Record number of complaints made about taxi drivers last year
Seán McCárthaigh
A record number of complaints about taxi drivers were made to the National Transport Authority last year, while there was also a 15 per cent increase in the number of fines issued to licence holders.
New figures published by the NTA show a 6 per cent increase in complaints against taxi drivers, with a total of 1,815 recorded in 2025 – 106 more than the previous year.
Disputes about fares accounted for 54 per cent of all complaints, followed by hiring matters (22 per cent); driver behaviour (20 per cent) and the condition of taxis (4 per cent).
Increases in the number of complaints were recorded across all categories with the exception of the condition of vehicles, where the number reduced from 98 to 75.
The NTA, which acts as the regulator for the taxi industry, said no further action was deemed necessary or possible in relation to approximately six out of every 10 complaints following an initial investigation.
A total of 165 complaints resulted in taxi drivers being issued with fines, while 28 complaints were referred to other agencies for attention, including An Garda Síochána, the Department of Social Protection and Revenue.
Two complaints – one relating to driver behaviour and the other a dispute over fares – led to taxi drivers being prosecuted.
In around a quarter of complaints, the NTA said licence holders were instructed about their legal rights and responsibilities.
Not surprisingly, complaints about taxi drivers in Dublin accounted for the vast majority of cases – 77 per cent of the total – followed by Cork (7 per cent); Galway (5 per cent) and Limerick (3 per cent).
No complaints were received about taxi drivers in three counties – Cavan, Monaghan and Leitrim.
As part of other compliance measures, more than 213,000 vehicle and driver remote licensing checks were carried out last year on over 19,400 individual vehicles.
The NTA said it meant that 92 per cent of the country’s taxi, hackney and limousine fleet were checked while operating during the year.
In addition, compliance officers conducted over 16,700 face-to-face audits of drivers and vehicles at the roadside during 2025.
The NTA said such compliance activities resulted in taxi drivers being issued with 1,043 on-the-spot fines for breaches of taxi regulations – an increase of 15 per cent on the previous year.
Figures show 79 per cent of fines were paid on time, with the remainder referred for prosecution in the District Court.
The NTA said it initiated 133 criminal prosecutions last year, of which almost half related to the operation of an unlicensed service.
The most common on-the-spot fines were issued for failure to comply with vehicle standards, standing for hire at an unappointed location, failure to notify details of the vehicle being operated and failure to comply with taxi roof sign requirements.
A total of 19 taxi drivers were fined for failing to carry a functioning cashless payment device, while five were fined for refusing to accept a cashless payment.
Fourteen drivers were fined €250 each for refusing to carry an assistance or guide dog, and four others were fined for the same amount for refusing to carry a passenger in a wheelchair.
Figures published by the NTA show a total of 671 on-the-spot fines have been issued to taxi drivers in the first seven months of 2026.
The NTA said it was committed to ensuring compliance with legislation governing small public service vehicles as well as ensuring public safety and that legitimate professional taxi drivers do not have to compete with “others operating to lower standards".
Meanwhile, the number of licensed taxis, hackneys and limousines rose by 3 per cent in 2025 to 21,170 – more than 600 extra than in 2024.
