Villarquemado approves the taxi ordinance with a maximum of two licenses

The Plenary of the Villarquemado City Council definitively approved on August 27, 2026, the municipal Ordinance regulating the taxi service, the full text of which is published in the Official Gazette of the Province of Teruel no. 205, of October 26, 2026, with the official reference 2026-3091. The agreement became final as no claims were filed during the public exhibition period, and the regulation will enter into force the day following its full publication in the provincial gazette.

The ordinance is issued under article 4.3 of Law 5/2018, of April 19, on Taxis in Aragon, and its publication complies with the provisions of article 70.2 of Law 7/1985, of April 2, on the Bases of the Local Regime, and article 141 of Law 7/1999, of April 9, on the Local Administration of Aragon. The announcement appears signed in Villarquemado on October 21, 2026, by the mayor, Federico Serrano Paricio.

The text is structured into eight titles covering everything from licenses and drivers to vehicles, the tariff regime, and the sanctioning regime; an administrative appeal may be filed against the agreement before the Contentious-Administrative Chamber of the High Court of Justice of Aragon, based in Zaragoza, within two months from the day following the publication of the announcement.

Two licenses and ownership requirements

The maximum number of licenses in the municipal district will be 2, applying the ratio of one license per 2,000 inhabitants set for municipalities of up to 50,000 residents, with a minimum of two per municipality. New licenses will be granted through a bidding process among natural persons who meet the ownership requirements.

Applicants must prove:

• Spanish nationality, nationality of a European Union member state, or of a country with an agreement exempting them from the requirement, or possess a sufficient work authorization.
• Ownership or availability of the passenger vehicle under any legally valid regime.
• Compliance with tax, labor, and social obligations.
• Technical requirements of the vehicle and professional qualification to drive.
• Civil liability insurance for any damages that may occur.

As it is a municipality of fewer than 20,000 inhabitants, it will be possible to hold more than one license when so established by the city council to encourage the provision of the service in the face of a lack of supply, although the holder of a license in Villarquemado may not hold another in a different municipality.

Transfer, registration, and exercise of the activity

The license is transferable to natural and legal persons who prove they meet the requirements, but the operation requires a report from the general directorate competent in transport matters of the Government of Aragon, which must be issued within one month. The transfer may not be authorized if at least two years have not elapsed since the acquisition of the license, except in cases of retirement, death, total disability, impossibility of the heir, or definitive withdrawal of the driver’s license.

Anyone who transfers a license may not hold another in the same municipality until five years have passed, and applications will be considered rejected if the Administration does not resolve them within three months. Urban licenses shall have indefinite validity, and the City Council shall maintain a Register of Enabling Titles with the holder’s data, address, vehicle and assigned drivers, validity, and infractions.

The holder must begin the provision of service within a maximum period of one month from the notification of the grant and shall provide the service personally, with the exceptional possibility of hiring a single salaried driver in cases such as illness, pregnancy, loss of license, or retirement. Voluntary leave may be requested for periods between six months and five years.

Vehicles, users, and tariff regime

Vehicles must be classified as passenger cars, with a minimum capacity of five and a maximum of nine seats including the driver, and shall bear the city council’s markings, the license number, and a blue background rear plate with white characters. Among other equipment, a fire extinguisher, sufficient interior lighting, tools for frequent breakdowns, an automatic payment and invoicing system, and tariffs displayed in a visible place are required.

The ordinance recognizes the users’ right to access the service under equal conditions, with assistance for persons with reduced mobility, to receive a supporting document with the price, origin, destination, and license number, to pay by electronic means, and to have access to complaint forms. Drivers may not refuse a service except for just cause and must annually submit a medical certificate, a criminal record certificate, and a certificate regarding sexual offenses against minors.

The text does not establish its own tariff regime: as the ordinance is approved to provide interurban services between population centers, the applicable tariffs will be approved by the department responsible for transport matters of the Government of Aragon.

Infractions and sanctions of up to 4,000 euros

The sanctioning regime distinguishes three levels:

• Minor infractions: fines from 100 to 400 euros, such as not carrying documentation, failing to display rate charts, or not providing a receipt.
• Serious infractions: fines from 401 to 1,000 euros, such as breaching the essential conditions of the license, exceeding the authorized number of seats, failing to comply with the rate regime, or obstructing inspection.
• Very serious infractions: fines from 1,001 to 4,000 euros, such as providing service without a valid license, with an unauthorized driver, transferring licenses without authorization, lacking mandatory insurance, or abandoning a service before its completion.

Infractions expire after one year, while sanctions do so after three, two, and one year depending on their severity. The imposition of fines is independent of the obligation to compensate for damages and losses caused.

The entry into force of the ordinance directly affects the municipality’s taxi professionals and the residents who depend on this service to travel to other centers, in a context of a population of fewer than 20,000 inhabitants where the regulation allows for the concentration of licenses to guarantee coverage. The text is published in full in the provincial bulletin, so that any interested party can consult the requirements, deadlines, and amounts before applying for or transferring a license.

Source: Official Bulletin of the Province of Teruel, no. 205, of October 26, 2026, section I (Local Administration), page 8 (official reference: 2026-3091).