Melbourne Taxi Fares and Maxi Cab Rates

Our fare estimates are worked out from the Safe Transport Victoria maximum taxi fares. Here is the whole rate card, what each vehicle adds, and a fare calculator that estimates your actual trip on it. For a fixed price instead, call or email and we will quote one.

The Rate Card Behind Every Estimate

Three tariffs, set by the hour and the day of the week. The meter runs one of them at a time and switches automatically, and the fare calculator applies whichever one matches your pickup time.

Tariff	Flag fall	Per km	Per minute
Day rate 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday	$5.40	$2.10	$0.70
Evening and overnight rate 5pm to 9am	$6.75	$2.30	$0.80
Weekend night and public holiday rate 10pm to 4am Friday and Saturday nights, and public holidays	$8.00	$2.55	$0.85

Safe Transport Victoria maximum taxi fares, Fare Structure 1 (distance or time charging).

Distance or Time, Never Both at Once

This is the part most people have never had explained. The meter charges the distance rate while the car is moving above about twenty kilometres an hour, and switches to the time rate when it drops below that. It does not add the two together.

So a clear run to the airport is priced on kilometres, and a crawl through the city at five in the afternoon is priced on minutes. Our fare calculator replays the same rule, which is why the estimate it gives you lands close to the meter rather than well under it.

Booked Fares, Estimates and Fixed Quotes by Phone

Safe Transport Victoria sets maximum fares for taxis hailed in the street or taken from a rank. A booked trip is not capped by those maximums. Instead, when you book, the booking service must give you on request either an estimate of the fare or a fixed fare. Our fare calculator gives you the estimate, worked out from the rate card above.

For a fixed fare, call 0449 076 826, email us, or ask for a fixed quote, and we will agree the price with you before you travel.

What Gets Added on Top

Charge	Amount	When it applies
Minimum fare	$18.00	Any trip that meters below it
Airport pickup fee	$5.26	Only on the leg that leaves Melbourne Airport
Tolls	At cost	Where the route actually uses one, such as CityLink
Silver Service surcharge	$11.00	When you book that vehicle instead of a sedan
SUV or Wagon surcharge	$17.80	When you book that vehicle instead of a sedan
Maxi Cab surcharge	$17.80	When you book that vehicle instead of a sedan
Baby or child seat	$40.00	Tell us the child's age so the right seat is fitted.
Second child seat	$40.00	Same charge again for a second child. Tell us both ages.
Meet and greet inside the terminal	$35.00	Driver waits at arrivals with a name board, up to one hour.

Everything above is already built into the estimate you see before booking. There is no separate booking fee and no card surcharge quoted on this site. Unless you agree a fixed fare with us by phone or email, the meter on the day is the final word, which is exactly why the estimate shows its working.

Book Your Taxi

Pickup address

Drop off address

Your trip Add both addresses to see the route

Your Details

Full name

Mobile number

Email (for your confirmation)

Vehicle Type

Sedan 4 seats, 2 large and 2 small bags

Silver Service +$11.00 4 seats, 2 large and 2 small bags

SUV or Wagon +$17.80 4 seats, 4 large and 3 small bags

Maxi Cab +$17.80 11 seats, 8 large bags

Number of passengers

Booking Info

Anything we should know (optional)

Baby or child seat plus $40.00 Meet and greet inside the terminal plus $35.00

How would you like to pay? Cash or card with your driver

Notes for the driver (optional)

Now or Later

Add a return trip, estimated on its own, never just doubled

Your Fare

Estimated fare Enter both addresses to see a fare estimate $0.00

This is an estimated fare based on the driving distance and time of travel, including tolls and the airport fee where they apply. Traffic, route changes, waiting time and extras can change the final fare. For a fixed price, call 0449 076 826, email info@silvercabsmelbourne.com.au or ask for a fixed quote, and we will agree the fare with you before you travel. Nothing is charged now.

Cabcharge, TAC, NDIS and WorkSafe accepted · nothing is charged when you book

What Real Trips Actually Cost

Computed on the day rate through the same engine that prices your booking. Change the time of day and the tariff changes with it.

From	To the airport	Sedan	Maxi	To the city
Melbourne CBD	23.5 km	$62.12	$79.92	n/a
South Yarra	34.0 km	$90.12	$107.92	$18.00
St Kilda	30.8 km	$81.71	$99.51	$20.52
Box Hill	38.7 km	$90.63	$108.43	$47.40
Point Cook	36.1 km	$81.21	$99.01	$60.21
Dandenong	59.3 km	$144.26	$162.06	$80.37
Werribee	41.3 km	$92.13	$109.93	$71.34
Craigieburn	17.2 km	$41.52	$59.32	$87.72

Day rate estimates including tolls where the route uses them. An airport pickup adds the $5.26 rank fee on top.

See every area we cover Maxi taxi rates

Fares and payment

Questions About the Fare

How are Melbourne taxi fares calculated?

A meter starts with a flag fall, $5.40 on the day rate, and then charges either on distance or on time, never both at once. Above about 21km/h it charges per kilometre, at $2.10 on the day rate. Below that, crawling in traffic or waiting, it charges per minute instead, at $0.70.

Why is a night trip more expensive?

Our estimates follow the three Safe Transport Victoria tariffs. The day rate applies 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. The evening and overnight rate, a $6.75 flag fall and $2.30 per kilometre, applies 5pm to 9am. The highest rate, a $8.00 flag fall and $2.55 per kilometre, covers 10pm to 4am Friday and Saturday nights, and public holidays.

Are tolls included in the fare estimate?

Yes. Tolls are charged on top of the metered fare, and the fare calculator adds them into the estimate. Where a real toll figure can be looked up for your route it uses that, otherwise it allows about $10.00 for a run that uses CityLink.

What is the airport fee?

Melbourne Airport charges a $5.26 fee for taxis picking up at the rank. It applies when the airport is your pickup point, not when it is your destination, and the estimator only adds it in the direction it genuinely applies.

Is there a minimum fare?

Yes, $18.00. A very short trip is charged at the minimum rather than the metered figure, which is why the fare calculator will not estimate below it.

How can I pay?

Cards and cash are both fine, and the driver takes payment at the end of the trip. Nothing is charged when you book, and there is no deposit or account needed for a normal booking.

Are booked taxi fares regulated in Victoria?

Not in the way rank and street fares are. Safe Transport Victoria sets maximum fares for taxis hailed in the street or taken from a rank, but a booked trip is not capped by those maximums. When you book, the booking service must give you on request either an estimate of the fare or a fixed fare. Our fare calculator gives the estimate, worked out from those maximum rates, and a fixed fare can be agreed by phone or email before you travel.