Legislative change will reform the taxi sector in stages – stricter requirements for training, supervision and pricing transparency

The legislative reform concerning the taxi sector will introduce major reforms to driver training, licence conditions, providing fare information and the supervision of vehicles. The changes will enter into force in stages in 2026 and 2027.  The first changes to enter into force will be the new training requirements and the new obligations related to providing information on taxi fares. 

As before, the fare for a taxi journey or the grounds for determining the fare must be available to the consumer before the journey begins. The responsibility for providing fare information will be expanded to also apply to taxi drivers. At the customer’s request, drivers must provide fare information orally or in writing before the journey begins.

“The total fare for a taxi journey or the grounds for determining the fare must not change during the journey. Another new point is that, from 1 September, intentional failure to provide pricing information may result in a traffic penalty fee of EUR 200 for the holder of the taxi transport licence,” says Deputy Director-General Kimmo Pylväs from the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom. 

Important steps to improve competence and safety

The aim of the legislative changes is to develop the professional competence of taxi entrepreneurs and taxi drivers and to harmonise the competence requirements in the sector. In future, a wider range of criminal convictions will also prevent the granting of a taxi transport licence or taxi driving licence. 

The aim of the changes is to increase customers’ trust and safety in taxi services. 

“Stronger competence among taxi sector entrepreneurs supports more consistent services. Developing competence and checking criminal records more widely are both important steps in increasing safety and trust,” Pylväs emphasises.

When a taxi transport licence or taxi driving licence is granted, the applicant’s criminal record is checked from the register of fines and the criminal records. Offences that may prevent the granting of a licence include offences related to homicide and bodily injury, sexual offences, fraud offences and means of payment offences.

The responsibility for organising the examination for taxi entrepreneurs will transfer to Traficom in September. Traficom will assess the content of training programmes and ensure that they meet the requirements laid down in legislation and support the competence objectives set for the training.

From November 2026, all new taxi drivers will have to complete mandatory training of 21 hours before taking the taxi driver’s examination. In addition, drivers will have to complete further training when renewing their taxi driving licence. 

Coloured registration plates and taximeters to become mandatory next year

Supervision of vehicles used in taxi transport will become stricter through new requirements on identification and equipment. These requirements will enter into force in 2027. 

At the beginning of the year, cars used as taxis may start using registration plates that make them stand out from other vehicles. The plates will become mandatory in July 2027. In addition, taximeters will become mandatory in all taxis in February. 

The legislative change will also introduce new obligations related to the registration and use of vehicles. A licence holder providing taxi services must ensure that they are the sole registered holder of the taxi vehicle and that the vehicle is linked to the transport licence under which the taxi services are provided. Neglecting these obligations may result in sanctions.

Consumers can influence how taxi services develop

Many of the reforms introduced by the legislative change will specifically benefit consumers. Pylväs sees clear opportunities in the reform. 

According to Pylväs, it would be good to shift the way we think about taxis: a taxi is a service, just like other services. The future of taxi services will also be guided by customer behaviour, not only by regulation by the authorities.

“I think it is a good thing that the reformed taxi legislation gives people the opportunity to influence, through their own choices, the direction in which taxi services will develop in the future,” says Pylväs.

“The price level of the taxi services you use and the quality requirements you prioritise in the services do matter.”