Australian taxi fares, explained.

Every state regulator publishes a maximum schedule with a flagfall (the amount the meter starts at), a per-kilometre rate, a per-minute waiting rate that kicks in below a slow-speed threshold (around 21–26 km/h), and a small set of surcharges (airport, booking, card, public holiday). The meter adds all of those plus tolls and shows you the total at the end.

The flagfall is the fixed amount the meter starts at the moment you sit down — typically A$3 to A$5 depending on the state and time of day. It covers the driver’s initial pickup cost and is added to the distance + time charges.

The regulator sets a ceiling on what a metered rank-or-hail taxi can charge. Drivers can charge less (rare in practice), but never more. The figures on this site are the regulated maximums — pinned to the published schedule, not negotiated with operators.

Rank taxis are the ones queued at a marked taxi rank — first car forward. Hailed taxis are flagged from the kerb. Both must run the regulated meter. Booked taxis, taken through an app or phone booking, may in some states quote a fixed price up-front that differs from the meter — usually within a few dollars.

Yes — when traffic slows the taxi below a state-specific threshold (around 21 km/h in VIC, 26 km/h in NSW), the meter switches from per-kilometre billing to per-minute waiting time. The waiting rate is published in the same regulator schedule.

Most state regulators define a night band (typically 10pm to 6am) with a higher flagfall and per-kilometre rate. The intent is to compensate drivers for the higher risk and lower demand window. In NSW the night rate is roughly 16% higher than the day rate.

Yes in NSW and Victoria. NSW adds a peak hire-charge add-on (currently A$2.56) on top of the night rate on Friday and Saturday between 10pm and 6am, plus the night before a public holiday. Victoria runs a separate Tariff 3 on Fri/Sat 10pm–4am with a higher flagfall and per-km rate.

Different states handle holidays differently. Victoria applies its peak tariff (Tariff 3) all day on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day after 6pm. NSW applies the peak hire-charge surcharge from the evening before a public holiday. Other states either apply a flat holiday rate or treat the day as a regular day-of-week. Always check the source-linked rate page for the exact rule.

NSW and most states begin the night band at 10pm and end it at 6am. Queensland steps through three bands (day 5am–7pm, night 7pm–midnight, late night midnight–5am). Victoria’s overnight tariff runs 5pm–9am for time-or-distance trips. The calculator picks the right band automatically based on the departure time you enter.

Yes. Most states cap the card surcharge at 5% of the metered fare; Victoria caps debit and credit at 4%. The driver must offer at least one form of card payment (this is a licensing condition in every state). Toggle the “card” option in the calculator to see the surcharge applied to your estimate.

Yes — the percentage applies to the running subtotal, which includes the fare, tolls, airport surcharges and any cleaning fee. It’s a percentage of everything else on the bill, not just the metered distance.

Cabcharge is a separate payments network that issues account cards and vouchers for businesses. The surcharge cap is higher — Victoria allows up to 6% on a Cabcharge transaction versus 4% on a regular debit/credit card. For personal trips a regular card is almost always cheaper.

Yes — cash is still accepted in every Australian taxi. The driver is required to give change. Note that some Sydney CBD drivers prefer card after the airport-fixed-fare trial began, but they cannot refuse cash for a metered trip.

Most major airports charge taxis an access fee to use the rank (typically A$3–A$5). The regulator allows the driver to pass that fee on, so it shows up as a separate line item on a metered fare leaving an airport. The Sydney Airport → CBD fixed-fare trial bundles the access fee into the A$60 total instead of itemising it.

Tolls are passed through at cost — they are not part of the metered rate. The calculator estimates tolls from Google’s Routes API based on the actual route. If you’d rather avoid tolls, ask the driver before departure or tick the “Avoid tolls” option in the calculator’s advanced settings.

A small per-trip levy (A$1–A$2) collected from passengers to fund the regulator and industry programs. NSW, VIC, QLD and most other states collect it; the amount is fixed per trip regardless of distance.

Yes — if you spill something, your dog sheds, or someone is sick in the cab, the regulator allows the driver to charge a cleaning fee capped at around A$120 in most states. The driver should provide a written receipt and the fee must be reasonable for the cleaning required.

