Taxis in Australia

A taxi or cab is a type of vehicle for hire with a single driver and used by a small group of people to travel from one location to another. Taxi rides are often a non-shared ride with usually a pick-up and drop-off location determined by the service provider instead of the passengers.

There are a few ways to hire a taxi. Most places would allow taxis to be hailed or flagged down on the side of the street. Taxi stands are located in areas where a large number of people can be found such as airports, shopping malls, hotels, and other places, where passengers wait for a vacant taxi to approach. Customers can also call the taxi company and request for a pick-up at any location. Some taxi companies have mix systems wherein taxi drivers respond to radio calls from their head office for a pick-up or also by being flagged down by passengers on the side of the street.

The fare of the taxi is higher than other forms of public transportation and calculated according to tariff rate, initial meter drop, distance and waiting time all calculated by a taximeter.
The Australian Taxi Industry Association represents the Australian Taxi Industry to the government. It was formed by state and territory-based taxi associations to find solutions to regulatory and policy matters than concern taxi companies.

Tips when taking the taxi

• Speak up and clearly when giving directions to the driver. Some drivers might not be able to understand your directions and it might lead you to the wrong destination.
• Tipping the driver is not required but it is customary to do so if the driver did a good job in bringing you to your destination.
• Always take note of the taxi's number and ask for a receipt. The taxi company's contact number is located on the receipt or inside the taxi in case you need to report any bad experience or if you lost a personal item in the vehicle.
• Look for taxi stands when you are in major cities. If you are unable to find a taxi, you can always look for a major tourist attraction or a hotel. In most cases, a taxi sign written in English will be posted there so you won't have too much difficulty getting a taxi in people congested areas.
• As much as possible, keep all your personal belongings with you inside the cab at all times. Avoid putting luggage inside the car's trunk. In case of emergency, you may not have the time to get all your things from the trunk. It will be much easier to fetch all your belongings and get away from the taxi.
• It is advisable to flag down a taxi that is easily identifiable by their colors, markings, and models.
• Legitimate taxis have meters and two-way radios. If there are no metered taxis in the area, make sure to negotiate the price upfront with the driver of the next taxi you're hailing.