BRITS are facing a hike to taxi fares in the latest blow from the fuel crisis amid the Iran war.
Cabbies around the country have already begun putting up their prices to claw back losses from soaring petrol and diesel prices, while Uber and Bolt could also bring in emergency pricing.
Union bosses are calling on the taxi apps to allow their drivers add an emergency fuel surcharge to fares help with added costs, The Sun can reveal.
It comes as diesel hit £2 a litre at some service stations around the UK this week, with fuel prices continuing to rise.
The GMB union, which represents private taxi drivers, has written to Uber and Bolt urging them to help drivers amid high pump prices.
It has asked them to consider allowing drivers to add an emergency fuel surcharge of 3% to fares – one of several options put forward to ease the strain on taxi drivers – a source said.
This could be added to standard Uber and Bolt fares to help cover fuel costs, which drivers must pay for themselves.
However, the GMB said its preference would be for the taxi apps to absorb soaring fuel prices themselves, rather than passing them onto customers.
It would be a double blow for customers who use the taxi apps, after Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced in her Budget that 20% VAT would be slapped on journeys made through Uber and Bolt in London.
Meanwhile, several private taxi companies have already hiked their fares because of rising pump costs.
Wrexham-based Apollo Taxis announced it was introducing a temporary 10% increase to fares from March 27th because of the fallout from the Middle East conflict.
“Due to the continued and significant rise in fuel costs, circumstances entirely beyond our control have reached a point where absorbing these increases is no longer sustainable for our business and our drivers who the majority are self employed,” it told customers.
Excelsior Taxis in the Cotswolds also told customers last week it was being forced to put up its prices.
“Due to the continued rise in fuel costs, we have had to make the difficult decision to increase our fares, starting today,” it said in a post on its Facebook page.
Flintshire and Chester-based Cresta Taxis also introduced a temporary fare increase to cover rising fuel prices.
Petrol and diesel prices have hit their highest levels in over two years in recent days, as Iran’s stranglehold on vital shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz pushes up oil prices.
A spokesperson for Bolt said: “We are closely monitoring the impact of rising fuel prices.
“Our priority is to maintain the balance between fair earnings for drivers and affordable prices for passengers, ensuring that our platform remains fair and sustainable for everybody.”
Uber was also contacted for comment.
