Guide
Fixed fare vs metered taxi: what’s the difference?
A metered taxi fare is calculated live by the taxi’s regulated meter — a flagfall plus a per-kilometre rate and per-minute waiting time — so it moves with distance and traffic. A fixed fare is a single price agreed before you travel that does not change en route. In Australia almost every taxi trip is metered: the only regulated fixed fare is the Sydney Airport → Sydney CBD trip; anywhere else, a "fixed" price is an operator or app quote, not the meter.
What is a metered taxi fare?
A metered fare is the running total shown on the taxi’s regulated meter. It starts at a fixed flagfall the moment the trip begins, then adds a set rate per kilometre while moving and a per-minute rate when the taxi is stopped or crawling below a slow-speed threshold. The meter reading at your destination — plus any booking, airport or card surcharge — is the fare.
Every state regulator publishes the maximum a meter can charge. A metered fare is therefore predictable in method but variable in outcome: the same trip costs more in heavy traffic (more waiting time) than on a clear run.
- Flagfall — the fixed starting amount when the meter is engaged.
- Distance rate — charged per kilometre while the taxi is moving.
- Waiting time — a per-minute rate that applies when stopped or below the slow-speed threshold.
- Surcharges — booking fee, airport access fee, tolls and a capped card-payment percentage, added on top.
- Tariff band — day, night, late-night or public-holiday rates change the flagfall and per-km figure.
The exact flagfall and per-kilometre rate differ by state and tariff band. See the state rate pages for the current 2026 numbers, each cited to its regulator.
What is a fixed taxi fare?
A fixed fare is a single agreed price locked in before the trip that does not change with distance, traffic or waiting time. In Australia a genuine regulated fixed fare is rare — the meter is the default — so most "fixed" prices you see are either a regulated airport arrangement or an upfront quote from a booking app or operator.
There are three things people mean by a "fixed" taxi fare, and only the first is set by a regulator:
- 01Regulated fixed fare — a price the regulator sets for a specific route, replacing the meter (in Australia, only Sydney Airport → CBD).
- 02App upfront price — Uber, DiDi and booked-taxi apps quote a price before you accept; it is set by the operator’s algorithm, not the meter, and can surge.
- 03Negotiated flat rate — a driver agreeing a price for a long trip. This is not enforceable against the regulated maximum, so ask for the meter if unsure.
Fixed fare vs metered: which is cheaper?
Neither is always cheaper — it depends on traffic. A fixed fare protects you when the trip is slow (an airport run in peak hour, an event night), because waiting time can’t inflate it. A metered fare usually wins when traffic is light and the route is direct, because you only pay for the distance actually travelled.
| Aspect | Metered fare | Fixed fare |
|---|---|---|
| How it’s set | Regulated meter runs live | Agreed before you travel |
| Changes with traffic? | Yes — waiting time adds up | No — price is locked |
| Who sets it | State regulator (a maximum) | Regulator (Sydney Airport) or an app/operator |
| Best when | Light traffic, short or direct trips | Heavy traffic, airport runs, budgeting |
| Main risk | Higher if stuck in traffic | Can exceed the meter in light traffic |
| Availability | Every taxi, every trip | Rare — one regulated route, plus app quotes |
Where do regulated fixed fares apply in Australia?
The only regulated fixed taxi fare in Australia is the Sydney Airport → Sydney CBD trip, set at A$60 under a Transport for NSW trial that began in November 2025. It applies one-way, on rank or hail trips from the airport into the defined CBD zone; the meter still runs in the opposite direction and on booked trips.
Every other Australian city runs the meter to and from its airport. Some operators and booking apps offer their own upfront "fixed" airport prices, but those are commercial quotes rather than a regulated fare, and they can be higher or lower than the meter on the day.
Because the Sydney fixed fare is a trial, always confirm the current arrangement at the airport rank — the figure and the zone can change when the trial is reviewed.
How to avoid being overcharged
- Ask for the meter unless a regulated fixed fare applies — you can insist on it.
- Check the tariff light/number on the meter matches the time of day (a night tariff at midday is a red flag).
- For a quoted flat rate, compare it against an estimate first so you know if it beats the meter.
- Keep the receipt — it shows the tariff, distance and any surcharges, which you need to dispute a fare.
- On an app, screenshot the upfront price; surge quotes are locked once you accept.
Frequently asked
Is a fixed fare cheaper than a metered taxi fare?
Not always. A fixed fare is usually cheaper in heavy traffic because waiting time can’t inflate it, while a metered fare is usually cheaper on a clear, direct run because you only pay for distance travelled. The only regulated fixed taxi fare in Australia is Sydney Airport → CBD (A$60); everywhere else you are comparing the meter against an app or operator quote.
Can a taxi driver refuse to use the meter and charge a flat price?
Outside the one regulated fixed-fare route (Sydney Airport → CBD), a rank or hailed taxi should run the meter if you ask. A negotiated flat price is not enforceable against the regulated maximum, so if you are unsure, ask for the meter and keep the receipt.
Is the Sydney Airport fixed fare cheaper than the meter?
The A$60 Sydney Airport → CBD fixed fare is designed to be close to the typical metered fare for that trip. In heavy traffic it usually works out cheaper than the meter (which would keep adding waiting time); in light traffic the meter can come in a little lower. Tolls are passed through on top either way.
Do Uber and DiDi use fixed fares?
Uber, DiDi and booked-taxi apps show an upfront price before you accept, which behaves like a fixed fare for that trip — but it is set by the operator’s pricing algorithm and can surge at busy times, so it is not a regulated fare like the meter.