Gifhorn taxi fares surge 25% as operators cite rising operational costs

A 25% fare jump hits Gifhorn's taxis, but operators say it's essential for survival. Will passengers adapt—or push back against the steepest changes in years?

, and Administrator

2026 May 5 . 8:04 AM

1 min read

The image shows a city street with a yellow taxi cab driving down it, surrounded by tall buildings... — The image shows a city street with a yellow taxi cab driving down it, surrounded by tall buildings with windows, sign boards with text, a metal fence, a group of people riding bicycles, a traffic signal with a pole, some trees, and a cloudy sky.

Gifhorn taxi fares surge 25% as operators cite rising operational costs

Taxi fares in the Gifhorn district are set to rise sharply this spring. The district council has approved an average 25 percent increase after requests from local operators. Changes will affect base rates, distance charges, and waiting times. The base fare per trip will jump from €4.90 to €6.00. This new rate will cover the first 24 meters instead of the previous 34 meters. Drivers cited higher labour costs and extra expenses as reasons for the adjustment.

For distances up to four kilometres, passengers will now pay €3.70 per kilometre, up from €2.90. Beyond that, the rate increases to €3.12 per kilometre, compared to the old €2.50 charge. Waiting time costs have also gone up, with billing now set at €48.00 per hour.

Not all changes mean higher costs, though. Night and holiday surcharges will drop from €2.00 to €1.00. The council also added an amendment pushing for uniform timing of fare adjustments across Lower Saxony’s taxi industry. The fare hike aims to secure the future of non-emergency patient transport services. Passengers will see the new rates take effect in the coming weeks. Operators have stressed that regular adjustments are necessary to keep services running smoothly.