Taking a taxi or ride-hailing service after midnight in Singapore costs more than a daytime trip. The extra fee, called the midnight surcharge, is a standard part of fare structures for both street-hail taxis and app-based services. This article explains exactly when the surcharge applies, how much it adds to your fare, which companies charge it, and what you can do to reduce the cost of late-night travel.
The midnight surcharge is not a hidden fee. It is a regulated or published add-on that compensates drivers for operating during late hours when demand is lower or when safety and convenience factors come into play. Understanding the details helps you plan trips and avoid surprises on your bill.
What Is the Midnight Surcharge?
The midnight surcharge is an additional fee applied to taxi and ride-hailing fares during late-night and early-morning hours. For taxis in Singapore, it is formally known as the “Midnight Surcharge” and is regulated by the Land Transport Authority (LTA). For ride-hailing services such as Grab, Gojek, and Tada, the surcharge is a dynamic or fixed fee set by each platform.
The surcharge is separate from other add-ons such as ERP surcharges, peak period surcharges, and airport surcharges. It applies on top of the base fare, distance charges, and time charges.
When Does the Midnight Surcharge Apply?
The timing of the midnight surcharge is consistent across all licensed taxi companies in Singapore. It applies every day, including public holidays.
- Start time: 12:00 AM (midnight)
- End time: 5:59 AM
For ride-hailing apps, the surcharge window may differ slightly. Grab, for example, typically applies a “late night fee” from 12:00 AM to 5:59 AM. Gojek uses the same window. Tada and Zig may vary, but most follow the same hours as taxis.
It is important to note that the surcharge applies to the entire trip if the trip starts during the surcharge window. If you book a ride at 11:50 PM and the trip ends after midnight, the surcharge does not apply because the trip started before 12:00 AM. Conversely, if you book at 12:01 AM, the surcharge applies for the whole trip, even if you arrive before 1:00 AM.
How Much Is the Midnight Surcharge for Taxis?
For metered taxis in Singapore, the midnight surcharge is a fixed percentage of the metered fare. As of 2025, the rate is:
- 50% of the metered fare (excluding ERP charges, peak period surcharges, and other add-ons)
This means if your metered fare is S$20.00, the midnight surcharge adds S$10.00, making the subtotal S$30.00 before other surcharges.
The 50% rate has been in place for many years and applies to all taxi companies: ComfortDelGro, SMRT, TransCab, Premier Taxis, Prime Taxi, and others. The surcharge is displayed on the taxi meter as a separate line item on the receipt.
For a full breakdown of how metered fares are calculated, see our flagdown fare breakdown.
How Much Is the Midnight Surcharge for Ride-Hailing Apps?
Ride-hailing apps do not use a fixed percentage. Instead, they apply a flat fee or a dynamic multiplier. Here are the typical charges for each platform as of early 2025.
Grab
Grab applies a “Late Night Fee” of between S$3.00 and S$8.00, depending on demand and location. The fee is shown before you confirm the booking. In central areas like the CBD, Clarke Quay, or Orchard Road, the fee is usually at the higher end. In suburban areas, it may be lower. Grab also uses dynamic pricing during late hours, which can increase the base fare further. See our Grab vs Gojek pricing comparison for more details.
Gojek
Gojek charges a “Late Night Surcharge” of S$3.00 to S$6.00 for trips between 12:00 AM and 5:59 AM. Like Grab, the exact amount depends on real-time supply and demand. Gojek’s surcharge is generally slightly lower than Grab’s in many areas.
Tada
Tada, a Singapore-based ride-hailing app, applies a midnight surcharge of S$2.00 to S$4.00. Tada is known for its no-commission model for drivers, which can result in lower fares for passengers. The midnight surcharge is clearly shown in the fare estimate. For a full comparison, read our Tada vs Zig review.
Zig (formerly Ryde)
Zig applies a flat S$2.00 midnight surcharge for trips starting between 12:00 AM and 5:59 AM. This is the lowest among major apps. However, Zig’s driver availability may be lower than Grab or Gojek during late hours.
Other Apps
Smaller apps such as CDG Zig (ComfortDelGro’s app) and SMRT’s app follow the same 50% surcharge as metered taxis, since they book licensed taxis. If you book a ComfortDelGro taxi via the CDG Zig app after midnight, the 50% surcharge applies.
For a side-by-side view of all surcharges, see our surcharge comparison across all apps.
How the Midnight Surcharge Interacts with Other Fees
The midnight surcharge does not replace other surcharges. It stacks on top of them. Here is how a typical late-night taxi fare is calculated:
- Flagdown fare: S$3.90 (for ComfortDelGro, as of 2025)
- Distance and time charges: calculated per km and per minute
- Midnight surcharge: 50% of the sum of items 1 and 2
- ERP charges: if you pass through ERP gantries (rare after midnight, but possible near the city)
- Peak period surcharge: does not apply after midnight
- Airport surcharge: if you start or end at Changi Airport, the airport surcharge applies on top
- Booking fee: if you booked via phone or app (S$0.30 to S$2.30)
For ride-hailing apps, the fare estimate shown before booking already includes the midnight surcharge and any dynamic pricing adjustments. However, if you take a street-hail taxi, the final fare may include additional ERP charges that were not known at the start.
For details on distance and time charges, see distance and time charges.
Why Does the Midnight Surcharge Exist?
The midnight surcharge serves several purposes:
- Compensate drivers for late-night work: Driving after midnight involves higher personal risk, lower visibility, and potential fatigue. The surcharge makes it more worthwhile for drivers to stay on the road.
