Peak service taxis
Peak service taxis improve the availability of taxis at night and during special events.
Information on this page
What are peak service taxis?
| The Victorian Government has introduced peak service taxis for metropolitan Melbourne to improve the availability of taxis in late afternoon, evening and early morning, and during special events. |  |
Peak service taxis, identifiable by their distinctive green tops, operate between 3pm and 7am in metropolitan Melbourne, and can also operate 24 hours a day during the Australian Formula One Grand Prix, and on Melbourne Cup Day and Oaks Day.
Operating a peak service taxi provides Melbourne's best taxi drivers with the chance to be their own boss and run their own successful business.
Successful applicants are required to:
- Pay an annual fee for the right to operate a Peak Service taxi-cab.
- Pay a prescribed annual administration fee.
- Complete a Taxicare Taxi Operator Training Course.
- Purchase a vehicle.
- Paint the body of the vehicle Victorian Taxi yellow and the roof Victorian Taxi green.
- Install an approved taxi-cab security camera.
- Establish an agreement with an authorised taxi network service provider.
Licence-holders are not permitted to sell or assign their Peak Service taxi licence.
Latest peak service taxi licence issue
The Government has issued a total of 600 peak service taxi licences between 2003 and 2009, with approximately 100 licences issued each year, as part of a
taxi and hire car reform package.
In April 2009, the Government announced the offer of 100 metropolitan peak service taxi licences, half of which have been allocated for use on environmentally-friendly hybrid vehicles.
There was an overwhelming response from the industry, with a total of 645 applications received.
For more information,
contact the Victorian Taxi Directorate.
Operating conditions during the 2009 Spring Racing Carnival and 2009/10 Cruise Ship season
As specified in their licence conditions, metropolitan peak service taxis are authorised to operate 24 hours on Melbourne Cup Day (Tuesday, 3 November 2009) and Oaks Day (Thursday, 5 November 2009).
Metropolitan peak service taxis are also authorised to operate between 7 am and 12 noon from the
Station Pier precinct*, Port Melbourne, during the 2009/10 Cruise Ship season on the following dates:
- Wednesday, 18 November 2009
- Wednesday, 16 December 2009
- Wednesday, 9 December 2009
- Tuesday, 29 December 2009
- Monday, 11 January 2010
- Sunday, 24 January 2010
- Saturday, 6 February 2010
- Friday, 19 February 2010
- Thursday, 4 March 2010
Peak service taxis are not authorised to undertake any street hire (rank/hail) or radio bookings during these extended hours other than for trips commencing from Station Pier.
* Station Pier precinct covers the Station Pier; Waterfront Place; and Beach Street, Port Melbourne between Bay Street and Swallow Street, Port Melbourne.