Fuel prices are high, and taxi drivers are demanding structural measures from the Ministry of Economy and Finance.

Fuel prices are once again at the center of taxi drivers' demands. Cobas Lavoro Privato – Sector Taxi, Associazione Taxitalia, Comitato Tassisti di Base Campania, and Confintesa Taxi have submitted to the Ministry of Economy and Finance an addition to the proposal already submitted regarding the containment of energy costs incurred by non-scheduled public transport operators.

The request is to open an urgent discussion with the ministry to evaluate measures that, according to the organizations, could structurally impact the operating costs of the taxi service. Fuel, the statement emphasizes, is one of the most significant and difficult to reduce costs for those who provide the service on a daily basis.

The national fuel card

The first proposal concerns the establishment of a national Taxi Fuel Card, personal and directly linked to the license, license plate, and vehicle authorized for the service.

The instrument should be used exclusively for refueling vehicles used as taxis and, according to the proposal, allow for a reduction in the tax component through a reduction or a total or partial refund of VAT and excise duties.
The organizations are calling for the system to be fully digital and traceable, to limit the risk of misuse. Any concessions, they point out, should be defined in compliance with national and European regulations.

More fuel tax credit

The second request concerns the revision of the current system of incentives and tax credits for non-scheduled public transport.

Taxi drivers' representatives are specifically calling for an increase in the benefit, believing it necessary to better reflect the actual impact of fuel on daily operations. The stated objective is to develop a tool that is structured, easy to use, and effectively accessible to operators.

Supplies at public transport depots

The third proposal builds on a request already made to the government: to allow taxis to refuel, throughout the country and in technically suitable facilities, at the depots of local and regional public transport companies.

According to the proposal, the fuel should be sold at the depot's cost of supply, in compliance with fiscal and administrative obligations and the necessary safety conditions.
According to the signatory organizations, the three measures could also be adopted in a complementary manner, with the aim of reducing the burden of energy costs on the service.

"We don't ask for free fuel"

In their letter to the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the organizations clarify that they are not asking for "free fuel" or costs to be borne by the community, but for recognition of the unique nature of taxi services within non-scheduled public transport.
Hence the request for a meeting with the Ministry of Economy and Finance to verify the financial sustainability of the proposals, their compatibility with the fiscal framework, and possible regulatory approaches for their implementation.

The sit-in of September 22nd

Meanwhile, the dispute will reach Rome. A sit-in is planned for September 22, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., in front of the Ministry of Economy and Finance.

The mobilization will be an opportunity to bring the issue of fuel costs back to the government's attention and the requests made by trade organizations, which are calling for responses and interventions that go beyond temporary measures.