Taxis in Budapest could get drastically more expensive: major price hikes on the cards

On Thursday afternoon, the capital's administration held a meeting with various taxi associations to discuss a possible fare increase. No one from the Budapest Taxi Association attended the meeting in person, but they have submitted a written proposal for a

27% fare increase they believe is necessary.

Norbert Váczi, co-chairman of the association, also said that under their proposed increase,

• the basic charge would rise from HUF 1,100 to HUF 1,400,
• the fare per kilometre from HUF 440 to HUF 560 and
• the fare per minute from HUF 110 to HUF 140.

According to the association, the average inflation of the last three years justifies the significant increase.

The Interest Group of Taxi Drivers (TÉSZ) and the National Taxi Association also attended the negotiation. According to 24.hu, the National Taxi Association, led by Zoltán Metál, is in favour of a more moderate increase, while TÉSZ and the Budapest Taxi Association are calling for a higher increase.

Neither the leaders of the organisations nor the capital have commented on the ongoing negotiations. In the first round, Ambrus Kiss, Director General of the Mayor's Office, and his team focused mainly on listening to proposals, and further discussions are expected.

At the beginning of the year, a large taxi protest took place in Heroes' Square, mainly demanding changes to the tax rules for passenger transport in Budapest. The demonstration, organised by TÉSZ, called for an increase in the individual tax exemption threshold to HUF 18 million from HUF 12 million and a cap on the number of drivers in the capital.