page_title: Taxis in Australia
section_title: Victoria
hierarchical_section_title: Taxis in Australia / Current industry structure by state / Victoria
caption_attribution_description: English: 2013 Mercedes-Benz C 200 CDI (W204) sedan, Silver Top Silver Service. Photographed in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Vehicle registration enquiry resultsJurisdictionVictoriaRegistrationM9108Chassis codeWDD2040012A863938Engine code65191331600299Compliance date2013-08Year of manufacture2013
context_page_description: Taxis in Australia are highly regulated by each Australian state and territory, with each state and territory having its own history and structure. In December 2014, there were 21,344 taxis in Australia. Taxis in Australia are required to be licensed and are typically required to operate and charge on a fitted taximeter. Taxi fare rates are set by state or territory governments. A vehicle without a meter is generally not considered to be a taxi, and may be described, for example, as a hire car, limousine, carpool, etc. Most taxis today are fuelled by liquid petroleum gas. Cabcharge Australia owns and operates the Cabcharge payment system, which covers 98% of taxis in Australia, and operates one of Australia's largest taxi networks.
  Taxi services are particularly valuable to less mobile groups in the community, such as elderly and disabled people. As a result, government intervention has historically ensured that taxi services have assisted in ensuring equity, reliability, quality, and safety. At the same time, regulation has created barriers to entry and limited competition in the sector.
context_section_description: Taxis and private hire cars are a part of public transport in Victoria. In December 2014, there were 5,778 taxis in Victoria. Each taxi is required to be licensed and one vehicle only is permitted to operate on each licence. The number of licences issued is restricted, but transfers of a licence can take place. Licence fees were abolished in 2018.
  Eight taxi licence holders own and control more than 10 licences. The largest licence holders are Cabcharge Australia and the Gange Corporation, both of which hold licences under a variety of names. Cabcharge also operates the 13CABS booking network, and the Gange Corporation operates the Silver Top Taxis booking network. These companies are the two main network service providers in the greater Melbourne area. Taxi operators pay the booking service an affiliation fee. 
  More than 60% of licences are assigned (or leased or rented) to taxi operators, who pay the licence holder assignment fees. These fees fluctuate, and typically are in the order of $24,000 per annum. The operator owns, maintains and operates the taxi vehicle as well as the taximeter. Taxi operators may drive their taxis or may employ drivers. In June 2016 there were 14,771 active taxi drivers. Taxi drivers are required to be registered, and their registration certificate must be displayed in the taxi. A taxi operator can sell the taxi, comprising the assigned licence, vehicle and meter, as a going concern. Besides receiving the assignment fees from the taxi operator, licence holders also commonly benefit from capital growth in licence values, or carry the risk of a decline in the market value of a licence.
  Concern about the availability and quality of taxis continues to be a major public issue in Victoria. 
  Significant reforms were made to the industry in 1994 under the Kennett Government, including taxis being required to be painted canary yellow. In 2002, peak service taxis, which must be yellow and a green top, were introduced to operate at night, between 3 pm and 7 am, and at special events only. In 2013, the taxi regulations were relaxed to allow colours other than yellow.
  The taxi industry in Victoria was the subject of a major government inquiry, the Taxi Industry Inquiry in 2011.
  The market value of a taxi licence fluctuates over time. They were estimated to be valued at around $464,000, in October 2008. In April 2011, metropolitan taxi licences had an approximate market value of $512,500. In June 2016 the approximate market value of a metro licence was $158,688. Taxi licences were abolished in 2018, and licence holders are to be compensated at a cost of $494 million.
  In 2008, there were 3,774 licensed taxis in Melbourne, including 235 wheelchair accessible taxis. In 2011, there were 5,045 taxi licences across Victoria, including 502 wheelchair accessible taxis. In December 2014, there were 5,778 taxis in Victoria. More recently, the number of taxi licences were:
  In 2018, Uber, DiDi, Shofer, Taxify, GoCatch, Shebah, and Ola Cabs were legalized in Victoria. Taxi licences were abolished and licence holders are to be compensated by an 8-year A$1 levy on all taxi and ride-booking services in Victoria.
caption: Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Silver Top Silver Service (regular service)
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