There are three ways to book a Silver Taxi in Melbourne. All three work. The right one depends on how urgently you need the car, what type of trip you are booking and whether you want a written record of the confirmation.
Method 1: Phone
Call 0412 456 588. This is the fastest booking method and the right choice for same day trips, trips needed within the next hour or bookings that involve specific requirements you want to talk through, such as an early morning airport run, driver assistance for a medical appointment or a Silver Service booking for a corporate trip.
The call takes about two minutes if you have your pickup address and destination ready. The driver is assigned at the time of the call and you receive verbal confirmation of the booking details before you hang up.
The line is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you are calling at 3am for an early departure, someone will answer.
Method 2: WhatsApp
Send your booking details to 0412 456 588 via WhatsApp. This works well for advance bookings where you want a written record, for passengers who prefer to communicate by message rather than phone call, and for bookings that include specific details you want confirmed in writing, such as a flight number or a child seat requirement.
For a WhatsApp booking, include the following in your message:
- Full pickup address
- Full destination address
- Date and time
- Number of passengers
- Any special requirements: child seat (include child’s age and weight), Cabcharge, Silver Service, meet and greet at airport arrivals
- For airport arrivals: your flight number so the driver can monitor for delays
You will receive a confirmation message back, typically within a few minutes during business hours and within 15 to 30 minutes for late-night messages.
Method 3: Email
Email book@silver-taximelbourne.com.au for corporate bookings, recurring arrangements or situations where you need a paper trail for accounts or expense reporting.
Email is the right channel if your company wants to set up a corporate account, arrange monthly invoice billing or book a standing schedule of airport runs for travelling staff. Include the same details as a WhatsApp booking in your email, plus any purchase order number or account reference your company requires.
Email response times during business hours are typically within a few hours. For urgent same day bookings, use phone or WhatsApp instead.
What Information to Have Ready Before You Book
Regardless of which method you use, having the following details ready makes the booking faster and reduces back-and-forth:
- Full pickup address (street number, street name, suburb)
- Destination (full address or well-known building name such as Monash Medical Centre or Melbourne Airport Terminal 2)
- Date and time
- Number of passengers
- Special requirements:
- Child seat (provide the child’s age and approximate weight)
- Wheelchair or mobility aid accommodation
- Silver Service booking tier
- Meet and greet at airport arrivals
- Cabcharge or corporate account payment
If you are booking for an airport arrival, your flight number is the most important piece of information. Without it, the driver cannot monitor delays.
How Far in Advance Should You Book?
For most standard local trips around SE Melbourne, booking 30 minutes ahead is enough. Silver Taxi operates in the area and can typically reach most SE Melbourne suburbs within 15 to 25 minutes of a booking.
For airport departures, booking the night before is strongly recommended, particularly for early morning international flights. There is no buffer time on a 4am departure. Knowing your driver is confirmed the previous evening removes one thing to manage on a morning when you already have enough going on.
For airport arrivals, booking at least 24 hours in advance is the preferred approach. Provide your flight number so the driver can monitor landing time and terminal.
For medical appointments requiring driver assistance or a specific vehicle, book at least two hours ahead. For recurring medical bookings such as weekly dialysis or fortnightly chemotherapy runs, set up a standing arrangement at the time of your first booking.
For weddings, formals and special occasions, book as soon as you have a confirmed date and time. Silver Service vehicles for formal occasions can be booked days or weeks in advance.
What Happens After You Book
For same day bookings, the driver is assigned immediately and you receive confirmation during the call or by reply message. The driver’s details are provided before the trip begins.
For advance bookings, you receive confirmation via the same channel you used to book. On the day of the trip, the driver will arrive at the agreed time. If there is an unexpected delay on the driver’s end, you will receive a call or WhatsApp message in advance.
For airport arrivals, you do not need to contact Silver Taxi when you land unless your flight has been cancelled. The driver monitors the flight. Standard delays are tracked automatically.
Payment Options
Silver Taxi accepts:
- Cash — accepted for all trips
- EFTPOS — card payment available in the vehicle
- Cabcharge — accepted for all trip types including medical, corporate and airport
- Corporate account — invoice billing for businesses running regular taxi trips
Corporate Accounts
If your business runs regular taxi trips for staff or clients, a corporate account simplifies the process. Account holders do not pay per trip. Silver Taxi issues a monthly invoice covering all trips made against the account.
To set up a corporate account, call 0412 456 588 or email book@silver-taximelbourne.com.au with your business name, ABN, billing contact and an estimate of monthly trip volume. The account can be active within a day or two.
Tipping
Tipping is not standard practice in the Australian taxi industry. The fare on the meter is the full amount owed. If you want to round up or add something after a long trip or for a driver who went out of their way to help, that is appreciated but entirely optional. No suggestion will be made by the driver.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far in advance should I book a taxi in Melbourne?
For most trips around SE Melbourne, booking 30 minutes in advance is enough. Silver Taxi operates in the area and can typically dispatch a driver within 15 to 25 minutes for standard suburban pickups.
For airport departures, booking the night before or at least two hours in advance is recommended. Early morning flights in particular benefit from an advance booking because there is no buffer time if something goes wrong on the morning. Knowing your driver is confirmed gives you one less thing to manage.
For medical appointments requiring driver assistance, a child seat or a specific type of vehicle, book at least two hours ahead. For weddings and formal occasions, book as soon as the date is confirmed.
There is no upper limit on how far ahead you can book. Some corporate clients book weekly airport runs days or weeks in advance through a standing arrangement. For anything urgent or time sensitive, earlier is always safer.
Can I book a Silver Taxi for a Melbourne Airport pickup in advance?
Yes. Advance booking is not just available for Melbourne Airport pickups, it is the recommended approach. When you book in advance, you provide your flight number and the driver monitors your arrival. If your flight is delayed, the driver adjusts their schedule. You do not need to contact Silver Taxi to report standard airline delays.
For pickups from Melbourne Airport (arrivals), book at least 24 hours in advance where possible. Call or WhatsApp 0412 456 588 with your flight number, arrival time, number of passengers and pickup address.
The driver will be at the terminal when your flight lands, accounting for the time needed to collect bags and clear customs for international arrivals. For domestic arrivals, the driver aims to be ready at the kerbside within 10 minutes of your landing time. The airport return pickup fee of $4.50 applies to all airport pickups on top of the metered fare.
What payment methods does Silver Taxi Melbourne accept?
Silver Taxi accepts four main forms of payment: cash, EFTPOS, Cabcharge and corporate account billing.
Cash is accepted for all trips. EFTPOS is available in the vehicle for card payments. Cabcharge is accepted, which makes Silver Taxi suitable for passengers whose medical provider, employer or aged care facility has issued them a Cabcharge card for travel expenses.
Corporate accounts are available for businesses that run regular taxi trips for staff or clients. Corporate account holders receive invoices for monthly billing rather than paying per trip. To set up a corporate account, call 0412 456 588 or email book@silver-taximelbourne.com.au.
Tipping is not standard practice in the Australian taxi industry and is not expected. If you want to tip after a long trip or for exceptional service, it is appreciated, but there is no obligation and no suggestion will be made by the driver. The fare on the meter is the full amount owed.
