Everything you need to know about Isle of Wight taxi and private hire fares
Taxi and private hire fares with Ryde Taxis are based on the Isle of Wight Council’s official tariff. The council sets a maximum table of fares for every licensed taxi (known as a Hackney Carriage) on the Island, and each meter is calibrated and sealed to it, so the rate can’t be altered by the driver or the firm. We also run that same council meter in our private hire cars, and use the council’s table of fares if you request a quote before booking your trip. So whether you ride in one of our Hackney Carriages or one of our private hire vehicles, you will never pay a made-up price.
Isle of Wight taxi fares
The table below is the Isle of Wight Council’s current maximum Hackney Carriage tariff. It sets the most that can be charged for a metered journey, and it’s the rate we run in both our Hackney Carriages and our private hire cars.
| Charge | Tariff 108:00–20:00, except Sundays, bank & public holidays | Tariff 206:00–08:00 & 20:00–00:00, and Sundays, bank & public holidays | Tariff 300:00–06:00, and Christmas Day, Boxing Day & Easter Sunday | Tariff 4As Tariff 3, for more than 4 passengers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Up to ½ mile | £3.50 | £5.00 | £6.50 | £8.00 |
| Each subsequent ¼ mile | £0.60 | £0.90 | £1.20 | £1.50 |
| Waiting time, per minute | £0.60 | £0.90 | £1.20 | £1.50 |
Larger groups: for more than four passengers, or a larger vehicle to carry excessive luggage, sports equipment or bicycles, the next tariff up applies (Tariff 1 → 2, Tariff 2 → 3, Tariff 3 → 4).
| Luggage | 20p for each item handled by the driver |
|---|---|
| Soiling the vehicle | up to £100 |
| Tolls (e.g. chain ferry, toll roads) | actual cost |
| Animals | £1 per animal — registered assistance animals are exempt |
These fares are the maximum that may be charged, and only the extra charges listed above may be added.
You can view the official version on the Isle of Wight Council website.
How is my fare worked out?
The fare is calculated by the meter, not estimated by the driver. It works like this:
- A starting charge covers the first half-mile of the journey.
- After that, the fare increases for every additional quarter-mile travelled, and for waiting time — for instance when the car is held up in traffic or waiting at your request.
- The rate steps up in the evening (after 8pm) and returns to the normal rate the next morning (8am). As you can see on the table, Sundays and bank holidays are also charged at the higher rate, with the most expensive tariff applied overnight and on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and Easter Sunday.
- For more than four passengers, or when a larger vehicle is needed for excessive luggage, sports equipment or bicycles, the next tariff up applies.
In the event that extra charges need to be applied, the driver will always discuss this with you before the journey begins.
Taxi or private hire — what’s the difference?
Both are fully licensed and insured to carry passengers. The difference is in how you get one.
A Hackney Carriage is what most people picture as a “taxi.” It can be hailed in the street or picked up at a rank without pre-booking, and displays a white plate on the rear, a smaller one in the front windscreen and a taxi sign on the roof. A private hire vehicle must be booked in advance — by phone, email or in person — and can’t be hailed randomly in the street or wait at a taxi rank; it displays a yellow plate on the rear and windscreen, and yellow stickers on the front doors.
Most of our work is private hire: you book a car — anywhere from a few minutes ahead to weeks in advance — and we send one to you. We also run a number of Hackney Carriages, which you’ll sometimes find waiting at the ranks when they’re free. Either way the meter is the council’s, so the way you book changes, but the rate doesn’t.
Can I get a fixed price?
For most journeys the driver simply runs the meter, and that’s your fare. If your journey is a long one, or you’d rather know the cost up front, just ask when you book and we’ll give you a quote before you travel. The quote you receive is an estimate based on the same rates as the meter, never a made-up figure.
Are all Isle of Wight taxi fares the same?
For metered journeys, the maximum is. The council sets one tariff and every Hackney Carriage meter is sealed to it, so no licensed Island taxi can charge you more than the published rate. We apply that same meter to our private hire cars too. So when you’re choosing between Isle of Wight firms, you aren’t comparing headline prices — you’re comparing how reliably the car turns up, and how well the service is run.
Can I pay by card?
Yes — all our cars are equipped to take card payments. You can use regular cards and also pay using your smartphone with Google or Apple Pay.
Booking
To book a car, call 01983 811111 or send an email. For the full council licensing detail and the official table of fares, see the Isle of Wight Council taxi pages.