No — Australian metered taxis do not charge extra for standard luggage that fits in the boot. If you have oversize items (surfboards, bicycles) you may need a maxi taxi, and the higher fare reflects the larger vehicle rather than a luggage surcharge.

A maxi taxi seats 5 to 11 passengers and is the right choice for any group of 5 or more, or for runs to/from the airport with a lot of luggage. Most states charge a high-occupancy fee on top of the metered fare when a maxi is used or when a sedan carries 5+ passengers. The fee is typically A$15–A$20 in metro areas.

Yes — wheelchair-accessible taxis charge the same regulated meter rate. Most states also run a subsidy scheme for eligible passengers, which can reduce the fare by 50%. Check with your state’s transport department for eligibility.

Some operators offer a premium fleet of larger or higher-end vehicles at a published surcharge above the regulated meter. These are booking-only — you won’t find them at a rank. The calculator’s “premium” option is informational; pricing varies by operator.

Every licensed taxi displays a state-issued plate (T, TC, MC depending on state) and a fixed taxi sign on the roof. The driver’s ID card is mounted on the dashboard or behind the headrest. A working meter is visible. If any of these are missing, walk away — unlicensed vehicles are not covered by the regulated fare schedule.

Pay the fare under protest, take a photo of the meter and the driver ID, request a receipt (the driver must provide one on request), and file a complaint with the state regulator within a reasonable window — typically 30 days. Most regulators have an online complaints form and can review meter logs.

Ask the driver for a printed receipt before you step out. Every licensed taxi has a printer on the meter. The receipt includes the fare amount, time, taxi ID and operator details — keep it if you want to follow up on lost property or a billing dispute.

Call the operator (the number is on the driver ID card and on the receipt). If you don’t have the receipt, call the state taxi complaints line — they can look up the trip from your card-payment record or pickup details. Drivers are required to hand in lost property within 24 hours.

Yes — Australian road rules require seatbelts in every seating position of a taxi, exactly the same as a private vehicle. Children under 7 must use an approved restraint; some operators provide a child seat on request when booking.

Yes. Transport for NSW runs a one-way fixed-fare trial: a rank or hailed taxi from Sydney Airport into the Sydney CBD polygon is a flat A$60 (A$80 for a 5+-pax maxi). The trial is scheduled to run through approximately May 2027. The reverse direction (CBD → airport) still runs on the regulated meter.

Victoria is the only state where drivers can choose between two regulated formulas per trip: a time-or-distance tariff (whichever is higher of distance × per-km or duration × per-minute) and a time-and-distance tariff (both billed concurrently). The two formulas produce slightly different totals on the same route. Most drivers default to time-or-distance.

Yes in some states. NSW country zones use a higher per-km rate (A$2.41/km vs A$2.52/km urban first 12 km, but A$3.30/km vs A$2.29/km thereafter). Queensland charges roughly A$2.80/km in regional zones and A$4.60/km in rural areas. Tariff selection depends on where the pickup is, not the destination.

Tipping is not customary or expected in Australia. Rounding up to the nearest dollar is appreciated. Drivers are not paid below-meter wages and there is no “tip jar” culture the way there is in the US.

The meter shows one total — you and your friends are free to split it any way you like. Most drivers can run two card transactions at the end of the trip if you ask politely before paying.

It depends on the operator. Many operators have a minimum-age policy (typically 12 or 14) for unaccompanied minors and may decline the booking. State rules don’t set a minimum age but require an approved restraint for children under 7.

Most booking apps and operators accept reservations up to 30 days in advance. The calculator on this site lets you pre-compute a fare up to 30 days ahead so you can budget before locking in a booking.

Yes. There is a plain-English assistant at the bottom of every page — ask it anything about Australian taxi fares (night rates, airport fees, taxi vs rideshare) or ask it to price a specific trip. It answers from the same sourced 2026 tariffs and runs trip quotes through the exact same fare engine as the calculator, so the numbers always match. It takes no booking and stores no personal data.