Liverpool's taxi users will finally be able to pay by card across the city after the council's licensing committee passed new rules affecting all black cabs in the city.
It means that in six months time, all cabs licensed here will have to have a machine fitted to accept payments by card.
The decision had been delayed from an April meeting after disagreements over the location of the card machine.
Drivers had protested that mounting it in the back of the cab, which the council originally proposed, would leave it vulnerable to damage.
But the council amended proposals - which will see the machine attached to the plastic partition between the driver and the passengers - the green light this week.
Licensing committee chair Christine Banks said the rules would make it easier for people to travel by black cab in the city.
She said: “In an increasingly cashless society, it is clear that card payments are the preferred option for many people in shops, supermarkets, cafes and bars.
“With a cruise terminal, an international airport and many thousands of foreign visitors each year who don’t carry cash, it is important that we move with the times and give the customer what they want.
“This proposal also plays a big role in public safety because it means that late-night travellers will be able to get home safely without the worry of not having any cash on them.”
Before the April delay some drivers had claimed they were being bullied into the changes and that there wasn't the customer demand for card payments.
One taxi driver said: "The council should not force taxi owners to pay for card readers. It should be encouraged but not enforced. No other business is forced to take card payments."
Another said: "In over 30 years I have never been asked for card payment, if installed open to fraud and non-payment, card invalid etc."
A third said: "I think the trade is being bullied into decisions which will have financial problems to owners/drivers. If it’s not broken don’t fix it."
However UNITE Union national taxi organiser Tommy McIntyre said the proposals passed on Tuesday could be 'fantastic' for the taxi trade.
He said “In the ever-changing world we live in people are using less cash and paying for more services by card transaction.
“We feel that this is the perfect opportunity to introduce pay by card to the Liverpool Hackney trade.
“After speaking with the members the general opinion is that this will be fantastic for both the trade and the travelling public and would encourage more passengers to use the city’s Hackney fleet.”
