Taxi and minibus areas and fares
The Northern Territory (NT) Government sets and oversees maximum fares for taxis in the NT. This applies to areas declared for taxi operation.
Where taxis can operate
A taxi can only operate in the area specified in the licence issued to that vehicle.
There are 3 main journeys that can take place in and around a taxi area.
Each has individual rules on how a taximeter is used and what fares can be charged.
Operate only within a declared taxi area
The driver must operate the taximeter on the correct rate for the entire journey.
A passenger can't be charged more than the fare displayed.
Operate partly in a declared taxi area
The driver must operate the taximeter for the portion of the journey inside the area.
They can either:
- negotiate a fare with the passenger for the rest of the journey outside the taxi area or
- choose to use the taximeter for the entire journey and charge the metered fare at the end.
Operate outside the declared taxi area
The NT Government doesn't regulate fares for travel outside the declared taxi area. This means drivers may choose not to operate the taximeter.
Drivers can either:
- negotiate a fare with the passenger before the start of the journey or
- choose to use the taximeter and charge the metered fare at the end.
Declared taxi and minibus areas
Find out the taxi and minibus areas for your region:
- Alice Springs PDF (375.1 KB)
- Darwin and Palmerston PDF (339.5 KB)
- Gove PDF (318.3 KB)
- Katherine PDF (120.5 KB)
- Tennant Creek PDF (114.0 KB).
Minibus fares
Minibus operators must attach signs showing the fare inside the vehicle.
The signs must be clearly visible from all passenger-seating positions.
Minibus fares are not set by the NT Government. They're set by operators based on how far you're travelling.
Taxi fares
Taxi fares may vary based on the:
- area you're travelling in
- time of day, weekends or public holidays
- type of travel - for example, high occupancy service.
While operators can offer lower fares to passengers at their discretion, you can't be charged more than the maximum set fare.
High occupancy rate
Groups of 5 or more people can be charged a high occupancy rate. This rate only applies to taxis that are designed and licensed to carry more than 5 passengers.
The rate changes depending on what time and day of the week you're travelling. They will increase further if you travel:
- between 6pm and 6am, Monday to Friday
- on weekends
- on public holidays.
Read below to find out the flagfall and rates for your location.
Darwin and Palmerston
Standard fare is Flagfall + Rate Per kilometre + Waiting time
| Flagfall | Rate per kilometre | Waiting time | High occupancy (5 or more) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6am - 6pm Monday - Friday | $5.70 | $1.78 | 10 cents for every 5.6 seconds | Flagfall + wait time + $2.49 per km |
| 6pm - 6am Monday - Friday All day Saturday, Sunday and public holidays | $6.90 | $2.18 | 10 cents for every 5.6 seconds | Flagfall + wait time + $3.05 per km |
Alice Springs
Standard fare is Flagfall + Rate Per kilometre + Waiting time
| Flagfall | Rate per kilometre | Waiting time | High occupancy (5 or more) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6am - 6pm Monday - Friday | $5.30 | $2.24 | 10 cents for every 5.7 seconds | Flagfall + wait time + $3.14 per km |
| 6pm - 6am Monday - Friday All day Saturday, Sunday and public holidays | $6.60 | $2.65 | 10 cents for every 5.7 seconds | Flagfall + wait time + $3.72 per km |
Katherine
Standard fare is Flagfall + Rate Per kilometre + Waiting time
| Flagfall | Rate per kilometre | Waiting time | High occupancy (5 or more) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6am - 6pm Monday - Friday | $4.90 | $2.18 | 10 cents for every 6.9 seconds | Flagfall + wait time + $3.07 per km |
| 6pm - 6am Monday - Friday All day Saturday, Sunday and public holidays | $5.90 | $2.74 | 10 cents for every 6.9 seconds | Flagfall + wait time + $3.83 per km |
Tennant Creek
| Flagfall | Rate per kilometre | Waiting time | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6am - 6pm Monday - Friday | N/A | $11.10 | N/A |
| 6pm - 6am Monday - Friday All day Saturday, Sunday and public holidays | $4.10 | $2.15 | 10 cents for every 4.4 seconds |
In Tennant Creek special journeys are charged at:
- $52.80 for the first hour
- $27.60 for each following hour or part of that.
