Melbourne taxi fares explained
Flagfall, per-kilometre rates, the four Victorian tariffs and every extra that can legally appear on your receipt — so you can work out what any Melbourne trip should cost before you book it.
Victorian taxi tariffs at a glance
| Tariff | When it applies | Flagfall | Per km | Waiting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day | Mon–Fri 9am – 5pm | $4.20 | $1.685 / km | $0.62 / min |
| Peak | Mon–Fri 5pm – 9am, weekends | $4.20 | $1.804 / km | $0.66 / min |
| Night | Any day 10pm – 4am | $6.20 | $2.023 / km | $0.74 / min |
| Public holiday | Victorian gazetted holidays | $6.20 | $2.023 / km | $0.74 / min |
Rates reflect the Victorian metered taxi tariffs used by our fleet as at September 2025. Government tariffs can change — the meter in the vehicle is always the authority.
How a Melbourne taxi fare is calculated
Every metered trip starts with a flagfall — a fixed amount charged the moment the meter starts. From there the meter adds a per-kilometre rate while the car is moving, and a per-minute waiting rate whenever it is stopped or crawling in traffic. Those two never run at the same time: below a walking-pace threshold the meter switches from distance to time.
On top of the meter, you may see a booking fee, tolls, an airport access fee and a card surcharge. Nothing else should appear on the receipt. Rates are set by the Victorian government, not by individual operators, which is why a metered taxi never surges on New Year's Eve or during a storm.
A worked example
Say you travel 12 km across the inner suburbs at 2pm on a Wednesday — the day tariff. Flagfall is $4.20, and 12 km at $1.685 adds about $20.20. Five minutes of stopped time at traffic lights adds roughly $3.10. That is around $27.50 on the meter, plus a booking fee if you pre-booked.
The same trip at 11pm runs on the night tariff: $6.20 flagfall plus 12 km at $2.023 is about $30.50, before extras. Distance did not change — the time of day did. That gap is the single biggest reason two people quote very different prices for the same route.
Fixed price or metered?
A metered fare is usually the cheapest option on short, direct trips at off-peak times, because you only pay for what the meter records. A fixed price is better when you want certainty: long airport runs, unfamiliar routes, trips that cross a tariff change at 5pm or 10pm, or when traffic is unpredictable.
We quote both. Enter your addresses in the calculator for a metered estimate, or call and we will lock a fixed price in before the trip starts.
Payment, Cabcharge and MPTP
Card, debit, mobile wallets and cash are all accepted, with the card surcharge shown before you tap. Cabcharge accounts and corporate invoicing are available for business travel.
Multi Purpose Taxi Program (MPTP) members can use their card for the subsidised share of the fare. Bring the card with you — it must be present at the end of the trip for the subsidy to apply.
Extras that can appear on your fare
- Booking feeApplies to phone and online pre-bookings.
- Airport access feeCharged when departing Melbourne or Avalon Airport ranks.
- TollsCityLink, EastLink and the Sorrento ferry are passed on at cost.
- Card surchargeA capped percentage on card and mobile payments.
- Soiling feeOnly if the vehicle needs cleaning after the trip.