Quick answer: a fixed fare taxi gives you the price before you travel, and that is the price you pay. A metered taxi works the fare out as you go, by distance and by time, so you only know the final cost when you arrive. Black cabs usually run on a meter. Pre-booked private hire cars usually work on a fare quoted when you book. For airport runs and long journeys, a fixed fare makes the cost easy to plan. With Camberley Cars, every journey has a fixed fare agreed when you book, with no meter running.
Fixed fare vs meter taxi is one of the first questions people ask before an airport run. Watching a meter tick up in a queue on the M25 is nobody’s idea of a relaxed start to a holiday. This guide explains how taxi meters work, who sets metered fares, how a fixed fare taxi is priced, which tends to suit which journey, and what to check before you book.
Fixed fare vs meter taxi: the difference
| What | Fixed fare taxi | Metered taxi |
|---|---|---|
| How the price is set | Quoted for the journey and agreed when you book | Worked out by the meter during the journey |
| When you know the cost | Before you travel | At the end of the journey |
| Slow traffic | The agreed fare stays the same | The meter keeps adding charges by time |
| Usually found on | Pre-booked private hire cars and minicabs | Black cabs and other hackney carriages |
| Best for | Airport runs, long journeys and planned trips | Short hops hailed in the street or from a rank |
Both are legitimate ways to charge. The difference is certainty: a fixed fare is known upfront, while a metered fare is only final when you arrive. Our guide to taxi vs private hire explains the difference between black cabs and private hire cars in more detail.
How does a taxi meter work?
A taxi meter charges by distance and by time. Taking London black cabs as the example, TfL’s tariffs work like this:
- A minimum charge covers the first short distance or the first few seconds, whichever is reached first.
- The fare then rises in small steps, for each extra stretch of distance or each extra block of time, again whichever is reached first.
- Below a set speed, time takes over. When the taxi slows to just over 10mph or less, the meter charges by time, which is why a fare keeps rising in a traffic jam.
- The tariff depends on when you travel. Different rates apply on weekday daytimes, evenings and weekends, and late nights and public holidays.
- Extras can be added, for example for bookings made by phone, app or online, and for some airport journeys.
At the end of a journey, the meter shows the maximum amount payable. Tariffs and extras differ from one area to another, so the details for a black cab in Surrey or Hampshire are not the same as in London.
Who sets metered taxi fares?
Metered fares for black cabs are regulated. In London, TfL sets the taxi tariffs. Elsewhere, the local council sets the fares for the hackney carriages it licenses. That is why the same distance can cost a different amount in different towns.
For longer trips, there is some flexibility. TfL’s taxi fares page says fares for destinations outside Greater London may be negotiated between the passenger and driver before the journey. If no fare is agreed, the meter applies.
How a fixed fare taxi works
A fixed price taxi is quoted for your journey before you book. The quote depends on the distance, the vehicle you need and the time of travel. Once you book, that fare is agreed and you know exactly what to budget for.
With Camberley Cars, enter your journey on our booking page to see your fixed fare, or call us. There is no meter running, so a slow stretch of the M3 or M25 does not change what you pay. If anything could change the price, such as an extra stop or a much later return, we tell you when you book. Our guide to multi-stop taxi booking explains how extra stops are planned in.
If you are not sure what a quote covers, ask when you book. For airport drop-offs, it is also worth knowing how the airport’s own charges work: our Heathrow drop off charge guide explains them.
Is a fixed fare or a metered taxi cheaper?
It depends on the journey. On a short, clear trip at a quiet time, a meter and a fixed quote often come out close. On a long journey at a busy time, the meter keeps running in every queue, while a fixed fare stays where it was agreed.
The bigger difference is certainty. With a fixed fare you know the cost before you leave the house, which makes it easy to compare options, split the cost in a group or put through as a business expense.
Fixed price airport taxis
Airport runs are where a fixed price matters most. They are long, mostly on busy motorways, and often at the start or end of the day. From Camberley, Heathrow is about 30 to 35 minutes away and Gatwick about an hour, but traffic on the M25 can stretch either journey on the day.
With a fixed fare airport transfer, the price is agreed when you book. Book your return at the same time and give us your flight number: we track your flight, so your driver follows the actual landing time.
Do taxis have to use the meter?
Black cabs run on a meter, and the meter shows the maximum fare for the journey. In London, fares for trips outside Greater London can be agreed with the driver before you set off.
Pre-booked private hire cars work differently. You book through an operator, and the fare is usually quoted when you book rather than worked out by a meter. That is how every Camberley Cars journey works.
Fixed fare taxis from Camberley
We run fixed-fare taxis 24 hours a day from Camberley, Frimley, Farnborough, Sandhurst, Bagshot, Yateley, Blackwater and nearby towns, for local trips, airport transfers and long-distance journeys. Pay the way that suits you: prepaid online, card, mobile pay or cash, or by monthly invoice on a business account. Our guide to prepaid vs cash taxis compares the payment options, and you can see everything we run on our taxi services page.
Fixed fare vs meter taxi FAQs
Is a fixed fare or metered taxi cheaper?
It depends on the journey. On a short, clear trip they often come out close. On a long journey at a busy time, a meter keeps adding charges in traffic, while a fixed fare stays as agreed when you book.
How do taxi meters work?
A taxi meter starts with a minimum charge, then adds small charges by distance or by time, whichever is reached first. When the taxi slows down in traffic, the meter charges by time. Different tariffs apply depending on the day and the time of travel.
Do taxi meters go by time or distance?
Both. The meter charges for distance while the taxi is moving at a normal speed and switches to charging by time when it slows down or stops, for example in a traffic jam.
Does a fixed fare change if there is traffic?
No. With Camberley Cars the fare is fixed when you book and there is no meter running. If anything could change the price, such as an extra stop or a much later return, we tell you when you book.
Are airport taxis fixed price or metered?
Pre-booked airport taxis are usually fixed price, with the fare agreed before you travel. Black cabs from a rank usually run on the meter, with any extras set by the local tariff.
Do private hire taxis use meters?
Pre-booked private hire cars usually work on a fare quoted by the operator when you book rather than a meter. Every Camberley Cars journey has a fixed fare agreed when you book.
Do black cabs have to use the meter?
Black cabs run on a meter that shows the maximum fare for the journey. In London, fares for destinations outside Greater London can be agreed with the driver before the journey.
Can I see the fare before I book?
Yes. Enter your journey on our booking page to see your fixed fare, or call us on 01276 66888.
Book a fixed fare taxi
Fixed-fare taxis and airport transfers from Camberley, with the price agreed when you book and no meter running, 24 hours a day.
Prefer to talk? Call 01276 66888.
