Pre-pay taxi trial to begin on the Central Coast

Taxi drivers will be able to request pre-payment from customers as part of a new trial to begin on the Central Coast shortly, a Transport for NSW spokesman announced today.

From November 28, taxis attached to the Central Coast Taxi network will take part in the 12-month trial, which will operate 24 hours a day.

“This trial comes after Central Coast Taxis approached Transport for NSW because drivers had reported increased incidents of fare evasion,” he said.

“The trial is about providing a better work environment for our taxi drivers who are simply trying to do a day’s work, but it also means that those people who do the right thing will be able to get a taxi when they need one.”

The regulation permitting the trial was submitted to the previous Government, but it was not signed by the then Minister for Transport.

Details of the trial include:

• Taxi drivers will have the choice to request pre-payment;
• The driver will estimate how much the fare will cost at the start of the trip, using a Transport for NSW authorised taxi fare estimator;
• The passenger must pay the driver this amount by cash or electronic payment before the commencement of the journey and the driver must give the passenger a receipt for the amount tendered;
• The fare that appears on the taxi meter at the end of the journey will determine what the passenger finally pays;
• If the metered fare is less than the deposit, the driver must refund the difference to the passenger, and if the metered fare is greater than the deposit, the passenger will be required to pay the difference;
• If the passenger refuses to provide a deposit, the driver can refuse to carry the passenger.
• Transport for NSW is consulting with Central Coast Taxis, taxi driver associations and the NSW Taxi Council to ensure that all parties are fully informed of the trial’s operating arrangements. Advertisements will also be placed in local media.

The fare estimator will be available on Transport for NSW's website prior to commencement of the trial, along with full details of the trial.

Pre-pay taxi trial to begin on the Central Coast (pdf 56 KB)