Budapest taxi drivers would raise their prices by another 19 percent

The taxi drivers would increase their prices by another 19 percent, which means that the basic fare for a taxi ride in Budapest would cost HUF 1,500 (EUR 3,78) or HUF 1,900 (EUR 4,79). Within a year, the official price of the service would increase by one and a half times.

Budapest taxi drivers came up with a proposal for a tariff increase

Almost immediately after the abolition of the fuel price cap, Budapest taxi drivers proposed a tariff increase, reports Népszava. Some of the passenger carriers started negotiations directly with the Hungarian government, while others started bargaining with the municipalities that set the tariffs. The cabinet appointed János Fónagy, the state secretary responsible for parliamentary affairs related to economic development, to the negotiations with the taxi drivers. However, Zoltán Metál, the president of the National Taxis Association, was from the beginning a supporter of the need to sit down at the negotiating table with the local governments.

Read also: Restaurants in Hungary to close down one by one

The basic taxi fee would rise to HUF 1,500 (EUR 3,78)

In December, interest protection and professional organisations also contacted the Budapest municipality. “The city administration was correct, we negotiated twice before the end of the year. But no one wanted to rush the matter, so we postponed the development of the unified proposal until January,” said Zoltán Metál. The organisations that cover 80-90 percent of taxi drivers expressed a moderate price increase demand of 19 percent, taking into account the 40 percent increase after the abolition of the gasoline price cap.

According to plan A, the basic fee would rise to HUF 1,500 (EUR 3,78), the kilometer fee would increase to HUF 440 (EUR 1,11), while the minute fee would increase to HUF 110 (EUR 0,28). According to version B, the mileage fee and the waiting fee remain unchanged, but the basic fee would be HUF 1,900 (EUR 4,79). Most taxi drivers prefer the first option.

Read also: Hungarians work, buy fuel, flour and do the shopping in Romania due to skyrocketing inflation

The demand for taxi services in Budapest is increasing

Although last year, taxi fares in Budapest rose by 33 percent, the demand for the services is increasing. Last year, the fare increased from HUF 300 (EUR 0,76) to HUF 400 (EUR 1,01), the basic fare from HUF 700 (EUR 1,76) to HUF 1,000 (EUR 2,52), while the minute fee increased from HUF 75 (EUR 0,19) to HUF 100 (EUR 0,25), writes 168.hu. This is what the taxi drivers would raise now. If the Capital Assembly accepts the proposal, the price of taxis in Budapest will increase by 54 percent within a year.

“Many people feared that passengers would turn away from us, but the exact opposite has happened, the demand for the service is constantly increasing. The people of Budapest see taxis as a reliable alternative to public transport”, said Zoltán Metál.