On-demand rank or hail (taxi) fares

Information for on-demand booking services and drivers about on-demand rank or hail (taxi) fares, including fare schedules for metropolitan and regional areas.

Further increases to maximum rank or hail fares from 1 December 2022

The WA Government has approved a further 4.5% increase to maximum on-demand rank or hail (taxi) fares. The increase will apply to all regulated fare components from Thursday 1 December 2022.

Increasing the maximum fares requires legislation to be amended � this process takes some time to complete, therefore the implementation date of 1 December 2022 has been chosen.

Fares were previously increased by 2% as an interim measure to ease costs associated with the rising price of fuel � this increase came into effect from 1 August 2022.

The Department of Transport (DoT) will work with industry to ensure a smooth and effective implementation of the new increase, noting that many on-demand booking services (ODBSs) have only recently updated meters and fare schedules to reflect the August increase.

Information for ODBSs

ODBSs that provide rank or hail (taxi) services can choose whether to implement the fare increase or not. The regulated fares are maximums � ODBSs can choose to apply all, some, or none of the increase.

If ODBSs choose to implement the December increase, fare amounts should be updated on any booking apps, websites and fare estimators.

DoT understands that ODBSs may have recently updated fare schedules in their vehicles in line with August�s fare increase, therefore fare schedules will not be the focus of compliance efforts over this time.

Information for drivers

It�s important that drivers keep in contact with their on-demand booking service to get the latest information about how they are responding to the fare increase.

Review of maximum metered taxi fares

The Department of Transport (DoT) recently completed a review of how WA�s maximum metered rank or hail (taxi) fares are regulated.

Recommendations from the review are currently being considered to determine the best approach to contemporary fare-setting in a deregulated environment and will be discussed with industry in coming months.

We will communicate any updates to industry via our newsletters and on our website.

Maximum fares, meters and fare schedules

The Transport (Road Passenger Services) Act 2018 and associated regulations place restrictions on the way fares can be charged for rank or hail (taxi) services.

The restrictions include:

requirements to install and use a fare calculation device (meter)
requirements to display fare schedules
limits on the maximum fares that can be charged

The ODBS for a taxi has responsibility for setting the rank or hail fares up to or below the maximum allowed.

Rank or hail fares must be consistent with the relevant Schedule outlined in the Regulations, either:

Schedule 4 for the metropolitan region; or
Schedule 5 for one of nine country regions.

Rank or Fares must not exceed the maximum amounts as outlined in these schedules. The maximum amounts and fare structures in these schedules are shown below on this page.

The flagfall, distance and other rates and charges that are set by the ODBS must be reflected in the fare schedule and accurately calculated by the meter.

Failure to comply with these requires can result in an infringement or prosecution against the driver, vehicle provider or on-demand booking service.

What does the fare schedule include?

The fare schedule must be in the approved form. It is the joint responsibility of the ODBS, vehicle provider and driver to ensure that the fare schedule that is displayed is in the approved form. This means the fare schedule must:

include the name of the ODBS provider;
detail the rates and amounts to be paid for the trip;
be printed in a format that is legible;
not be handwritten;
display all text in the English language; and
display all figures in Australian currency, with cents rounded to two decimal places.

Where is the fare schedule displayed?

Fare schedules in the approved form must be located in a position that is clearly visible to:

prospective passengers from outside the front passenger window; and
passengers inside the vehicle.

If it is not practical with the design of the vehicle to display the full fare schedule on the outside of the vehicle, it is acceptable to display a summary fare schedule on the outside of the front passenger door. The full fare schedule must also be displayed inside the vehicle, visible to passengers.

The summary fare schedule must be in the approved form � this means that the summary fare schedule must:

be printed in a format that is legible;
not be handwritten;
display all text in the English language; and
display all figures in Australian currency, with cents rounded to two decimal places; and
contain at least the following information:
- any flag fall that applies and the times and/or circumstances in which it applies; and
- effective from July 2021, the distance rates for each tariff and the times and/or circumstances in which they apply.

	Transport (Road Passenger Services) Act 2018

	Transport (Road Passenger Services) Regulations 2020

Contract fares

This is the agreed amount payable for the hire of a taxi (or charter vehicle), which must be agreed before the journey starts, between:

the hirer and the driver; or
the hirer and the driver's on-demand booking service.

