Fares
The Commercial Passenger Vehicle Act (2017) outlines the rules for regulated maximum fares and hiring rates that apply to unbooked services beginning in the Melbourne Metropolitan or Urban and Large Regional zones.
Maximum fares for all unbooked services in Melbourne and the surrounding metropolitan area (including Frankston and Dandenong), the Mornington Peninsula, Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo, are set by the Essential Services Commission (ESC).
Drivers who charge more than the maximum fare or hiring rate may face penalties.
Fare information for unbooked services must be displayed on the inside of the taxi, clearly visible to the passenger, along with a display on the outer left-hand side of the vehicle.
Fares for all booked services and all CPV services provided outside the zones specified are not regulated.
From Thursday 28 September 2023, the fare calculating device (taxi meter) must be used to calculate the fare for all unbooked services.
Please note: On 24 August 2023, the ESC released their commission assessment (PDF) on the maximum fares for unbooked taxis to apply from 1 October 2023. The assessment applies an increase in the maximum fares for unbooked taxi services by 4.1 per cent.
Driver responsibilities
The regulations set out responsibilities for drivers in relation to:
- Positioning of fare information for unbooked services
- Providing a fare estimate or fixed fare
- Providing a receipt to passengers
- Use of fare calculation devices.
Passengers can ask for a fare estimate upfront from the driver or BSP and can request an itemised receipt at the end of a trip.
- Unbooked services are hailed on the street or at taxi ranks.
- Fares for unbooked services are determined based on distance, journey duration, and the time of travel.
- Additional charges may apply for travel on some public holidays, electronic payments, toll road usage, or traveling with five or more passengers.
There is more than one way to structure a fare. You must select from one of the structures below.
Fare Structure 1: Rates based on ‘time or distance’ charging
Under this fare structure, in addition to the fixed flag fall, your fare rate depends on the speed at which the vehicle is moving.
Passengers will pay according to either the distance covered (while the vehicle is moving quickly) or the time spent (while the vehicle is moving slowly). The total fare will likely include a combination of these time and distance charges.
Maximum fares for unbooked trips from 1 October 2023
| Rate | Flag fall | Distance (applies when the speed is above 21km per hour) |
Time (applies when the speed is below 21km per hour) |
| Day rate (9am – 5pm) | $4.85 | $1.878 per kilometre | $0.658 per minute |
| Overnight rate (5pm – 9am) | $6.05 | $2.088 per kilometre | $0.731 per minute |
| Peak rate (10pm – 4am Friday and Saturday and all-day Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day, and from 6pm New Year’s Eve until midnight at the end of New Year’s Day) | $7.20 | $2.299 per kilometre | $0.805 per minute |
Note that these fare rates are maximum rates. Providers may charge less than the rates displayed.
Fare Structure 2: rates based on ‘time and distance’ charging
Under this fare structure, in addition to the fixed flagfall, your fare depends on the overall journey time and distance – regardless of how fast the vehicle travels. Time and distance rates both apply for the whole journey. Under this fare structure, you can calculate what your journey should cost, without needing to know how fast you were travelling.
Maximum fares for unbooked trips 1 October 2023
| Rate | Flag fall | Distance (applies at all times throughout the journey) |
Time (applies at all times throughout the journey) |
| Day Rate (9am – 5pm) | $4.85 | $1.553 per kilometre | $0.399 per minute |
| Overnight Rate (5pm – 9am) | $6.05 | $1.725 per kilometre | $0.438 per minute |
| Peak Rate (10pm – 4am Friday and Saturday and all-day Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Day and from 6pm New Year’s Eve until midnight at the end of New Year’s Day) | $7.20 | $1.908 per kilometre | $0.473 per minute |
Note that these fares rates are maximum rates. Providers may charge less than the rates displayed.