- Balance supply and demand: Fewer drivers are available after midnight, but demand from night workers, partygoers, and early-morning travellers remains. The surcharge encourages more drivers to work late shifts.
- Cover higher operating costs: Some drivers report higher fuel consumption in stop-start city traffic at night, though this is minor. The surcharge also helps cover the cost of cleaning the vehicle after late-night passengers.
In Singapore, the LTA regulates the midnight surcharge for taxis to prevent excessive pricing. For ride-hailing apps, the surcharge is not regulated, but competition among apps keeps it within a reasonable range.
How to Minimise the Midnight Surcharge
If you frequently travel after midnight, there are several ways to reduce the surcharge or avoid it entirely.
Time Your Trip Before Midnight
The simplest way is to start your trip before 12:00 AM. If you leave a venue at 11:45 PM, you avoid the surcharge even if the trip ends after midnight. For short trips, this can save you 50% on the metered fare or S$3 to S$8 on app fares.
Use Apps with Lower Surcharges
Compare the midnight surcharge across apps before booking. Tada and Zig often have lower flat fees (S$2 to S$4) compared to Grab (S$3 to S$8). If you are near a taxi stand, a street-hail taxi may be cheaper than an app if the 50% surcharge is lower than the app’s dynamic price.
For strategies on choosing between street-hail and app, read street hail taxi vs app.
Share a Ride
If you are travelling with friends or colleagues, splitting the fare reduces the impact of the surcharge. Some apps also offer shared ride options that pool passengers going in the same direction. See shared ride options for details.
Use Promo Codes and Referral Credits
Many ride-hailing apps offer promo codes that apply to any trip, including late-night trips. You can also earn referral credits by inviting friends. These credits offset the surcharge. Check our promo codes and referrals page for current offers.
Plan for Off-Peak Travel
If your schedule is flexible, consider travelling just after the surcharge ends at 6:00 AM. Fares drop immediately, and you may also benefit from lower demand. For more tips, see off-peak ride hacks.
Consider Public Transport Alternatives
For some late-night trips, the MRT and bus network may still be running. The last trains on most lines depart between 11:30 PM and 12:30 AM. Night buses (services with the prefix “N”) operate on Fridays, Saturdays, and eves of public holidays. If your destination is along a night bus route, the cost is a fraction of a taxi fare.
Midnight Surcharge and Airport Trips
Trips to or from Changi Airport after midnight incur both the midnight surcharge and the airport surcharge. For taxis, the airport surcharge is S$6.00 for trips from the airport (or S$8.00 for limousine taxis). For ride-hailing apps, the airport surcharge varies. This combination can make a late-night airport trip expensive.
For example, a taxi from Changi Airport to Tampines at 1:00 AM might have a metered fare of S$12.00. The midnight surcharge adds S$6.00 (50%), and the airport surcharge adds S$6.00, for a total of S$24.00 before ERP. The same trip at 10:00 AM would cost about S$12.00 plus airport surcharge, or S$18.00.
If you are arriving at Changi Airport after midnight, you can reduce costs by using a ride-hailing app with a lower flat surcharge. See our late night airport transfers guide for specific recommendations.
For general airport transfer information, visit Changi Airport taxi guide and airport ride-hailing pickup.
For Seletar Airport, which has limited late-night flight schedules, the midnight surcharge applies similarly. See Seletar Airport transfers.
Practical Examples of Midnight Surcharge Costs
Below are three realistic scenarios showing how the midnight surcharge affects the final fare.
Example 1: Short trip within the city (street-hail taxi)
- Route: Clarke Quay to Bugis (2.5 km)
- Time: 1:30 AM
- Metered fare: S$7.50 (flagdown + distance + time)
- Midnight surcharge (50%): S$3.75
- ERP: S$0.00
- Booking fee: S$0.00 (street hail)
- Total: S$11.25
Without the surcharge, the fare would be S$7.50.
Example 2: Longer trip from city to suburb (Grab)
- Route: Orchard Road to Jurong East (15 km)
- Time: 2:00 AM
- Base fare (Grab): S$18.00
- Late night fee: S$6.00
- ERP: S$0.00
- Total: S$24.00
Without the surcharge, the fare would be S$18.00.
Example 3: Airport trip (taxi from Changi to Pasir Ris)
- Route: Changi Airport to Pasir Ris (7 km)
- Time: 3:00 AM
- Metered fare: S$10.00
- Midnight surcharge (50%): S$5.00
- Airport surcharge: S$6.00
- Total: S$21.00
Without the surcharges, the fare would be S$10.00.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the midnight surcharge apply on public holidays?
Yes. The surcharge applies every day, including public holidays, from 12:00 AM to 5:59 AM.
Does the midnight surcharge apply to limousine taxis?
Yes. Limousine taxis (such as Mercedes-Benz taxis) also apply the 50% midnight surcharge on the metered fare. The flagdown fare for limousine taxis is higher (S$4.50), so the surcharge amount is larger.
Can I negotiate the midnight surcharge with a taxi driver?
No. The surcharge is mandatory and displayed on the meter. Drivers cannot waive it. For ride-hailing apps, the surcharge is set by the platform and cannot be negotiated.
Is the midnight surcharge the same for all taxi companies?
Yes. The 50% rate is set by the LTA and applies to all licensed taxi companies. For ride-hailing apps, each company sets its own rate.
Does the midnight surcharge apply to GrabHitch or other carpool services?
GrabHitch does not apply a midnight surcharge. The fare is fixed based on distance. However, GrabHitch drivers are not required to accept trips, and availability after midnight is very low. Other carpool services like RydePool may have their own rules.