Every licensed taxi in Ireland charges by the same regulated meter, so choosing a taxi service in Dublin isn't really about hunting for a cheaper fare. It's about knowing that the driver and the vehicle are licensed, understanding what you'll pay before you set off, and picking the way of getting a taxi that suits the trip: a quick hail on a city street, a rank after a concert, or a pre-booked car at 5am for an early flight.
This guide covers what to check, how fares work, and what to look out for with groups, wheelchairs, children and late nights.
Only Use Licensed SPSV Taxis
Taxis in Ireland are small public service vehicles (SPSVs), licensed by the National Transport Authority (NTA). The vehicle and the driver each need an SPSV licence. A licensed taxi has a roof sign showing its licence number, a taximeter and the driver's ID on display, and the driver must offer you a printed receipt from the meter at the end of every journey.
Never get into an unmarked car that offers you a ride. Every CaminoCabs driver holds a valid SPSV licence from the NTA.
How to check a taxi or driver
The quickest check is the free TFI Driver Check app from Transport for Ireland, available for iPhone and Android. It lets you verify that the vehicle is correctly registered, confirm that the driver is licensed to operate it, see the driver's photo and share your journey details with a friend. On a computer, you can check the driver's name and any vehicle, driver or dispatch operator licence on the NTA's public register at transportforireland.ie.
After the trip, the taxi licence number on your receipt should match the number on the roof sign, and the registration on the receipt should match the car's number plates.
Fares Are Regulated by the NTA
Taxi fares in Ireland follow the national maximum taxi fare set by the NTA, and the current rates have applied since 1 December 2024. A taxi can't charge more than the metered fare, whichever company or app you use to find it, and the rate depends on when you travel:
| Tariff | When It Applies | Initial Charge | Then |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | Mon–Sat, 8am–8pm | €4.40 | €1.32/km or €0.47/min up to €23.60, then €1.72/km or €0.61/min |
| Premium | 8pm–8am, all day Sunday, public holidays |
€5.40 | €1.81/km or €0.64/min up to €31.80, then €2.20/km or €0.78/min |
| Special | Midnight–4am Saturday and Sunday; Christmas Eve 8pm to 26 December 8am; New Year's Eve 8pm to 1 January 8am |
€5.40 | €2.20/km or €0.78/min |
Source: NTA national maximum taxi fare, in force from 1 December 2024. Because the tariff depends on the time of day, not on demand, CaminoCabs adds no surge pricing: a Friday night or a sold-out concert costs the same tariff as any other trip at that hour. For worked examples, read Dublin taxi fares explained, or estimate your trip in the fare calculator.
The Booking Fee and Other Extras
On top of the meter, only a handful of regulated extras can be added:
| Extra | Amount | When It Applies |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-booking fee | €3 | When you book in advance by app, phone or in person, not when you hail a taxi or use a rank |
| Extra passengers | €1 each | For each additional adult after the first |
| Soiling charge | Up to €140 | Only if the vehicle is soiled during the journey |
With CaminoCabs, the €3 pre-booking fee and €1 per extra adult are the only additions to the metered fare. Luggage, guide dogs and mobility aids travel at no extra charge.
Rank, Hail or Pre-Book?
Hail a taxi on the street when you're in the city centre during the day. It's usually quick, and there's no booking fee.
Use a taxi rank at train stations, the airport and on busy streets, and pay only the meter. The Dublin taxi rank map shows where they are, including the night ranks on Dame Street and in Temple Bar, which run from 8pm to 6am.
Pre-book when timing matters: early flights, hospital appointments, events, or a group that needs a bigger car. You pay the €3 booking fee, but your driver is confirmed in advance and you see a fare estimate before you confirm. With CaminoCabs you can book in the app for iPhone and Android, on WhatsApp at +353 85 712 7547, by phone on the same number, or on our booking page.
Airport Pickups
At Dublin Airport, taxi ranks run 24/7 directly outside the Arrivals halls at Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, and there's no booking fee from the rank. A taxi to the city centre typically costs €25–€32 by day and €32–€40 at night.
If you land late at night, travel with young children or carry a lot of luggage, a pre-booked pickup means your driver is confirmed when you book rather than when you reach the queue. See our Dublin Airport taxi page for transfers, and the Dublin Airport taxi rank guide for where the ranks are.
Travelling as a Group
A standard saloon taxi takes up to four passengers. For bigger groups, CaminoCabs runs 7 and 8 seater taxis for up to eight passengers, so everyone and their luggage travel in one vehicle instead of two. The fare is the same regulated meter, plus €1 for each additional adult and the €3 booking fee when you pre-book. Tell us your group size when you book and we'll match the right vehicle.
Wheelchair Accessible Taxis
Wheelchair accessible vehicles (WAVs) are licensed taxis that meet extra NTA vehicle requirements, and they must give priority to bookings from passengers with disabilities. CaminoCabs wheelchair accessible taxis have ramps or lifts, wheelchair restraints and room for a carer, and they charge the same regulated fare as any other taxi, with no extra charge for accessibility. If you use a larger electric wheelchair, mention it when you book.
Travelling With Children
CaminoCabs does not provide child seats. Irish taxis are not required to carry child restraints, and most don't, so if your child normally uses a car seat or booster, the safest option is to bring your own. A 7 or 8 seater gives you more room for car seats, buggies and luggage. Our guide to taxis with a child seat in Dublin explains the rules in more detail.
Getting Home Safely at Night
Late at night, take a taxi from a rank or book one rather than accepting a lift from an unmarked car. Check the roof sign and the driver's ID, or use the TFI Driver Check app, and share your journey details with a friend if you're travelling alone. A booked trip leaves a record of the journey and the driver, and in the CaminoCabs app you can track your driver live on the map. On the busiest nights, such as New Year's Eve, pre-book to avoid long rank queues. Our guide to getting around Dublin at night covers Nitelink buses, last trams and night ranks.
Paying for Your Taxi
Since 1 September 2022, every taxi in Ireland must accept debit and credit cards as well as cash, and drivers can't add a surcharge for paying by card (TFI customer information). However you pay, ask for the printed receipt from the taximeter: it's your proof of the fare and shows the taxi licence number. With CaminoCabs you can pay by card in the app or in cash to the driver.
If You Leave Something Behind
Keep the receipt: the taxi licence number and registration are what you need to trace the driver, and an app booking keeps the driver's details in your trip history. Taxi lost property is handled by An Garda Síochána, not by the TFI lost property service. Our step-by-step guide explains what to do next: lost something in a Dublin taxi?
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know a Dublin taxi is licensed?
A licensed taxi has a roof sign with its licence number, a taximeter and the driver's ID on display. You can confirm the driver and vehicle with the free TFI Driver Check app, or check the driver's name and licence on the NTA's public register at transportforireland.ie.
Are taxi fares the same with every taxi company in Dublin?
Every licensed taxi in Ireland runs on the NTA-regulated meter, so the fare is calculated the same way whoever you travel with. The extras are regulated too: €3 if you pre-book and €1 for each additional adult. CaminoCabs adds no surge pricing.
Do Dublin taxis provide child seats?
Irish taxis are not required to carry child seats, and CaminoCabs does not provide them. Bring your own seat or booster; a 7 or 8 seater gives you more room to fit it.
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