Gove
Standard fare is Flagfall + Rate Per kilometre + Waiting time
| Flagfall | Rate per kilometre | Waiting time | High occupancy (5 or more) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6am - 6pm Monday - Friday | $7.20 | $2.32 | 10 cents for every 5.9 seconds | Flagfall + wait time + $3.25 per km |
| 6pm - 6am Monday - Friday All day Saturday, Sunday and public holidays | $8.60 | $2.84 | 10 cents for every 5.9 seconds | Flagfall + wait time + $3.86 per km |
In Gove special journeys are charged at:
- $58.10 for the first hour
- $27.80 for each following hour or part of that.
Prepaid fares
On Fridays and Saturdays, between 10pm and 5am, taxi drivers can request their passengers prepay their estimated taxi fare.
For more information about prepaid fares, read the CPV20 information bulletin PDF (708.4 KB).
A schedule of estimated prepaid fares is available for each declared taxi area. You can use it to calculate an estimate on your prepaid fare. The schedules are also available in each taxi.
Darwin and Palmerston
| Distance | Estimated fare for up to 4 passengers | Estimated fare for 5 or more passengers |
|---|---|---|
| 5km | $16.90 | $21.25 |
| 10km | $27.80 | $36.50 |
| 15km | $38.70 | $51.75 |
| 20km | $49.60 | $67.00 |
| 25km | $60.50 | $82.25 |
| 30km | $71.40 | $97.50 |
| 35km | $82.30 | $112.75 |
| 40km | $93.20 | $128.00 |
Get a printable version of the Darwin and Palmerston prepaid fares PDF (424.3 KB).
Alice Springs
| Distance | Estimated fare for up to 4 passengers | Estimated fare for 5 or more passengers |
|---|---|---|
| 5km | $19.25 | $24.60 |
| 10km | $32.50 | $43.20 |
| 15km | $45.75 | $61.80 |
| 20km | $59.00 | $80.40 |
| 25km | $72.25 | $99.00 |
| 30km | $85.50 | $117.60 |
| 35km | $98.75 | $136.20 |
| 40km | $112.00 | $154.80 |
Get a printable version of the Alice Springs prepaid fares PDF (424.1 KB).
Katherine
| Distance | Estimated fare for up to 4 passengers | Estimated fare for 5 or more passengers |
|---|---|---|
| 5km | $18.70 | $24.15 |
| 10km | $32.40 | $43.30 |
| 15km | $46.10 | $62.45 |
| 20km | $59.80 | $81.60 |
| 25km | $73.50 | $100.75 |
| 30km | $87.20 | $119.90 |
| 35km | $100.90 | $139.05 |
| 40km | $114.60 | $158.20 |
Get a printable version of the Katherine prepaid fares PDF (424.3 KB).
Tennant Creek
| Distance | Estimated fare for up to 4 passengers |
|---|---|
| 5km | $14.75 |
| 10km | $25.5 |
| 15km | $36.25 |
| 20km | $47.00 |
| 25km | $57.75 |
| 30km | $68.50 |
| 35km | $79.25 |
| 40km | $90.00 |
Get a printable version of the Tennant Creek prepaid fares PDF (424.3 KB).
Gove
| Distance | Estimated fare for up to 4 passengers | Estimated fare for 5 or more passengers |
|---|---|---|
| 5km | $22.20 | $27.30 |
| 10km | $36.40 | $46.60 |
| 15km | $50.60 | $65.90 |
| 20km | $64.80 | $85.20 |
| 25km | $79.00 | $104.50 |
| 30km | $93.20 | $123.80 |
| 35km | $107.40 | $143.10 |
| 40km | $121.60 | $162.40 |
Get a printable version of the Gove prepaid fares PDF (424.2 KB).
Other fees, conditions and exemptions
The following may also apply:
- You may have to pay for an exit toll when leaving the airport. This toll is charged by the airport and is not part of the metered taxi fare.
- Taxi drivers may add a 5% surcharge on payments made with a debit or credit card.
- If you soil a taxi, the driver can charge you a $50 cleaning fee.
- If you're a member of the NT Transport Subsidy Scheme, you don't have to prepay.
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