Rates of Fare and Taximeters.

Austin City Code tit. 13, ch. 13-2, art. 2, div. 4

in effect

Austin City Code § 13-2-461 RATES OF FARE.

§ 13-2-461 - RATES OF FARE. (A) A driver may not charge a taxicab rate of fare in the city that is inconsistent with the rates of fare established by the taxicab operating authority holder. (B) A taxicab operating authority holder shall determine the rate of fare for its taxicab fleet. (C) Each taxicab operating authority holder shall conspicuously post the current rates of fare on the holder's website and rate card. (D) Taxicab operating authority holders shall provide the department with a schedule of rates prior to the rates going into effect in accordance with Article 2 (Ground Transportation Services) Division 1 Subpart B (Operations). (E) A taxicab driver shall not begin any trip until the rider has agreed to the rate of fare. (F) Rates of fare and charges incurred shall be displayed within the taxicab in a conspicuous location and in view of the passenger. (G) A taxicab driver must transmit to the passenger a receipt documenting the origin and destination of each taxicab trip and the total amount paid upon completion of each trip. Source: 1992 Code Section 8-13-361; Ord. 031106-13; Ord. 031211-11; Ord. No. 20141106-054, Pt. 15, 11-17-14; Ord. No. 20180628-054, Pt. 23, 7-9-18; Ord. No. 20220303-023, Pt. 24, 3-14-22.

Austin City Code § 13-2-462 RATE CARD.

§ 13-2-462 - RATE CARD. A holder shall post a rate card containing a schedule of rates established by the council as well as other information prescribed by the department. The card must be clearly visible to passengers. The department shall prescribe the size, content, and format, and location of the rate card. Source: 1992 Code Section 8-13-362; Ord. 031106-13; Ord. 031211-11; Ord. No. 20141106-054, Pt. 15, 11-17-14.

Austin City Code § 13-2-463 TAXIMETER REQUIRED.

§ 13-2-463 - TAXIMETER REQUIRED. (A) A person may not drive or allow another person to drive a taxicab unless the taxicab is equipped with an operational taximeter approved by the department. (B) A person may not use a device other than a taximeter for measuring distance or time. (C) Except as provided by Subsection (D), a person may not drive or allow another person to drive a taxicab unless an accurate taximeter is used to determine the fare to be charged. (D) Taximeter rates of fare do not apply to: (1) a trip to a destination outside the corporate city limits if the taximeter is kept in operation while the taxicab has a passenger within the corporate limits of the City; (2) on written approval of the department, a trip under a contract with a governmental agency, a, nonprofit organization, or as otherwise reasonably necessary to provide a public service; or (3) fleet-wide flat rate charges set by the taxicab operating authority holder. Source: 1992 Code Section 8-13-363; Ord. 031106-13; Ord. 031211-11; Ord. No. 20141106-054, Pts. 15, 29, 11-17-14; Ord. No. 20180628-054, Pt. 24, 7-9-18; Ord. No. 20220303-023, Pt. 25, 3-14-22.

Austin City Code § 13-2-464 SETTING TAXIMETER.

§ 13-2-464 - SETTING TAXIMETER. (A) When using a taximeter to compute a fare, a driver shall place the taximeter in a revenue-earning mode when a passenger enters a taxicab, or at the pre-arranged time, if any, after the customer is informed of the taxicab's presence. (B) When using a taximeter to compute a fare, a driver shall call the attention of passengers to the amount registered on the taximeter before resetting the taximeter. The taximeter may not be reset or turned off until after the fare is paid. Source: 1992 Code Section 8-13-364; Ord. 031106-13; Ord. 031211-11; Ord. No. 20141106-054, Pt. 15, 11-17-14; Ord. No. 20180628-054, Pt. 25, 7-9-18.

Austin City Code § 13-2-465 MULTIPLE FARES.

§ 13-2-465 - MULTIPLE FARES. (A) All passengers occupying a taxicab on a single trip shall be charged according to the same rate method. (B) When using a taximeter to compute a fare for multiple passengers who occupy a taxicab at the same point of origin and disembark at different destinations, the following rules apply: (1) Passengers departing at a destination are responsible for the fare displayed on the taximeter at that destination. (2) The driver shall reset the meter at each destination unless the passenger disembarking at the final destination agrees to pay the fare for the entire trip. (3) Groups of passengers disembarking at one destination are not charged individually. The passengers are responsible only for the fare on the taximeter without any additional passenger fee. Source: 1992 Code Section 8-13-365; Ord. 031106-13; Ord. 031211-11; Ord. No. 20141106-054, Pt. 15, 11-17-14.

Austin City Code § 13-2-466 TAXIMETER STANDARDS.

