Clear Melbourne taxi fare guide based on official Victorian Essential Services Commission information, last reviewed in June 2026. This guide explains maximum unbooked taxi fares, booked fare rules, airport rank fee rules, CityLink / EastLink tolls, high occupancy fee, cleaning fee and non-cash payment surcharge limits.
Starting Melbourne metropolitan unbooked taxi fare during the day tariff period.
Day tariff distance rate while vehicle speed is greater than 21 km/h.
Applied when the taxi travels below 21 km/h during an unbooked trip.
Airport rank fee, tolls, high occupancy fee, CPV levy recovery fee and card surcharge rules may apply.
These are the regulated maximum fares for unbooked taxi trips that begin in the Melbourne Metropolitan Zone or Urban area in Victoria. ESC Victoria lists these current maximum fares as effective from 23 September 2025. Drivers can charge less, but they cannot exceed the regulated maximum for applicable unbooked trips.
| Fare component | Amount | When it applies | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day flagfall | $5.25 | 9am–5pm | Tariff One day period |
| Day distance rate | $2.037/km | When speed is above 21 km/h | Day tariff time-or-distance structure |
| Day detention rate | $0.714/min | When speed is below 21 km/h | $42.84 per hour |
| Overnight flagfall | $6.55 | 5pm–9am | Tariff Two excluding peak tariff period |
| Overnight distance rate | $2.265/km | When speed is above 21 km/h | Overnight tariff |
| Overnight detention rate | $0.794/min | When speed is below 21 km/h | $47.64 per hour |
| Peak flagfall | $7.80 | 10pm Fri–4am Sat, 10pm Sat–4am Sun | Also applies on listed holiday periods |
| Peak distance rate | $2.493/km | When speed is above 21 km/h | Peak tariff |
| Peak detention rate | $0.874/min | When speed is below 21 km/h | $52.44 per hour |
| High occupancy fee | Up to $17.80 | 5+ passengers or larger taxi requested | Not for wheelchair / mobility aid requirement trips in the stated cases |
| Cleaning fee | Up to $120 | If passenger soils vehicle | Must be itemised on receipt if applied |
Simple breakdown of how an estimated Melbourne unbooked taxi fare is built using regulated fare components.
The fare begins with the base hire / flagfall charge when the trip starts.
Per kilometre amount is added while the taxi is travelling above the speed threshold.
When the taxi slows below 21 km/h, detention / waiting charges can be added.
Tolls, airport rank fee, CPV levy recovery fee, high occupancy fee or cleaning fee may apply.
This distinction matters because unbooked and booked trips can be priced differently.
In Victoria, the ESC maximum fares apply to unbooked taxi services in the regulated zones. Booked fares are generally set by the operator or booking service.
The Victorian ESC maximum unbooked fares apply to trips that begin in the Melbourne Metropolitan Zone or Urban area, which includes Frankston, Dandenong and the Mornington Peninsula.
Melbourne Metropolitan Zone
Urban area including Frankston, Dandenong and the Mornington Peninsula
When a trip is booked, operator pricing can differ. When a trip is unbooked and begins in these regulated areas, the ESC maximum fare rules apply.
If a driver accepts an unbooked hiring from the Melbourne Airport or Avalon Airport taxi rank, the driver may charge an airport taxi rank fee up to the amount payable for using that taxi rank.
Airport taxi rank fee may be charged up to the Melbourne Airport access fee paid by the driver for the taxi rank queuing / waiting facilities.
Airport taxi rank fee may also be charged for Avalon Airport rank pickups, up to the applicable Avalon Airport taxi rank fee.
When the taxi uses CityLink or EastLink while carrying the passenger or parcel, the driver is allowed to add the appropriate toll amount for that trip.
If a toll road is used during the trip, the appropriate toll can be added to the fare.
If a toll road is one of the available route options, the hirer must be given the choice of using or not using the toll road.
Melbourne peak tariff also applies during certain late-night and holiday periods.
Peak tariff applies from 10pm Friday to 4am Saturday and from 10pm Saturday to 4am Sunday.
Peak tariff also applies all day on Christmas Day, all day on Boxing Day, and from 6pm on New Year’s Eve until the end of New Year’s Day.
Victoria also regulates maximum non-cash payment surcharges for taxis. Different surcharge caps apply for standard non-cash payments and CPV-specific instruments.
4% Maximum surcharge for non-cash payment methods other than CPV-specific payment instruments.
6% Maximum surcharge for commercial passenger vehicle specific payment instruments such as Cabcharge.
Useful notes for passengers checking possible Melbourne taxi extras.
The driver may charge a CPV Service Levy Recovery Fee up to the levy amount plus GST, and if it is applied it must be itemised on the receipt.
A reasonable cleaning fee of up to $120 may be charged if the passenger soils the vehicle with food, drink or bodily fluids.
These Melbourne taxi fare details are based on official Essential Services Commission pages and determinations. ESC Victoria lists current maximum fares for Melbourne Metropolitan and Urban unbooked taxi services as effective from 23 September 2025.
