Regional Government extends service life of taxis in the Region - Communication

Secretaria Regional do Turismo, Mobilidade e Infraestruturas

The Regional Government, through the Regional Secretariat for Tourism, Mobility and Infrastructures, has decided to extend the service life of vehicles used for taxi services in the Region from 10 years to 15 years, with the possibility of a further extended period of five years.

The measure, which will require an amendment to the current regulation, was agreed during a meeting this week between the Regional Secretary for Tourism, Mobility and Infrastructures, Berta Cabral, and representatives of the taxi associations from the islands of São Miguel, Terceira and Faial. The meeting was also attended by the Regional Directorate for Mobility and the Regional Assistant Directorate for Land Transport, the body responsible for supervising and providing technical support to the sector.

The extension now approved applies exclusively to vehicles duly marked with the standard insignia and colour scheme. For vehicles to benefit from this extension, they must undergo mandatory annual inspections conducted by inspectors from the Regional Sub-directorate for Land Transport, who will assess whether each vehicle meets the technical, safety and comfort requirements necessary to provide this public service.

With this regulatory amendment, the Regional Government is responding to a long-standing demand from professionals in the sector, granting greater flexibility for operators, reducing the financial burden associated with fleet renewal, and promoting more efficient management of taxi drivers’ investments.

In this regard, special care has been taken for taxi drivers operating in rural areas, recognising the specific characteristics, challenges and the particular conditions under which they provide their service daily.

The decision is also part of the Regional Government’s strategy to improve the economic sustainability of passenger transport, whilst ensuring high standards of quality and safety for users.

The new Ordinance is due to be published in the Official Gazette and will come into force on the day following its publication.