Penalty increases for meter offences start 1 January

Penalty increases for drivers not using the meter during unbooked CPV services

From 1 January 2026, penalties will increase for two existing fare calculation device (meter) offences during unbooked taxi and rideshare services. These changes have been made by the Victorian Government as part of the suite of reform changes announced in April 2025.

The infringements are related to two key rules that apply when providing an unbooked commercial passenger vehicle service (rank or hail). Drivers must:

• Use a working fare calculation device (meter) during the whole trip
• Stop the meter as soon as the trip finishes

These rules help ensure passengers are charged correctly and support fairness across the industry.

New penalty amounts

From 1 January:

• • The infringement penalty for the above rules increases from 2.5 to 4 penalty units – from $508.77 to $814.04
  • The maximum penalty a court can impose increases from 10 to 20 penalty units

Why these changes are being made

These updates support fair pricing, improve passenger confidence, and address ongoing concerns about overcharging in unbooked services. Most drivers already follow these rules; this change strengthens the response to those who do not.

This update also sits alongside the broader CPV reforms announced in 2025, which will continue to be introduced throughout 2026.

What drivers need to do

Drivers do not need to make any changes — simply continue to follow existing rules:

• • • Ensure the meter is working before starting unbooked trips
    • Use the meter correctly during the whole trip
    • Stop the meter as soon as the trip ends

Suitability and accreditation

Repeated or serious non-compliance may be reviewed by ST Vic’s Case Assessment Team (CAT), which assesses whether drivers remain suitable to hold CPV accreditation.