The Budapest City Assembly approved an amendment to the capital’s taxi regulation on Wednesday, aimed at boosting transparency and passenger safety. The proposal, introduced by Mayor Gergely Karácsony, passed with 22 votes in favour, while Fidesz–KDNP representatives abstained.
The updated rules require taxi operators to ensure passengers can pay by bank card and mandate the inclusion of specific identifying information on receipts and bank statements. This measure will allow passengers to identify both the vehicle and driver after a trip, improving safety and preventing fraud.
The amendment also stipulates that companies must promptly notify authorities about who is driving a given vehicle when applying for or updating taxi stand permits. A register of authorized drivers will then be maintained by the city.
Another significant change targets ‘fake taxis’: since 2013, nearly 6,000 privately registered cars have remained painted taxi yellow despite no longer being licensed, misleading passengers—especially tourists. Under the new regulation, deregistered or outdated taxis must be repainted before any refund of stand fees is granted.
While the changes aim to enhance accountability, the amendment does not include a fare increase, despite demands from taxi groups. According to officials, the last fare adjustment was in 2023, and no current economic changes justify another. Calls from taxi organizations for a cap on taxi numbers were also rejected, with city officials arguing such measures would violate business freedom.
Tensions flared during Wednesday’s assembly session, with taxi drivers protesting outside City Hall and complaining they were not given a chance to speak. ‘The city has been at a standstill since morning—and not by accident,’ some drivers told reporters.
Taxi associations have long called for higher fares, annual automatic adjustments, limits on driver numbers, and stronger measures against illegal ride services. The new rules address some of their transparency concerns but fall short of their key demands.
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