Contract fares must be recorded in writing � this includes electronic formats like SMS or email.

Written confirmation of a contract fare must include:

enough detail to identify the driver, the vehicle/s used, the person who booked the service, and at least one passenger;
the start and end locations of the proposed journey;
the day and time of the proposed journey;
the amount agreed to pay for the contract fare (including any amount for GST); and
a statement declaring that additional fees may be payable (like parking fees, cleaning fees, payment surcharges and/or airport fees).

Written confirmation of contract fares is required to meet record keeping obligations under the Transport (Road Passenger Services) Act 2018. Visit Record keeping and industry data collection for more information.

Contract fares cannot be arranged if the passenger is engaging the driver at a taxi rank, or hailing the vehicle on the street � drivers must use their meters in these situations.

For a pre-booked taxi journey, you cannot charge above the relevant regulated maximum fares or include any components not approved in the Transport (Road Passenger Services Regulations 2020) Act if:

a meter is used; and
a contract fare has not been agreed between the hirer and driver/on-demand booking service before the journey starts.

Taxi User Subsidy Scheme

The Taxi User Subsidy Scheme (TUSS) can be used where a passenger agrees to a contract fare. However, if a TUSS voucher is to be used for the payment or part-payment of the contract fare, the amount agreed must not exceed the metered fare that would otherwise have been payable for the hire of the taxi.

Taxi surcharges

The State Government has capped surcharges imposed on taxi passengers who pay their fare with non-cash methods to a maximum of 5%.

If the vehicle has more than one Point of Sale machine the driver must use the device with the lowest surcharge.

For further information about the surcharge cap, view the Electronic payment surcharge reduction FAQ document (below).


	Electronic payment surcharge reduction (Frequently Asked Questions)	Kb

Unauthorised tip charges

Under Australian Consumer Law, drivers should not charge a service tip without the passenger's knowledge, offer or express authority.

To make an inquiry or to lodge a complaint, please contact the relevant on-demand booking service provider directly.

Complaints can also be referred to the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety Consumer Protection Division for further assistance.

	Department of Commerce: Consumer Protection Division

Schedule 4: Fares � metropolitan region

Metropolitan region fares � Schedule 4

Tariff	Flagfall	Distance rate	Detention
Tariff 1 Monday to Friday 6:00 am to 6:00 pm	$4.60	$1.87/km	$53.00/hour
Tariff 2 Monday to Friday 6:00 pm to 6:00 am Friday 6:00 pm to Monday 6:00 am All day Public Holidays	$6.65	$1.87/km	$53.00/hour
Tariff 3 When carrying 5 or more passengers	$6.65	$2.79/km	$82.50/hour

Other amounts (maximums)

Call out fee (but only if a guaranteed booking fee is not payable for the same hire)	$1.65
Guaranteed booking fee	$9.80
Surcharges
Ultra Peak - between midnight Friday to 3:00 am Saturday or midnight Saturday to 3:00 am Sunday	$3.90
Christmas Day - midnight to midnight	$5.55
New Year's Eve - 6:00 pm New Year's Eve to 6:00 am New Year's Day	$6.35

All vehicles are fitted with taxi meters that charge maximum approved fares and charges to passengers, though drivers and passengers can enter into a pre-agreement as to the fare amount without the use of a taxi meter.

There are no regulated minimum or maximum fares for other forms of on-demand transport, such as charter vehicles. Drivers and passengers must agree to a pre-agreed or contract fare prior to travel commencing.

For further information about operating at Perth Airport, visit the Perth Airport website.

