Information for taxi consumers

Maximum fares for unbooked taxi services

We set the maximum fares for unbooked taxi services. Unbooked trips are trips that are not booked via a smartphone app, over the phone or on a website. 

For example, unbooked trips are hailed from the street or hired from a designated taxi rank. 

The maximum fares apply to Melbourne Metropolitan, Urban or Large Regional Zones which includes Melbourne, Frankston, Dandenong and the Mornington Peninsula, Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo. Note that taxis and taxi networks can charge below the maximum allowable rates.

Additional charges may apply for travel on some public holidays, electronic payments, toll road usage, airport rank fee, wheelchair accessible vehicles or traveling with five or more passengers.

Maximum taxi non-cash payment surcharges

Maximum taxi non-cash payment surcharges apply when a taxi passenger pays for a fare using non-cash payment options including credit, debit and Cabcharge card. This may apply to both booked and unbooked trips.

The current maximum non-cash payment surcharge for taxi services in Victoria remain at:

• 4 per cent (including GST) for most non-cash payment methods
• 6 per cent (no GST payable) for commercial passenger vehicle specific instruments (like Cabcharge).

Complaints and enquiries

Complaints or enquiries about your taxi trip or fare should be directed to:

• The taxi operator or taxi network directly. If the issue can’t be resolved at the first point of contact ask for it to be escalated to a more senior manager
• Safe Transport Victoria, the safety regulator for commercial passenger vehicles, to report an incident or provide feedback.

Got a question about the taxi industry?

• Contact us at reception@esc.vic.gov.au