The easiest way to tell taxis apart from other vehicles is by their taxi top lights. Taxis must also display the name and contact details of the taxi transport licence holder and the name of the driver for customers. In addition to this, the customer must be informed of the total price of the trip or at least the grounds by which the price is determined before the start of the taxi trip or the confirmation of the order. With the help of the example price included on the price list, customers can compare the prices of different taxis before picking a taxi.
Pricing of taxi services and display of prices
The customer must be informed of the total price of the trip or at least the grounds by which the price is determined before the start of the taxi trip or the confirmation of the order. If no fixed price has been agreed upon for the taxi trip, the price of the trip must be based on the travel distance and time used for the entire duration of the trip.
If no fixed price has been agreed upon for the trip, the customer must also be informed of the price of an example trip (10 kilometres and 15 minutes) before the start of the trip.
- Taxis that pick up customers from taxi stands, for example, must display the price of the example trip at the top of the price list of the taxi. The price of the example trip allows customers to compare the prices of individual taxis. Taxis are also required to provide customers with receipts for each taxi trip. -
Taxi companies that use fixed pricing must inform the customer of the total price of the trip before starting the trip or confirming the order.
A taxi must have a taximeter or other device or system for collecting data
Taxis must be equipped with either a taximeter or some other device or system that records the identifying information of the entrepreneur, driver and vehicle, the date, time, length and duration of the trip, the price of the trip and the payment method used to pay for the trip.
Ordering a taxi
Taxis are no longer obligated to be on call. Especially in rural areas, this can mean that taxis should be ordered in advance during quiet periods.
When ordering a taxi, remember to also ask about the additional services offered by the taxi company, if you have need of any. These can include the transport of large pieces of luggage, child seats and the transport of animals. This information may also be available on the company’s website or Facebook page.
If you are entitled to use taxi services funded by Kela or municipalities, be sure to follow their instructions. For more information, please visit Kela’s website. (External link)
By calling or using an application
If you order a taxi by calling or using an application, you must be informed of the price of the trip or the grounds by which the price is determined when placing the order. There are differences between individual taxis in terms of offered services and prices, and it is up to the customer to decide which aspects they want to emphasise when choosing a taxi.
At a taxi stand or other taxi station
The customer is free to choose which taxi to take.
How do you identify a taxi?
Every taxi must have a taxi top light. The only exception to this are business and executive trips based on a contract drawn up in advance. The name and contact details of the taxi transport licence holder and the name of the driver must also be displayed in or on the taxi.
The taxi top light is always yellow and black and reads either TAKSI or TAXI. The size of the taxi top light can vary, and it can also display other text.
In addition to passenger cars, other vehicles that can operate as taxis include vans, light quadrimobiles, all-terrain vehicles and lorries, but not buses.
Inadequate service? Unclear prices or pricing?
What should you do if you encountered problems during a taxi trip, such as issues with or disagreements about the price, if the taxi you ordered failed to show up or if the driver provided you with poor service?
- First, contact the party that you ordered the taxi from, meaning the dispatch centre or taxi entrepreneur. If you need help filing a complaint, you can make use of the Complaint Assistant (External link). If the trip was paid for by Kela or a municipality, contact them.
- If filing a complaint does not bring about your desired outcome, contact Consumer Advisory Services. (External link)
If they wish, business passengers and those who need accessible transport can, in addition to filing a complaint, submit a notification of taxi transport problems to Traficom, which processes such notifications as part of the supervision of taxi companies.
Trips reimbursed by Kela
If you are entitled to transport by taxi reimbursed by Kela, order a taxi ride from your local regional dispatch centre that has an agreement with Kela. More information on how to order a taxi and the phone numbers of regional dispatch centres are available at www.kela.fi/travel-costs (External link)