Metered Fare Explained
Fares:
- Schedule 1 – urban areas
- Schedule 2 – country areas
- Schedule 3 – exempted areas
Maximum taxi fares for 2015-2016 will remain frozen at 2014-15 levels, following the annual review of taxi fares by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART).
In 2014-15, IPART has separately reviewed maximum fares for Sydney from those that apply in areas of NSW outside Sydney. IPART recommended a fare freeze for both Sydney and country areas.
Based on IPART’s advice, for 2015-16, Transport for NSW has maintained taxi fares in Sydney at current levels. The maximum taxi fares for areas outside of Sydney, including Wollongong, the Blue Mountains, Newcastle and the Central Coast, will also not change.
The $2.50 surcharge in urban areas for peak services late on Friday and Saturday nights between 10pm and 6am remains in place. The $2.50 surcharge was introduced in September 2013 to better attract taxis where and when they are needed.
Since the publication of the 2014-2015 taxi fares on 1 July 2014, the Passenger Transport Act 2014 has passed through Parliament. One of the key reforms introduced by the new Act is the 5% cap on the taxi non-cash payment surcharge.
To support this reform, taxi fares have been remade (see Taxi Fares Order (pdf 180KB) ) under section 125 of the new Act with effect from Friday 12 December 2014. There have been no changes to the taxi fares which came into effect on 1 July 2014 other than introducing the maximum amount of the taxi non-cash payment surcharge.
Non-cash payment surcharge
The maximum amount payable for a taxi non-cash payment surcharge is 5% inclusive of GST.
This came into effect on 12 December 2014.
The following rounding rule applies when determining the amount payable for a taxi non-cash payment surcharge: round down to the nearest whole cent below half a cent; round up to the nearest whole cent from half a cent.
Note: Under section 126 of the Passenger Transport Act 2014 a taxi non-cash payment surcharge means a fee or charge (however calculated):
- added to the amount otherwise payable by a hirer of a taxi because the amount payable for the hire of the taxi is paid wholly or partly by the use of a debit, credit, pre-paid or charge card, or
- payable by all or any of the owner or driver of, or holder of a licence for, a taxi or the operator of a taxi service using a taxi because an amount payable for the hire of the taxi is paid wholly or partly by the use of a debit, credit, pre-paid or charge card.
Note: The taxi non-cash payment surcharge operates as a cap on all surcharges that may be applied because the amount payable in respect of the taxi hire is paid by debit, credit, pre-paid or charge card. For example, if the amount payable in respect of the taxi hire is $100, then the maximum (and only) taxi non-cash payment surcharge will be $5.
Maximum taxi fares and charges to take effect from 1 July 2015
Schedule 1 – Urban Areas
Applies to taxi-cabs licensed to operate in the following areas:
- Sydney Metropolitan Transport District
- Newcastle Transport District
- Wollongong Transport District
- Blue Mountains Local Government Area
- Gosford Local Government Area
- Wyong Local Government Area
- Shellharbour Local Government Area, and Cams Wharf, Fern Bay, Minmi, Toronto, Williamtown, Medowie, Campvale, Ferodale, Raymond Terrace, Fassifern, Hexham, Maitland, Beresfield, Fullerton Cove, Tomago, Camden, Picton, Thirlmere, Tahmoor and Bargo.
Hiring Charge | $3.60 |
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Peak Time Hiring Charge | $2.50
This is a fixed surcharge payable in addition to the Hiring Charge for the hiring of a taxi-cab licensed to operate in an Urban Area in respect of a journey commencing between 10pm on a Friday, Saturday or day before a Public Holiday and 6am on the next day. |
Distance Rate | Rate 1 – $2.19 per kilometre |
Night Distance Rate | Rate 2 – $2.63 per kilometre
This is a fixed amount payable per kilometre, calculated by applying the night-time surcharge of 20% of the Distance Rate, in respect of a journey commencing between 10pm and 6am daily. |
Booking Fee | $2.50 |
Waiting Time | 94.4c per minute ($56.68 per hour) while vehicle speed is less than 26 km/h. |
Tolls | All road, bridge, ferry, tunnel and airport tolls that apply to the journey, and the return toll for a northbound journey over the Sydney Harbour Bridge or through the Sydney Harbour Tunnel (at the time of crossing) |
Maxi-cabs (seating for 5 or more adults, in addition to the driver) | Except in the case of a multiple hiring, up to 150% of the maximum fares and charges (excluding tolls) may be charged if:
No more than the maximum fare may be charged if a maxi-cab is requested for a group of no more than 4 passengers which includes a passenger using a wheelchair.
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Multiple Hirings | 75% of the maximum fare may be charged by a taxi driver and is payable by each hiring passenger for a multiple hiring provided that:
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Sharing a taxi | 100% of the maximum fare paid by the hirer – even if the hirer requires the driver to permit other passengers to share the taxi or to drive to other destinations before driving to the hirer’s destination. |
Schedule 2 – Country Areas
Applies to taxi-cabs licensed to operate in the following areas:
All areas of New South Wales, except those specified in Schedule 1 (Urban Areas) and Schedule 3 (Exempted Areas)
Hiring Charge | $4.10 |
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Distance Rate | Rate 1 – $2.26 per kilometre, for the first 12 km
Rate 2 – $3.13 per kilometre, in excess of 12 km |
Holiday Distance Rate and Night Distance Rate | Rate 3 – $2.71 per kilometre, for the first 12 km
Rate 4 – $3.75 per kilometre, in excess of 12 km A surcharge of 20% of the Distance Rate in respect of a journey commencing between 10 pm and 6 am daily The Holiday Distance Rate applies between 6am and 10pm on Sundays and public holidays notified in the NSW Government Gazette. The Night Distance Rate applies between 10 pm and 6 am daily. |
Booking Fee | $1.20 |
Waiting Time | 96.0c per minute ($57.65 per hour) while vehicle speed is less than 26 km/h |
Tolls | All road, bridge, ferry, tunnel and airport tolls that apply to the journey, and the return toll for a northbound journey over the Sydney Harbour Bridge or through the Sydney Harbour Tunnel (at the time of crossing) |
Maxi-cabs (seating for 5 or more adults in addition to the driver) | Except in the case of a multiple hiring, up to 150% of the maximum fares and charges (excluding tolls) may be charged if:
No more than the maximum fare may be charged if the maxi-cab is booked for a group of passengers which includes a passenger using a wheelchair, unless the person who made the booking requested a taxi-cab with seating for 5 or more adult passengers, including the passenger using a wheelchair.
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Multiple Hirings | 75% of the maximum fare per passenger, for a multiple hiring provided that:
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Sharing a taxi | 100% of the maximum fare paid by the hirer – even if the hirer requires the driver to permit other passengers to share the taxi or to drive to other destinations before driving to the hirer’s destination. |
Schedule 3 – Exempted Areas
Applies to taxi-cabs licensed to operate in the following areas:
Moama, Barham, Tocumwal, Mulwala, Barooga and Deniliquin.
Out of Area Trips
Taxis in NSW have a licensed ‘area of operation’. The driver of a taxi hired to convey a passenger to a place outside its licensed area of operation is entitled to demand more than the regulated fare. However, the amount must be negotiated and agreed with the passenger before the start of the journey.
Source: http://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/