© XY YEW・Unsplash License

Australia

Melbourne

A city of coffee and culture, laced with one of the world's largest tram networks — free to ride in the centre.

Taxis and rideshare

Only a taxi hailed in the street or from a rank is bound by the state's maximum fares and must run the meter. App cars price freely and owe you no quote - ask for one yourself. Never take a car that approaches you.

Updated on August 2, 2026

How to ride

  1. 1
    Decide whether to hail one or book one
    Only taxis can be hailed or taken from a rank - always book Uber or DiDi in the app.
  2. 2
    In a taxi, check the meter starts
    A hailed or rank taxi must run the meter for the whole trip. If it stays off, decline the ride and take another car.
  3. 3
    Check the car and the driver before boarding
    Taxis display a photo ID card on the dash; for a booked car, match the plate and driver against your app first.
  4. 4
    If the cost matters, ask for an estimate first
    You may ask the driver or provider for an upfront estimate - worth doing for booked cars, which the maximum fares do not cover.
  5. 5
    Pay in the car, or let the app do it
    In a taxi you pay in the car by cash or card; with Uber or DiDi the payment method on your account is charged automatically.
  6. 6
    Report a problem with the QR code in the car
    Every taxi and rideshare car carries a state QR code by the back seat; scanning it opens the regulator's complaint form.

Typical costs

How the meter adds up6

Taxi flagfall (rank and hail)
State maximum, in three tariffs: day 9am-5pm, overnight 5pm-9am, peak 10pm-4am Fri/Sat and holidays.
5.4〜8 AUD ≈ $4–6
Taxi distance charge (per km)
Charged while the taxi is doing more than 21 km/h; the overnight and peak tariffs are the higher rates.
2.1〜2.55 AUD ≈ $2
Taxi time charge (per minute)
Charged by the minute whenever the taxi is moving slower than 21 km/h, including in traffic and at lights.
0.7〜0.85 AUD ≈ $0.5–0.6
CPV levy
Charged once on every commercial passenger vehicle trip starting in Victoria, if the provider passes it on.
1.25 AUD ≈ $0.9
High occupancy fee
Rank and hail taxis only. Wheelchair and mobility-aid trips are exempt; under-fives are not counted.
18.35 AUD ≈ $13
Cleaning fee (maximum)
Charged only if you soil the vehicle with food, drink or bodily fluids; this is the state maximum.
123.75 AUD ≈ $89

Estimates use exchange rates as of September 5, 2026

Payment

Tap to ride
Cards work in the car; your own credit/debit card carries a 4% surcharge cap
App tickets
Uber and DiDi charge the payment method saved on your account
Cash
Cash works in a taxi; the rideshare apps take none

Tap for where to get the app

Quick facts

Hours
24 hours
Fares from
5.4 AUD+

Heads-up

  • Never take a ride from someone who approaches you

    Never take a ride from someone who approaches you, at the airport or on the street. Touting has been illegal in Victoria since 2019 - there is no meter, and the driver is often unaccredited in an unregistered vehicle. Use the signed taxi ranks, or the designated pickup points for your app.

  • Check the taxi meter is running before you set off

    In a taxi you hailed or took from a rank, check the meter is running before you set off. Using it is a legal requirement for the driver, and not doing so is an offence. If they will not start it, get out and take another car.

Timetable

Operating hours 24 hours
Typical duration Melbourne Airport puts the CBD at about a 30-minute fare away
Check the official site for the latest times and service status