§ 13-2-466 - TAXIMETER STANDARDS. (A) A taximeter must electronically or mechanically calculate the charge for distance traveled and waiting time, if any. The charge must be indicated by means of clearly legible, electrically lighted figures that are reset each time the taximeter is reset. (B) In this section, "waiting time" means that period of time after a passenger enters a taxicab and after the meter is activated that the taxicab is not traveling because of delay caused by traffic, a traffic control device, or a request of the passenger. Waiting time does not include time lost because of mechanical failure of the taxicab. (C) Taximeters must conform to the following specifications: (1) The size, type, and design of a taximeter must be approved by the department. (2) A taximeter must register the following items on visual counters: (a) total miles; (b) paid miles; (c) number of trips; and (d) units of fare. Source: 1992 Code Section 8-13-366; Ord. 031106-13; Ord. 031211-11; Ord. No. 20141106-054, Pt. 15, 11-17-14; Ord. No. 20180628-054, Pt. 26, 7-9-18; Ord. No. 20220303-023, Pt. 26, 3-14-22.

Austin City Code § 13-2-467 TAXIMETER INSPECTIONS.

§ 13-2-467 - TAXIMETER INSPECTIONS. During the inspection of a taxicab under Section 13-2-141 (Inspection Required) the taximeter shall be inspected for accuracy. Source: 1992 Code Section 8-13-367; Ord. 031106-13; Ord. 031211-11; Ord. No. 20141106-054, Pt. 15, 11-17-14; Ord. No. 20180628-054, Pt. 27, 7-9-18.

Austin City Code § 13-2-468 EQUIPMENT ALTERATIONS PROHIBITED.

§ 13-2-468 - EQUIPMENT ALTERATIONS PROHIBITED. (A) A person may not drive or allow another person to drive a taxicab in which the taximeter or other equipment has been altered in a manner that causes the taximeter to calculate an incorrect rate. (B) A person may not drive or allow another person to drive a taxicab equipped with a taximeter that has been tampered with. Source: 1992 Code Section 8-13-368; Ord. 031106-13; Ord. 031211-11; Ord. No. 20141106-054, Pt. 15, 11-17-14; Ord. No. 20180628-054, Pt. 28, 7-9-18.

Austin City Code § 13-2-469 PAYMENT METHOD.

§ 13-2-469 - PAYMENT METHOD. (A) All taxicabs must be equipped with a properly functioning credit and debit card payment device. (B) A taxicab driver shall not collect a fare from a passenger unless the driver's credit or debit card payment systems are properly functioning. (C) A driver shall accept fare payment in the form of credit or debit if tendered by a passenger. Source: Ord. No. 20180628-054, Pt. 29, 7-9-18.

Austin City Code § 13-2-470 RESERVED.

Austin City Code § 13-2-471 RESERVED.

Austin City Code § 13-2-472 TOLL ROAD FEE.

§ 13-2-472 - TOLL ROAD FEE. (A) If a toll road is the most direct route to a passenger's destination the driver must give the passenger the option of using the toll road or a different route. If a passenger chooses a route that includes a toll road, the passenger shall be responsible for paying the toll road fees incurred by the driver. If a trip on a route including a toll road involves multiple passengers going to different destinations, each passenger shall equally share the toll road fees. (B) The toll road fees must be posted in the taxicab in a manner approved by the department. Before entering a toll road, the driver must inform the passenger of the requirements of Subsection (A). The driver is responsible for paying the toll road fee if the driver fails to explain the requirements of Subsection (A) to the passenger and provide the passenger the option to choose between the tolled route and a route without a toll. Source: Ord. 20051027-011; Ord. No. 20141106-054, Pt. 15, 11-17-14.

Austin City Code § 13-2-473 TAXICAB CLEAN-UP FEE.

§ 13-2-473 - TAXICAB CLEAN-UP FEE. In the event that a taxicab passenger soils the interior of a taxicab with bodily fluids or solids, a $100 clean-up fee will be added to the trip fare. Source: Ord. 20101216-063; Ord. 20120209-032; Ord. No. 20141106-054, Pt. 15, 11-17-14.

Austin City Code § 13-2-474 MINIMUM AIRPORT DEPARTURE FEE.

§ 13-2-474 - MINIMUM AIRPORT DEPARTURE FEE. The minimum fee for any taxicab trip departing from Austin Bergstrom International Airport (ABIA) shall be equal to the mileage fee for a four (4) mile trip, excluding any waiting time fee, plus the surcharge for trips departing ABIA. The amount of the fee shall be posted on the Rate Card described in Section 13-2-462, and posted by ABIA staff at the ABIA designated taxicab departure area. Source: Ord. 20101216-062; Ord. No. 20141106-054, Pts. 15, 30, 11-17-14.

Source: City of Austin, City Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/tx/austin/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT13TRSE_CH13-2GRTRPASE_ART2GRTRSE_DIV4RAFATAFetched: 10/27/2026