Clear Adelaide taxi fare guide based on official South Australia government taxi fare information, covering metropolitan tariffs, airport service fee, booking fee, point-to-point transport levy, peak period fee, soiling fee, card surcharge rules and temporary fuel surcharge notes.
Tariff 1 distance rate for 1 to 4 passengers, Monday to Friday from 6am to 7pm.
Tariff 2 distance rate for 1 to 4 passengers during nights, weekends and public holidays.
Waiting time for Tariff 1 and Tariff 2 Adelaide metropolitan taxi trips.
Airport pickup fee, booking fee, levy, peak fee, temporary surcharge and approved extras may apply.
Adelaide taxi fares are calculated by adding flagfall, distance rate and waiting time. The tariff used depends on the time of travel and the number of passengers.
| Tariff | Flagfall | Distance rate | Waiting time | When it applies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tariff 1 | $4.00 | $2.30 per km | $47.40 per hour | 1 to 4 passengers • Monday to Friday • 6am to 7pm |
| Tariff 2 | $5.40 | $2.60 per km | $47.40 per hour | 1 to 4 passengers • Monday to Thursday 7pm to 6am • Friday 7pm to Monday 6am • Public holidays |
| Tariff 3 | $5.20 | $2.90 per km | $60.50 per hour | 5 or more passengers • Monday to Friday • 6am to 7pm |
| Tariff 4 | $7.00 | $3.40 per km | $60.50 per hour | 5 or more passengers • Monday to Thursday 7pm to 6am • Friday 7pm to Monday 6am • Public holidays |
Simple breakdown of how a metropolitan Adelaide taxi fare is built.
The fare starts with the tariff flagfall amount when the trip begins.
A per kilometre charge is added while the taxi is moving under the active tariff.
Waiting time is charged instead of distance when the taxi is stopped or moving very slowly.
Airport fee, levy, booking fee, peak fee, temporary surcharge or other approved extras may be added.
These example trips are shown on the South Australia government taxi fares page and are provided as guidance only.
| Route | Approx. time | Tariff 1 | Tariff 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adelaide Airport to Victoria Square (6.3 km) | 15 mins | $18.00 to $21.40 | $21.50 to $24.80 |
| Adelaide Airport to North Adelaide (8.65 km) | 18 mins | $23.00 to $30.00 | $27.00 to $35.00 |
| Adelaide Airport to McLaren Vale (39.5 km) | 44 mins | $92.00 to $99.00 | $106.00 to $114.00 |
Some Adelaide taxi extras appear on the meter and are included in the fare. Booking fee depends on the booking service used. Temporary surcharges can also apply when listed by the South Australia government.
| Extra charge | Amount | When it applies | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adelaide Airport Service Fee | $4.50 | Pickup from T1 Airport Terminal Taxi Rank | $4.00 to Adelaide Airport + $0.50 to state reform initiatives |
| Booking Fee | Varies | When pre-arranged with the hirer | As charged by the booking service |
| Point to point transport levy | $2.00 | Charged once per journey | Levy increased on 1 July 2025 |
| Peak period fee | $2.40 | 12:01am to 5:59am on Saturday, Sunday or public holidays | Additional peak period fee |
| Temporary fuel surcharge | $1 general taxi / $2 access taxi | Temporary period listed by SA Government | Applies until midnight on 28 June 2026 unless revoked earlier |
| Soiling fee | $88.00 | If the vehicle must be cleaned and deodorised | Does not appear on taxi meter |
| Card surcharge | Max 5% | Debit or credit card payments | Maximum non-cash payment surcharge |
Useful customer-facing notes for Adelaide taxi fare pages.
Adelaide Airport Service Fee applies when the taxi trip starts from the T1 Airport Terminal Taxi Rank. Airport pages also list taxi and rideshare pickup details for passengers leaving the terminal.
Adelaide taxis can usually be paid by cash, EFTPOS, debit card, credit card, Cabcharge and SATSS voucher, with a maximum 5% non-cash surcharge on debit or credit card payments.
Adelaide has a separate lifting fee rule for eligible Access Taxi customers using a wheelchair, scooter or large ride-on mobility aid.
$25 South Australia government information states that eligible Access Taxi passengers do not pay this lifting fee. It is paid to accredited drivers by the State Government.
The lifting fee replaces waiting time fees for eligible trips and applies only when the official eligibility and booking conditions are met.
If the journey ends outside the Adelaide metropolitan area, separate country trip fares apply.
Simple explanation block for users comparing Adelaide taxi pricing.
Tariff 1 and Tariff 3 are the normal weekday daytime rates. Tariff 2 and Tariff 4 are the higher rates used at night, on weekends and public holidays.
At the end of the trip, passengers pay the metered fare plus any booking fee, levy, surcharge, airport fee, toll or lawful extra charge that applies.
These Adelaide taxi fare details are based on official South Australia government and transport pages.
