# Taxi Reform 2026: New Rules on Pricing, Apps and Consumer Protection
**The Croatian government has adopted new rules for taxi transport — mandatory display of maximum tariffs on vehicle doors, regulation of Uber/Bolt models, and consumer protection against hidden prices.**
—
Consumer rights in taxi transport have just seen the biggest reform in years. The new Ordinance on special conditions for vehicles performing public road transport and transport for own needs (NN 111/2026) introduces far-reaching changes that every taxi, Uber and Bolt user in Croatia will feel.
## What exactly is changing?
### 1. Maximum tariff must be displayed on the vehicle door
Once the rules take effect, every taxi vehicle must display the following inscription on its front doors:
> *”THE MAXIMUM TARIFF THAT CAN BE CHARGED IN THIS VEHICLE” / “NAJVIŠA TARIFA KOJA MOŽE BITI NAPLAĆENA U OVOM VOZILU”*
Below it, in letters at least **70 mm high**, the maximum price for a **standardized 5 km / 15-minute ride** must be shown.
The formula for calculating it:
**P = S + 5 × K + 15 × M**
Where:
– **P** = maximum price (EUR)
– **S** = starting fare
– **K** = price per km
– **M** = price per minute
This allows consumers to see **at a single glance** how much a ride could cost before even getting into the vehicle.
### 2. Three pricing models
The ordinance explicitly defines three ways a carrier can set prices:
1. **Classic taximeter** — billing based on actual distance and time traveled
2. **App-based model (Uber/Bolt)** — the user sees the **maximum total price** on their device before the ride starts and must confirm it
3. **Fixed prices** — predetermined flat rates for frequent routes
### 3. What can and cannot be charged?
The ordinance introduces **standardized definitions** of all price elements:
| Element | What it covers |
|———|—————|
| **Starting fare** | One-time fee at the beginning of the ride |
| **Price per km** | Actual distance traveled |
| **Price per minute** | Driving time, traffic jams, traffic lights, congestion |
| **Waiting fee** | Only if the passenger explicitly requests waiting (e.g., to pick up a package) |
**Important:** Standing in a traffic jam, at a traffic light, or due to road works **does NOT count as waiting** and cannot be charged separately. Vehicle speed is not a criterion for switching to a different billing method.
### 4. Billing without rounding
The ordinance explicitly **prohibits rounding up** each started kilometer or minute to the next whole unit. Distance and time must be billed **proportionally to actual measured values**.
### 5. App-only model — special marking
Vehicles operating **exclusively through apps** (Uber, Bolt, etc.) must display a special notice:
> *”RIDES IN THIS VEHICLE MAY BE ORDERED ONLY THROUGH AN APPLICATION ON THE USER’S DEVICE”*
This prevents drivers from charging app-based prices for rides arranged “on the street.”
### 6. Good repute check ex officio
When a taxi driver card is requested, the issuer now obtains the criminal and misdemeanor record **ex officio** — the driver no longer has to prove their suitability themselves.
## Financial Impact
Although the ordinance does not set prices themselves (carriers set them independently), it establishes **transparency rules** that will:
– Reduce the possibility of fraudulent billing
– Enable consumers to easily compare prices between carriers
– Eliminate “hidden” charges like automatic rounding
## Also Worth Knowing
The same NN 111/2026 issue published the **Decision amending the Basic List of Orthopedic and Other Aids of the Croatian Health Insurance Institute (HZZO)** (No. 1320), adding new CPAP devices for assisted breathing (sleep apnea treatment) and other aids to the list, while NN 110/2026 extended the deadline for implementing price control measures from October 1 to **November 17, 2026**.
—
**The ordinance enters into force on the eighth day after publication in the Official Gazette.** Follow Prafin for detailed analyses of how these new provisions will affect everyday consumers.
*Sources: NN 111/2026 (1318), NN 110/2026 (1309, 1310)*