When you book a taxi or a ride-hailing vehicle in Singapore, the fare you pay is rarely just the metered distance and time charges. One component that often appears on receipts and fare breakdowns is the booking fee. This fee is a separate charge added by the operator for the service of dispatching a vehicle to your location. Understanding how booking fees work, when they apply, and how they vary between companies can help you make more informed choices and potentially save money on your trips.

Booking fees in Singapore are not regulated by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) in the same way as metered taxi fares. Instead, they are set by individual operators. For taxis hailed via an app or phone, the booking fee is added on top of the metered fare and any surcharges. For ride-hailing services like Grab and Gojek, the booking fee is typically included in the upfront fare you see before confirming. This article provides a factual breakdown of booking fees across major operators in Singapore, including ComfortDelGro, SMRT, Premier, Grab, Gojek, and TADA. It also explains how booking fees interact with peak period surcharges and airport surcharges, and offers tips on minimising their impact.

What Is a Booking Fee?

A booking fee is a charge levied by a taxi or ride-hailing operator for providing a booking service. This fee covers the cost of operating the booking platform, whether it is a telephone call centre, a mobile app, or a website. It is distinct from the fare for the actual journey, which covers distance, time, and any surcharges. In Singapore, booking fees are typically a fixed dollar amount per trip, although some operators use a percentage-based model or a dynamic fee that varies with demand.

Booking fees apply only when you book a ride in advance or on demand through a dispatch system. If you hail a taxi on the street or at a taxi stand, you generally do not pay a booking fee. However, you may still pay other surcharges such as ERP or peak period charges. The key distinction is that the booking fee is a service fee for the convenience of having a vehicle sent to you, rather than finding one yourself.

Booking Fees for Taxi Operators

Singapore's major taxi operators each have their own booking fee structures. These fees are published on their websites and are subject to change. The following table summarises the standard booking fees as of early 2025.

ComfortDelGro Taxi

ComfortDelGro is the largest taxi operator in Singapore, with a fleet of over 10,000 taxis. Their booking fee applies to all rides booked via the ComfortDelGro app, phone, or website. The standard booking fee is SGD 2.30 for a normal booking. However, there are variations:

  • Advance booking: For bookings made more than 30 minutes in advance, the fee is SGD 3.30.
  • Peak period booking: During peak hours (6:00 AM to 9:30 AM and 6:00 PM to 11:59 PM on weekdays, and 6:00 AM to 11:59 PM on weekends and public holidays), the fee is SGD 3.30.
  • Changi Airport booking: For pickups at Changi Airport, the booking fee is SGD 3.30 regardless of time.
  • Phone booking: Booking via the call centre incurs an additional SGD 0.50 surcharge on top of the standard fee.

ComfortDelGro also offers a