Cambridge Taxi Cabs Now Accepting Credit Card Payments

Effective April 1, 2015, the Cambridge License Commission will begin requiring that all Cambridge taxi cabs have electronic credit card processing capability.

“As fewer people are carrying cash, we need to ensure that residents and visitors in Cambridge can conveniently pay for a taxi fare with their credit card,” said Andrea Jackson, Chair of the Cambridge License Commission. “The new regulations that went into effect today will not only increase customer convenience, but also ensure that the taxi industry remains a competitive and convenient transportation option.”

While Cambridge taxi cabs are now required to be able to process credit card payments, each driver or owner has individual discretion to determine the processing equipment that is used.  However, all payment processing systems must be able to produce for each credit card transaction a printed meter receipt that includes taxi cab medallion number, date, transaction number, start and end miles, fare, tip, total amount charged, type of card used, authorization number, and the Cambridge Hackney hotline number and email. Taxi cabs have until October 1, 2015 to update their meter systems to be capable of producing the required information on the meter receipt.

All Cambridge taxi cabs will have proper signage indicating that they accept credit cards and if they have a $10 minimum, which can include a tip value.  Additionally, a new flat rate hotel to airport fee schedule will be posted in cabs by the end of April.

Any taxi cab passenger can submit a compliment or complaint about a taxi ride or driver using the Cambridge iReport, www.cambridgema.gov/ireport, or using the QR code located in each cab.

Questions and requests about the new credit card regulations should be directed to the Cambridge License Commission Office at 617-349-6146 or hackney@cambridgema.gov.