Taxi information

Rank and hail taxi fares order

Transport for NSW sets the maximum fares for rank and hail taxi services that operate in NSW. Fares for booked services (including booked taxi services) are not regulated, other than trips using the Taxi Transport Subsidy Scheme.

The current Fares Order (PDF, 90.58 KB) was made on 1 February 2018. Maximum fares did not increase. Nominal maximum fares have not increased since 1 July 2014.

In November 2017 the fares order was amended to remove a booking fee, set a maximum cleaning fee of $120, remove the return toll for Sydney Harbour Bridge and Tunnel northbound trips and to permit  taxi service providers to pass on the cost of the temporary $1 Passenger Service Levy plus 10 cents GST (totalling $1.10) to their passengers. This remains the case under the current Fares Order.

Fare calculation devices

The Point to Point Transport (Taxis and Hire Vehicles) Regulation 2017 contains rules for fare calculation devices (or meters) used in taxis vehicle in NSW.

Passenger Transport Regulation 2007 Schedule 2 (PDF, 143.13 KB)

Taxi cameras

All taxis in NSW are required to have security cameras. Taxis used to provide a taxi service in the Metropolitan, Newcastle or Wollongong transport district or within the Central Coast local government area, and that ply or stand for hire on a road or road related area, must be fitted with an approved vehicle tracking device and duress alarm.

The Taxi Security System Specifications provides the technical specifications for approved security cameras, duress alarms and vehicle tracking devices that may be fitted to a taxi in NSW.

The Safeguards for the Use of Security Camera Systems outlines the standards for the access, handling, storage and transferring of video recordings made by security cameras installed in taxis.

Taxi camera systems which were compliant under the previous rules (PDF, 258.51 KB) can still be used, but these new specifications will allow more modern technologies to be used to replace legacy camera systems.

Taxi licence determinations

The Point to Point Transport (Taxis and Hire Vehicles) Act 2016 (the Act) requires Transport for NSW to determine before 31 March each year the number of annual taxi licences to be released  commencing on the following 1 July. Transport for NSW may make additional determinations.

In making the determination for licences, Transport for NSW must consider factors outlined in s73 of the Act, those being:

(a) Likely passenger demand and latent demand for taxi services.

(b) The performance of existing taxi services.

(c) The demand for new taxi licences.

(d) The viability and sustainability of the taxi industry.

(e) Any other matters Transport for NSW considers relevant, having regard to the objective of ensuring improved taxi services.

On 30 March 2020, Transport for NSW (TfNSW) made a determination about the number of taxi licences to be issued in the year commencing on 1 July 2020:

  • Zero taxi licences to be issued for Sydney (the Metropolitan Transport District); 
  • Zero taxi licences to be issued for areas of NSW outside the Metropolitan Transport District.

On 1 December 2020, Transport for NSW made a determination to enable a Fringe – Helensburgh & Metropolitan taxi licence category to be established and made an additional taxi licence determination for three taxi licences to be issued under this licence category.

More information about the 2020 taxi licence determination and previous determinations are available at the links below.

Taxi Licence Category and WAT Licence Fee Determinations

Under the Point to Point Transport (Taxi and Hire Vehicles) Act 2016, Transport for NSW determines the categories of taxi licences that may be issued by the Point to Point Transport Commissioner, and also determines the licence fee for a wheelchair accessible taxi licence. 

Two determinations were made on 9 November 2017:

Referrals to IPART

The Minister for Transport and Roads may make a referral to the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) for an investigation and a report making recommendations as to the number of taxi licences to be issued for a particular period and also as to the maximum fares for taxi services.

Previous IPART reports on taxi licences determinations are available on its website.

Taxi licence tender process

Once Transport for NSW has determined the number and type of taxi licences to be released in a particular period, the Point to Point Transport Commissioner will conduct a taxi licence tender in accordance with the Point to Point Transport (Taxis and Hire Vehicles) Act 2016.

For more information about taxi licence tenders please visit the Commissioner's website.