Warwick Council set to raise fares – but drivers say they will lose customers to Uber

Hackney carriage fares in Warwick are set to rise by 10% from October, but some local drivers are warning the increase could push more customers towards Uber.

Warwick District Council said inflation had risen by 6% since the last fare review, though that previous adjustment was particularly contentious, having increased by 30% after going unreviewed for a decade.

The new rates will see the daytime rate the first 700 yards rise from £4.40 to £4.85, while the charge between 10pm and 6pm will increase from £6.65 to £7.30, with the evening rate for taxis carrying five or more passengers climbing from £8.85 to £9.75. Charges for each subsequent 100 yards travelled and waiting time tariffs remain unchanged from those established in 2024.

Local taxi drivers were consulted on the proposals, with more than half responding. Of the respondents, nearly three quarters were in favour of an increase, citing soaring fuel costs as the primary reason.

But some drivers were concerned that it would increase the price differential between hackney taxis and private hire vehicles, especially Uber. According to one driver’s response, published by the council: “There’s already less work available. Higher fares will likely push even more customers towards Uber and similar services, making the situation worse for local drivers. If the council genuinely wants to support the taxi trade, they should be focusing on creating a level playing field such as reviewing how app-based services operate in our area rather than increasing fares that could drive passengers away.”

Another driver’s response read: “The most important thing is no matter how much we change the fare, we keep losing our potential customers to Uber. There are nights where we make nothing, waiting at the taxi ranks for 10-12 hours. All our taxi ranks are busy with Uber drivers. The council should focus on how to get our taxi business back.”

Nevertheless, drivers also pointed to “significantly higher” operating costs. One said: “Without a meaningful fare increase it is becoming difficult to maintain a sustainable income. Fuel costs continue rising every day. The diesel prices have increased by around 40% since January 2026.”

Some councillors said the increase might not be sufficient. Cllr Alan Boad (Lib Dem) said: “We need to do whatever we can to help support our taxi drivers. I notice it is going up 10% and wonder whether that is enough.”

The revised rates received approval from the cabinet – the group of Green Party and Labour councillors responsible for key service areas – and are set to take effect sometime in October unless objections are submitted to the council.