GrabCab to raise taxi fares temporarily to help drivers amid volatile fuel prices

[SINGAPORE] GrabCab will be raising its taxi fares temporarily from Mar 30 to May 31 as fuel prices remain volatile due to the ongoing Middle East conflict. 

The adjustment applies only to metered taxi rides, which include those hailed on the street or rides booked through the Grab application. 

While flag-down fares remain unchanged at S$4.60 for four-seater rides and at S$4.80 for six-seater rides, unit fares will be raised from S$0.26 to S$0.27. 

Unit fares are charged for every 400 m travelled for the first 10 km, then every 350 m after that. Such fares are also charged for every 45 seconds of waiting time.

In a statement on Monday (Mar 23) Grab said that, assuming no waiting time, fares of all lengths of commutes will be raised. 

Fares for short commutes, such as a 4 km ride from Novena to Orchard, will increase by around S$0.08. 

For a mid-range journey of 12 km from Ang Mo Kio to City Hall for example, fares will rise S$0.28. 

Fares for long-distance rides – such as a 30 km drive from Woodlands to Changi Airport – will be raised by S$0.80.

“The math for our drivers has changed quickly with fuel prices increasing at the pump. Following the fuel vouchers we distributed last week, this metered ‘top-up’ is a necessary next step to ensure that the extra costs drivers face are partially offset by every trip they complete,” a Grab spokesperson said.