Are taxis in Singapore metered?

After travelling to many Places in the world, Singapore still has the best taxi system available. Don't worry as ALL taxis are required by the law to charge customers based in meters.



Yes, all official taxis in Singapore are strictly metered, and it is a legal requirement for drivers to use them for every journey. The fare system is highly regulated by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) to prevent disputes and ensure transparency. When you board a taxi—whether it's a standard "ComfortDelGro" cab or a premium "MaxiCab"—the meter starts at a "flag-down" rate (typically between $3.90 and $5.00 depending on the vehicle type). The fare then increases based on distance (every 400m up to 10km, then every 350m) and waiting time (every 45 seconds). It is important to note that Singapore has several "surcharges" that are added to the metered fare: there is a 25% peak-hour surcharge (Mon-Fri mornings and every evening), a 50% midnight surcharge (12:00 AM to 6:00 AM), and location-specific surcharges for pickups at Changi Airport, Seletar Airport, or the Mandai Wildlife Reserve. While ride-hailing apps like Grab and Gojek offer "fixed-price" options, traditional street-hailed taxis or those found at taxi stands will always use the meter, and you can request a printed receipt at the end of the trip to see a full breakdown of the distance, time, and additional fees.

People Also Ask

With some accessible prices, taking a taxi is one of the best ways to get around the city. The average price of a journey in the centre of the city is between 5 SGD ( US$ 3.70) and 10 SGD ( US$ 7.40).

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The answer is yes, they can. In fact, many taxi drivers prefer upfront payments as it guarantees that they will be paid for their services.

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How a taximeter works. Taximeters determine the distance travelled and the elapsed time of your taxi ride. The apparatus uses electric pulses to calculate the distance. A sensor attached to the car's transmission system sends pulses to the taximeter each time the taxi travels a certain distance.

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Taxi. Taxis are available for hire at the taxi stands in the Arrival areas of Terminals 1, 2, 3 and 4. A ride to the city takes about 30 minutes and costs between S$20 and S$40. All fares are metered.

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Currency. The official currency of Singapore is the Singapore dollar. Credit cards are widely accepted in restaurants, bars, shops, hotels and taxis in Singapore.

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Singapore's transportation network offers access to every corner of the island, either by bus, MRT underground or taxi. A useful tip for travellers is to avoid rush hour traffic between 8-9am and 5-7pm. Any time outside these hours still remains a pleasure to roam about in Singapore.

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Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) The MRT is a cheap, fast and convenient way for you to get around Singapore. The trains are frequent, arriving about every 5 minutes, as well as extremely clean and safe.

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How do taxi drivers learn the streets in their area? Many of them grew up in the area or have lived there for awhile so they know the streets simply from being a part of the community. Others, who have to learn on the job, simply pick it up from the many hours of driving the streets each week!

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