Skip to main content.

[i] Taxi Tips

QUICK ESTIMATE: To guess the fare when away from the web, double the distance if it's short (5 or 10km) or times by 1.5 if it's longer.

LOOK FIRST: If you're near a station, look around for waiting taxis before phoning. If one is there, you'll save the $1.20 phone charge.

Disclaimer

Metlink and the Department of Infrastructure do not endorse and are in no way associated with this site.

Visitors to this site are encouraged to check the Metlink website or phone 131 638 for official public transport information.

Taxi Services

When you are carrying heavy luggage, need a fast door-to-door journey or are travelling nights or weekends, a taxi may be the best (or only) transport option.

Taxi Companies

Most suburbs are in the Melbourne Taxi Zone, which is bordered by Werribee, Sydenham, Mernda, Hurstbridge, Seville, Emerald, Rowville and Carrum. Outer south-eastern suburbs, including Dandenong, Berwick, Cranbourne and Frankston are in the Outer Suburban Zone.

There is no restriction on taxis from one zone setting down passengers in another. However if you wish to call a taxi, you must use a company that is licensed to pick up in your area.

Contact numbers for taxi companies are listed here.

Other information, including details on wheelchair accessible taxis, is provided on the Victorian Taxi Association website.

Fares

Taxi fares comprise a fixed 'flagfall' plus a per kilometre tariff. When traffic is slow, the distance charge is replaced by a per-minute charge. Extra fees apply for phone bookings, tollroads, late night travel and when a larger vehicle is required.

Fares are regulated by the Victorian Taxi Directorate. All companies in an area must charge the same. You can calculate the exact fare payable by using information on the Department of Infrastructure website or use the table below for an approximation.

Taxi Fare Ready Reckoner (Current as at November 2005)

Not as accurate as working it out properly, but the answer will be good enough for most purposes. Public transport fares are included for comparison.

Step One: Find out the distance by road via whereis.com.

Step Two: Look up the approximate fare from this table:

DistanceTaxi Fare *Metlink Fare **
2 km7.003.20
5 km 11.253.20
10 km18.303.20
15 km25.353.20
20 km32.405.20
25 km39.455.20
30 km
46.505.20
40 km60.607.20
50 km74.707.20
60 km88.80V/Line fare
70 km102.90V/Line fare
80 km117.00V/Line fare
Sources: Calculations from published information,
Metlink Fares & Travel Guide

(*) Assumes telephone booking, standard taxi, no tollroads, light traffic and journey before midnight.

(**) Assumes travel from the city on 2-hour full-fare ticket. Fares may vary for other journeys and ticket types.

Rules

Rights and responsibilities for passengers and drivers are listed in the Customer Charter for taxis.