Maximum extras
Maximum fares for unbooked trips from 1 October 2023
| Airport rank fee | Applies to trips taken from the Melbourne airport rank | Pass-through |
| High occupancy fee | For five or more passengers (including a person(s) who uses a wheelchair or other mobility aid) or where the hirer specifically requests a larger than standard vehicle regardless of the number of passengers (except where the booking is for a person(s) who uses a wheelchair or other mobility aid) | $16.35 |
| Electronic payments – CPV specific payment devices | A maximum 6% fee applies when using a non-cash payment device designed for use only in commercial passenger vehicles. An example of this is the Cabcharge payment device used in taxis | 6% (including GST) |
| Electronic payments – other non-cash devices | A maximum 4% fee applies when using credit/debit cards, and all other non-cash payments other than commercial passenger vehicle specific payment devices | 4% (including GST) |
| Toll roads | Charges also apply to toll roads if the passenger requests a toll road route | Pass-through |
| CPV Levy Recovery Fee | Trip levy applies to every commercial passenger vehicle trip commencing in Victoria | Pass-through |
| Cleaning fee | A reasonable cleaning fee applies if a passenger soils the vehicle with food, drink or bodily fluids | Up to $120 |
Remember: Speak to your service provider, or driver, if you have any questions about the fare or other fees and charges – and remember to ask for a receipt.
There is more than one way to structure a fare. You must select from one of the structures below.
Fare Structure 1: Rates based on ‘time or distance’ charging
Under this fare structure, in addition to the fixed flag fall, your fare rate depends on the speed at which the vehicle is moving.
Passengers will pay according to either the distance covered (while the vehicle is moving quickly) or the time spent (while the vehicle is moving slowly). The total fare will likely include a combination of these time and distance charges.
Maximum fares for unbooked trips from 1 October 2023
| Rate | Flag fall | Distance
(applies if the speed is above 21km per hour) |
Time
(applies if the speed is below 21km per hour) |
| Standard rate – for vehicles carrying up to four passengers | $4.15 | $2.128 per kilometre | $0.744 per minute |
| High occupancy rate – for five or more passengers (including a person(s) who use a wheelchair or other mobility aid) or where the hirer specifically requests a larger than standard vehicle regardless of the number of passengers (except where the booking is for a person(s) who use a wheelchair or other mobility aid) | $4.15 | $3.220 per kilometre | $1.729 per minute |
Fare Structure 2: Rates based on ‘time and distance’ charging
Under this fare structure, in addition to the fixed flag fall, your fare depends on the overall journey time and distance – regardless of how fast the vehicle travels.
Time and distance rates both apply for the whole journey. Under this fare structure, the passenger can calculate how much the journey should cost, without needing to know how fast you were travelling.
Maximum fares for unbooked trips from 1 October 2023
| Rate | Flag fall | Distance
(applies at all times throughout the journey) |
Time
(applies at all times throughout the journey) |
| Standard rate – for vehicles carrying up to four passengers | $4.15 | $1.729 per kilometre | $0.568 per minute |
| High occupancy rate – for five or more passengers (including a person(s) who uses a wheelchair or other mobility aid) or where the hirer specifically requests a larger than standard vehicle regardless of the number of passengers (except where the booking is for a person(s) who uses a wheelchair or other mobility aid) | $4.15 | $2.851 per kilometre | $0.618 per minute |
Maximum extras
Maximum fares for unbooked trips from 15 September 2022
Late night fee
|
$3.95 |
| Holiday fee | $4.85 |
| CPV Levy Recovery Fee | Pass-through |
| Cleaning fee
A reasonable cleaning fee applies if a passenger soils the vehicle with food, drink or bodily fluids |
Up to $120 |
The holiday fee applies all day on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day, and from 6pm on New Year’s Eve. It also applies from 7pm on evenings prior to other Victorian public holidays until 6am the morning of the public holiday. The late-night fee does not apply during the holiday fee period. Charges may also apply to electronic payments and toll roads.
Since 2014, unbooked commercial passenger vehicle services in regional and country Victoria can set their own fares.