
How does dispatch software handle both?
The fare engine prices a job from tariffs, distance and time bands, waiting time or a meter, and can lock a quoted price. In TaxiDex the calculation runs on the server so the console, the app and the invoice show the same figure (fares and tariffs).
Frequently asked questions
Can a fixed fare change after the trip?
Only if the customer changes the job, for example extra stops or long waiting that your terms say is charged on top. Put those terms on the booking confirmation.
Is a fixed fare legal in a hackney carriage?
For journeys within the district, a hackney may not charge more than the metered fare; check your council's conditions on agreed fares.
Sources
Fees and rules change. Each source is the official page we read, with the date we read it; check it before you apply or pay.
