When you catch a taxi you're required to pay the metered fare, plus any booking fee or extra charges when you arrive at your destination. Taxi fares may vary depending on when you travel.
Adelaide metropolitan taxi fares
Taxi fares are calculated by adding:
- flagfall
- distance rate
- waiting time.
The waiting time is added to the fare instead of the distance rate if the taxi:
- is stopped
- is travelling at less than a particular speed.
Tariffs
Tariffs set the rates of flagfall, distance and waiting time, depending on the time of day and the number of passengers.
Four tariff rates apply for taxi journeys in Adelaide:
- Tariff 1 and Tariff 2 apply to one to 4 passengers
- Tariff 3 and Tariff 4 apply to five passengers or more.
Tariff 1 and Tariff 3 are the normal tariff rates applied and Tariff 2 and Tariff 4 are a higher rate that applies between 7 pm and 6 am Monday to Friday, and on weekends and public holidays.
| Tariff | Flagfall | Distance rate | Waiting time | Number of passengers | Fare commencing |
| 1 | $3.90 | $2.19 per km | $46.00 per hour | 1 to 4 passengers | Monday to Friday, 6 am to 7 pm |
| 2 | $5.20 | $2.52 per km | $46.00 per hour | 1 to 4 passengers |
Monday to Thursday, 7 pm to 6 am Friday, 7 pm to Monday, 6 am During public holidays |
| 3 | $5.00 | $2.84 per km | $58.70 per hour | 5 or more passengers | Monday to Friday, 6 am to 7 pm |
| 4 | $6.80 | $3.28 per km | $58.70 per hour | 5 or more passengers |
Monday to Thursday, 7 pm to 6 am Friday, 7 pm to Monday, 6 am During public holidays |
Extra charges
Extra charges may appear on the taxi meter and are included in the fare. In South Australia these may include:
| Fee Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Adelaide Airport Service Fee | $4.50 Pick up from T1 Airport Terminal Taxi Rank. Of this total, $4.00 will go to Adelaide Airport and $0.50 will fund previously announced industry reform initiatives administered by the State Government. |
| Booking Fee | As charged by the booking service when pre-arranged with the hirer. |
| Point to point transport service transaction levy | $2 Charged once per journey. The levy increased on 1 July 2025. |
| Peak period fee | $2.30 between 12.01 am and 5.59 am Saturday, Sunday, or public holidays. |
| Soiling Fee | $88 Vehicle must be cleaned and deodorised before further use. If applicable this fee will not appear on the taxi meter. |
Point to point transport service transaction levy
On 1 July 2025, the point to point transport service transaction levy increased from $1 to $2.
For the levy to apply, journeys must:
- start in metropolitan Adelaide
- be undertaken by metropolitan taxis and chauffeured vehicles, including rideshare.
This is the first increase since the levy was introduced in 2017.
There are no changes to the current levy collection arrangements or where the levy applies.
Service providers must:
- add the levy to the total fare at the end of each journey
- pay the levy to the Government of South Australia.
Penalties apply for service providers who evade or attempt to evade paying the levy. The maximum penalty is $35,000 - or two years' imprisonment.
The levy will help fund the Taxi Industry Reform Package and the taxi licence buyback. The levy can also support:
- the delivery of public transport services
- the administration and regulation of the passenger transport industry
- measures to improve disability access to passenger transport services
- the facilitation of active transport.
Typical fares and journey times
| Distance | Approx. journey 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 |
Journeys ending outside the Adelaide metropolitan area
The following fares apply for country trips:
| Country trips | Fees |
|---|---|
| Country running with up to 4 passengers | $1.30 per kilometre each way. $46.00 per hour for wait time. |
| Country running with over 5 passengers | $1.80 per kilometre each way. $46.00 per hour for wait time. |
Multiple hiring
Multiple hiring of a taxi is intended for busy periods, to get more people who happen to be travelling in the same direction to their destination.
Multiple hiring means the driver gets paid more for the journey but each hirer pays less and gets home more quickly.
Lifting fee
The lifting fee is applied to trips for the driver to assist Access Taxi customers who use a wheelchair, scooter or large (ride-on) mobility aide in and out of the Access Taxi. This replaces waiting time fees.
The $25 lifting fee is available for all South Australian Access Taxi trips where a customer:
- uses a wheelchair, scooter or large (ride-on) mobility aide and
- holds either a South Australian Transport Subsidy Scheme (SATSS) member ID card or a non-SATSS Access Taxi Card.
The lifting fee supports drivers to provide the lifting service for eligible Access Taxi trips to help ensure customers receive a consistent, accessible and reliable service so that no one misses out on getting to where they need to go.
The lifting fee is paid to the driver by the State Government. There is no additional cost to the customer.
Learn more about how the lifting fee works.
Payment options
Taxi fares can usually be paid by:
- cash
- EFTPOS
- debit and credit cards
- Cabcharge
- SATSS voucher.
There is a maximum non-cash payment surcharge of 5% on the payment of taxi fares by debit or credit card.
It's a good idea to ask the driver about the payment options and approximate cost before the start of your trip. The driver may also request proof of payment from you.
At the end of your trip you must pay the metered fare plus any additional charges or tolls that may apply.