Schedule 5 Division 1: Gascoyne region taxi fares

Fee type	Fee
Carnarvon, Denham and Exmouth
Taxi passenger fares Gascoyne (Schedule 5 Division 1): Tariff 1 flagfall	$4.60 [1]
Taxi passenger fares Gascoyne (Schedule 5 Division 1): Tariff 1 per km	$2.51 [2]
Taxi passenger fares Gascoyne (Schedule 5 Division 1): Tariff 1 detention per hour	$53.00 [3]
Taxi passenger fares Gascoyne (Schedule 5 Division 1): Tariff 2 flagfall	$6.65 [4]
Taxi passenger fares Gascoyne (Schedule 5 Division 1): Tariff 2 per km	$2.51 [5]
Taxi passenger fares Gascoyne (Schedule 5 Division 1): Tariff 2 detention per hour	$53.00 [6]
Taxi passenger fares Gascoyne (Schedule 5 Division 1): Tariff 3 flagfall	$6.65 [7]
Taxi passenger fares Gascoyne (Schedule 5 Division 1): Tariff 3 per km	$3.71 [8]
Taxi passenger fares Gascoyne (Schedule 5 Division 1): Tariff 3 detention per hour	$82.50 [9]
Taxi passenger fares Gascoyne (Schedule 5 Division 1): Ultra-peak surcharge	$2.90 [10]
Taxi passenger fares Gascoyne (Schedule 5 Division 1): Christmas Day surcharge	$5.55 [11]
Taxi passenger fares Gascoyne (Schedule 5 Division 1): New Year's Eve surcharge	$6.25 [12]
Taxi passenger fares Gascoyne (Schedule 5 Division 1): Call out fee	$1.65

[1] Initial charge incurred at the start of a taxi journey. Applies Monday to Friday, 6.00 am to 6.00 pm.

[2] Rate per kilometre travelled. Applies Monday to Friday, 6.00 am to 6.00 pm.

[3] Waiting time rate per hour. Applies Monday to Friday, 6.00 am to 6.00 pm.

[4] Initial charge incurred at the start of a taxi journey. Applies Monday to Friday, 6.00 pm to 6.00 am; Friday 6.00 pm to Monday 6.00 am; all day public holidays.

[5] Rate per kilometre travelled. Applies Monday to Friday, 6.00 pm to 6.00 am; Friday 6.00 pm to Monday 6.00 am; all day public holidays.

[6] Waiting time rate per hour. Applies Monday to Friday, 6.00 pm to 6.00 am; Friday 6.00 pm to Monday 6.00 am; all day public holidays.

[7] Initial charge incurred at the start of a taxi journey. Applies whenever five (5) or more passengers are carried.

[8] Rate per kilometre travelled. Applies whenever five (5) or more passengers are carried.

[9] Waiting time rate per hour. Applies whenever five (5) or more passengers are carried.

[10] Applies from midnight Friday to 5.00 am Saturday or midnight Saturday to 5.00 am Sunday.

[11] Applies between 12.00 am to 12.00 pm, 25 December.

[12] Applies between 6.00 pm, 31 December and 6.00 am, 1 January.

Schedule 5 Division 2: Goldfields/Esperance region taxi fares

Fee type	Fee
Coolgardie, Esperance, Hopetoun, Kalgoorlie/Boulder and Kambalda
Taxi passenger fares Goldfields/Esperance (Schedule 5 Division 2): Tariff 1 flagfall	$4.60 [1]
Taxi passenger fares Goldfields/Esperance (Schedule 5 Division 2): Tariff 1 per km	$1.96 [2]
Taxi passenger fares Goldfields/Esperance (Schedule 5 Division 2): Tariff 1 detention per hour	$53.00 [3]
Taxi passenger fares Goldfields/Esperance (Schedule 5 Division 2): Tariff 2 flagfall	$6.65 [4]
Taxi passenger fares Goldfields/Esperance (Schedule 5 Division 2): Tariff 2 per km	$1.96 [5]
Taxi passenger fares Goldfields/Esperance (Schedule 5 Division 2): Tariff 2 detention per hour	$53.00 [6]
Taxi passenger fares Goldfields/Esperance (Schedule 5 Division 2): Tariff 3 flagfall	$6.65 [7]
Taxi passenger fares Goldfields/Esperance (Schedule 5 Division 2): Tariff 3 per km	$2.79 [8]
Taxi passenger fares Goldfields/Esperance (Schedule 5 Division 2): Tariff 3 detention per hour	$82.50 [9]
Taxi passenger fares Goldfields/Esperance (Schedule 5 Division 2): Ultra-peak surcharge	$2.90 [10]
Taxi passenger fares Goldfields/Esperance (Schedule 5 Division 2): Christmas Day surcharge	$5.55 [11]
Taxi passenger fares Goldfields/Esperance (Schedule 5 Division 2): New Year's Eve surcharge	$6.25 [12]
Taxi passenger fares Goldfields/Esperance (Schedule 5 Division 2): Call out fee	$1.65