Taxis are still one of the easiest ways to get around Melbourne, and you don’t need an app to catch one. You can flag a cab on the street, walk up to a taxi rank outside major hotels, stations and shopping strips, or book by phone or app if you’d rather have one waiting. Legitimate taxis are easy to spot: look for the roof light, the company livery on the doors, and a uniformed driver with a visible ID card. Most are yellow, white or silver.
The main operators
- 13cabs: call 13 22 27, book through the 13cabs app, or via 13cabs.com.au
- Silver Top Taxi: call 13 10 08 (or 13 5000), book online at silvertop.com.au, or use the Silver Top app
Both companies run 24/7 and cover the metropolitan area, including runs out to the Mornington Peninsula, Dandenong and Frankston.
What a Melbourne taxi actually costs (2026 maximum fares)
Unbooked taxi fares (street hails and rank pickups) in Victoria are capped by regulation, and the caps were updated from 1 July 2026. Operators can charge up to these maximums under either of two fare structures, but not more. Booked fares (through an app) can differ, since booked services aren’t fare-regulated the same way.
Structure 1: Time or distance
| Period | Flagfall | Per km (moving) | Per min (stationary/slow) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day (9am to 5pm) | $5.40 | $2.10 | $0.70 |
| Overnight (5pm to 9am) | $6.75 | $2.30 | $0.80 |
| Peak (10pm to 4am Fri/Sat, and public holidays) | $8.00 | $2.55 | $0.85 |
Structure 2: Time and distance combined
| Period | Flagfall | Per km | Per min |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day | $5.25 | $1.685 | $0.433 |
| Overnight | $6.55 | $1.871 | $0.476 |
| Peak | $7.80 | $2.070 | $0.513 |
Drivers choose which structure to run, and the meter has to display whichever one applies. A short trip in heavy traffic can end up cheaper under Structure 2, since it doesn’t charge the higher “stationary” per-minute rate once the cab is crawling below 21km/h.
Extra charges to expect
- High occupancy fee (5 or more passengers): $18.35
- Electronic payment surcharge: up to 6% if paid through the in-cab CPV payment device, or up to 4% for other card payments
- CPV trip levy: $1.25, added to every commercial passenger vehicle trip in Victoria (this funds the state’s transport safety regulator, not the driver)
- Cleaning fee: up to $123.75 if you leave a genuine mess
- Airport rank fee and tolls: passed straight through at cost, on top of the fare
These are the regulated maximums, reviewed each financial year in line with CPI, so treat them as the ceiling rather than a guaranteed price. A driver can legally charge less, just not more.
Getting to and from Melbourne Airport
A taxi from the CBD to Melbourne Airport typically runs somewhere in the $55 to $75 range on a clear run, and more from further-out suburbs or in peak traffic, once you factor in the flagfall, distance, and the airport rank fee. If you want an exact figure before you commit, both 13cabs and Silver Top let you get a fare estimate through their apps, and it’s worth comparing that against the SkyBus and rideshare options if price matters more than door-to-door convenience.
A few things locals know
- Ranks outside Southern Cross Station, Crown, and the major hotels are almost always faster than trying to hail one on Swanston Street during peak hour.
- Friday and Saturday nights from 10pm push you into peak pricing, and that’s also when demand is highest, so booking ahead through an app beats waiting on a rank.
- Ask for a receipt if you think you’ve been overcharged. Every legitimate operator has to provide one, and Safe Transport Victoria handles complaints about fares and driver conduct.
Fares and levies above reflect Safe Transport Victoria’s maximum rates effective 1 July 2026. Regulation of Victoria’s commercial passenger vehicle industry sits with Safe Transport Victoria (safetransport.vic.gov.au), rather than the Essential Services Commission, following recent reforms.