Orkney Islands taxi fares and licensing

Current hackney taxi tariff

• Tariff 1 07:00-20:59: £6.50 first mile; £2.50 each mile thereafter
• Tariff 2 21:00-06:59 daily, from 21:00 Saturday to 06:59 Monday, and County Show daytime: £7.50 first mile; £3.00 each mile thereafter
• Tariff 3: £8.50 first mile; £3.50 each mile thereafter. County Show 21:00–06:59; Christmas 19:00 on 24 December–06:59 on 27 December; New Year 19:00 on 31 December–06:59 on 3 January.
• Tariff detail 4: Waiting £50/hour; extras maximum £3; booking charge up to £30 where pickup is 3+ miles away and customer continues farther away
• Tariff detail 5: Vehicles carrying 5-8 passengers multiply tariff by 1.5; fouling maximum £150; touring £60/hour up to 4 passengers or £90/hour for 5-8
• Booking and unused calls: The supplementary outward booking charge requires disclosure at booking and uses the nearer of taxi or base for the three-mile threshold. If called but unused, a charge is allowed as though occupied from leaving the stance or garage.

Effective 2026-05-01 (Mainland Orkney and linked South Isles) · last verified 23 October 2026

Open tariff evidence source

Licence-fee snapshot

• Licence fee detail 1: Taxi or PH vehicle including plates £343 (1 year) or £903 (3 years)
• Licence fee detail 2: Taxi/PH driver including badge £96 (1 year) or £243 (3 years)
• Licence fee detail 3: Booking office £206 (1 year) or £555 (3 years)
• Licence fee detail 4: Permanent or temporary vehicle substitution £343; replacement external plate £51.50; internal plate £25.80

Charges 2026-04-01 · last verified 27 August 2026. Confirm with the council before applying.