Fixed taxi price

(dpa/fk) Flexible fixed-price fares instead of rigid taximeter tariffs: A pilot project in Hamburg shows that lower fares can bring more revenue to taxi companies. The results of the study could have a lasting impact on the industry.

Anyone in Heidelberg, Dachau, Erding, Freising or Amberg who orders a taxi via the Freenow app will be able to know the fare in advance of the ride. With the introduction of new fixed-price regulations, the municipalities are counting on greater price transparency—and on stronger competitiveness of the taxi industry.

As of September 1, 2026, Dortmund will introduce a fixed-price option for taxis and a minimum fare for taxi-like rental cars. Freenow by Lyft enables booking at a fixed price from day one via its app.

Going forward, passengers will be able to agree on a fixed fare in advance. The new regulation is part of a fare adjustment and is intended to provide greater cost certainty for booked rides.

Unique taxi data from Hamburg – a new study shows the development of rides, revenues and fixed fares. Accordingly, the Hamburg taxi industry has visibly changed between 2017 and 2025 under the influence of the pandemic, a growing fleet of vehicles and new tariff models.

A bombshell for the taxi industry! As Taxi Today has learned from internal circles, rental cars with fixed-price bookings in Darmstadt will in the future generally be exempt from the obligation to have an odometer. Are the Hessians thereby finally opening the doors for Uber & Co.?

A fixed fare instead of variable taxi tariffs: Freenow by Lyft enables binding prices within a defined price corridor in Salzburg for the first time. The model is intended to bring benefits to both passengers and drivers.

The test is intended to determine how passengers, taxi drivers and platforms respond to price signals. Since February 1, 2025, pre-booked taxi rides in the Hanseatic City can be offered at a fixed price; the new model is meant to create transparency, but has so far only been adopted hesitantly. Against this backdrop, the city is now launching a pilot with price corridors to bring more flexibility to the market.

Fixed taxi fares are becoming increasingly widespread in German cities. In addition to Berlin, Frankfurt, Hamburg and Cologne, providers such as Freenow and Uber have also introduced similar models. The development is accompanied by debates about the legal framework and tariff corridors.

An algorithm calculates the fare in advance and factors in demand and traffic conditions. Passengers receive price certainty, and drivers benefit from greater predictability.

Hamburg is embarking on an experiment. Since February 2025, a two-year trial phase has been underway in which fixed prices and a fare corridor for taxi rides are to be established. The aim is to develop a solution tailored to the Hanseatic city and the needs of taxi operators.

It was supposed to be a milestone – but it has mainly become an omission. Four years after the amendment of the Passenger Transport Act (PBefG) came into force, the Federal Association of Taxi and Rental Cars (BVTM) expresses disappointment.

After months accompanied by protests, political struggles, and diplomatic interventions, the city of Munich now finally seems ready to introduce a minimum price for rides with platform providers like Uber and Bolt – thereby setting a precedent that is likely to be noticed beyond the city's borders.

Car rental companies announce protests as the city aims to stabilize the taxi market. The dispute over fair prices is escalating – and could change the entire industry.

The Federal Association of Taxi warns about platform-based rental cars moving to smaller cities and calls for political measures. Electrification and rural areas are also the focus of criticism.

Taxi drivers demand minimum prices for ride services – and accuse cities of inaction. Only two municipalities have taken action so far, even though the law has long given them the opportunity.

(dpa/lnw) They operate at a lower cost, often coming from other cities and without tariff commitments: rental car platforms pose significant challenges to the taxi industry. In Essen, resistance is growing – with clear demands.

Taxi rides at a pre-determined price: This will be possible in two more German cities starting in May. The integration into the Freenow app creates more transparency in trip cost planning – for business travelers, commuters, and tourists alike.

The debate over minimum wages for passenger transportation with rental cars is coming to a head: In Munich, two industries with opposing interests are colliding. The taxi industry is showing its presence with its own actions – in response to a demonstration by rental car providers.

Starting from May 1, 2025, taxi rides in the state capital can also be booked at a fixed price. The multi-mobility app Freenow, with a focus on the taxi business, will integrate the new pricing model directly into the app starting May 1.

(dpa/lno) The fare calculation for taxi rides in Hamburg is changing. Customers who do not want an unpleasant surprise at the end of the ride can now opt for a fixed price.

FREENOW offers its customers in Hamburg and Cologne the option to select fixed prices for taxi bookings via the app starting from February 1, 2025. This allows users of the mobility app to test the new offering directly from the introduction of the fixed price.