The period of adaptation to the ban on taxis over 10 years old has been extended until 2025.

The government will extend the transition regime for another two years, until December 2025, to allow taxis to adapt to the ban on vehicles over 10 years old, a government source told Lusa.

In a response sent to Luse, an official source from the Ministry of Environment and Climate Action (MAAC) said that “a new regulation will be published this month that will consolidate these changes.”

According to regulation 294/2018, the registration of new taxis is limited to vehicles over 10 years old, which is mandatory for all vehicles from 1 January 2024, while the transition regime for all taxis can be adapted to age. the limit will “be in effect until December 31, 2023.”

“Due to the economic difficulties arising from the pandemic [de covid-19]the global energy crisis and the consequences of the war in Ukraine, which, on the one hand, deprived the taxi sector of the opportunity to make the necessary investments to renew the fleet, and on the other hand, created disruptions in supply chains, generating problems in the industry’s response to the supply of goods, associations representing the sector taxis, came to draw attention to the difficulties they are experiencing in renewing their fleets,” the ministry points out.

Therefore, “taking into account the arguments presented by the sector, and to ensure that there is no disruption to the public taxi service, we will absolutely proceed to extend the transition period for a further two years, until December 2025, to comply with the previously established age limit,” – added in note.

On November 1, a new legal regime for the transport of taxi passengers came into force, covering the entire territory of the country, confirming its public service function and reintroducing a renewed concept of suitability as one of the basic requirements for the operation. . .

Decree-Law 101/2023 emphasizes that the executive branch has “recognized climate change as one of the strategic objectives of its government” and that the modernization of the taxi sector is “part of the strategy to improve public transport” and “promote the development of public transport.” concept of sustainable mobility” from the point of view of urban decarbonization and transport solutions.

The new law calls for municipalities to unite to end the reverse tariff by lowering prices, as well as making quotas more flexible and focusing on digitalization.

The licenses held by taxi operators are now managed at the inter-municipal level. Thanks to this merger of municipalities – for example two or three – it will be possible to get a cheaper service, since the return fee will end.

Transport authorities “may determine seasonal quotas by moving between areas covered by the same inter-municipal taxi management agreement” or by opening competitions for licenses specifically for this purpose, as well as “in low-density parishes included in in the municipalities subject to the inter-municipal agreement, a “fixed square” place shall be provided at the ward headquarters or at a place to be determined.”

Taxi transport services are provided “by the meter”, “by route” or “under an agreement concluded in written or digital form”, and the tariff regime will be determined “in the regulations approved by the AMT”. [Autoridade de Mobilidade e Transportes]establishing general pricing rules depending on the types of services” for a period of one year.

Transport authorities may set specific tariffs applicable to their territory, namely “on route”, intercity, special tariffs “for example at airports or cruise terminals”, seasonal, in regions with strong tourist attraction or “to take into account holidays”, such like Christmas. , New Year’s or municipal holidays, progressive fares and “travel in combination with monthly public transport tickets or ride-sharing services.”