The rank at Melbourne Airport is built for ones, twos, and the occasional four. When eight people in matching tour t-shirts walk out of T2 with twelve suitcases, the queue pauses while the supervisor works out what cab to allocate them, and the people behind them fidget. I have seen tour leaders cheerfully book two cabs at the rank. I have also seen them try to cram nine passengers into a maxi cab that seats eight. One of those works.
This is how to get a group of any size out of Tulla without the drama.
The vehicle options
Three basic categories of taxi exist in Melbourne.
- Standard sedan or SUV. Seats up to 4 passengers. Three suitcases in the boot comfortably. Most cabs at the rank are this class.
- Maxi cab (wheelchair-accessible taxi). Seats up to 11 passengers (including driver, so 10 paying passengers in practice, sometimes regulated to 8 depending on the vehicle). Multiple rows, significant luggage space. Can remove seats for extra bags or a wheelchair.
- Two or more cabs travelling together. The default for groups over 11, or groups with lots of oversized luggage.
The tipping point between one maxi and two sedans is usually around 5 to 6 passengers.
For 1 to 4 passengers
A single sedan works. You can walk up to the rank and take the next cab. If you have more than three normal suitcases you will have to be creative about fitting them in, but a driver will usually help.
No need to pre-book unless you are arriving late, with kids, or on a peak Friday or Sunday evening.
For 5 to 8 passengers
This is the maxi cab window. One maxi handles 5 to 8 people with luggage comfortably.
Three ways to secure a maxi.
At the rank. Every Melbourne Airport rank has a separate shorter queue for maxi cabs, usually 10 metres to the side of the standard rank. Ask the supervisor. Wait time is usually similar to the standard queue.
See your exact fare — enter your suburb
Fixed price, all tolls and GST included. No card required.
Pre-book. The most reliable option. The operator assigns a maxi specifically to your booking, so there is no queueing and no doubt about whether a maxi will be available. A fixed-fare maxi is typically 20 percent above the sedan rate.
On demand through an app. UberXL or DiDi Max run vehicles with 6-passenger capacity, but actual maxi cabs with 8+ seats are rarer on apps. Not ideal for larger groups.
For a party of 6 with luggage going to the CBD, a maxi cab is about $95 metered or $98 fixed-fare. That works out to roughly $16 per person, which is cheaper than 6 SkyBus tickets ($144) or two separate sedans ($130+).
For 9 to 11 passengers
You are at the top end of a single maxi. A pre-booked maxi with all seats is the right tool, assuming you can physically fit everyone. Do the luggage maths: 10 suitcases in a maxi is tight, and some operators regulate their maxis to 8 paying passengers plus the driver for comfort.
Above 8 paying passengers, most groups split into a maxi plus a sedan.
For 12 or more
You are booking two or three cabs. The logistics become "did everyone get in the right cab" rather than "did we book the right cab".
Best practice for groups of 12+:
- Pre-book. Always. Walking 12 people to the rank and hoping three cabs appear at once is a gamble.
- Use one operator. Splitting the booking across two operators means two different pickup arrangements. Confusing. Use one.
- Assign each passenger to a specific cab. In advance. A list of names, a list of cab assignments, and the operator can text each driver their passenger list.
- Consider a coach or van transfer for 14+. At that size, a dedicated charter bus is often cheaper and simpler than three maxi cabs. Many Melbourne operators offer both under one brand.
The pickup logistics for groups
At Melbourne Airport specifically, two scenarios play out.
Rank walk-up for a group. Possible up to a maxi-sized group (5 to 8). Above that, the rank supervisor will ask you to wait and will radio for additional cabs, or will direct you to pre-book. Waiting on the rank for a coincidentally-available maxi cab plus sedan is a 20 to 40 minute proposition in peak hours.
Pre-booked group pickup. The pre-booked pickup zone sits at the north end of the T1/T2/T3 car park. Each cab gets a bay number. The operator texts each driver your group's numbers and tells them which bay to queue at. The group walks to the zone and finds their vehicles.
For any group of 6 or more, pre-booking saves 20 minutes and removes the uncertainty. The pre-booking guide covers the mechanics.
What group travel actually costs
Rough per-person maths for a MEL-to-CBD run with typical fixed-fare pricing:
| Group size | Vehicles | Total fare | Per person |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 sedan | $82 | $82 |
| 2 | 1 sedan | $82 | $41 |
| 3 | 1 sedan | $82 | $27 |
| 4 | 1 sedan | $82 | $21 |
| 5 | 1 maxi | $98 | $20 |
| 6 | 1 maxi | $98 | $16 |
| 8 | 1 maxi | $98 | $12 |
| 10 | 1 maxi + 1 sedan | $180 | $18 |
| 15 | 2 maxis + 1 sedan | $278 | $19 |
Beyond 5 passengers, the per-person cost is actually lower than SkyBus ($24/person) or a regular taxi split among 4. The maxi-cab economics work strongly in groups' favour.
Special cases
A few scenarios worth flagging.
Families with young children. Car seats need to be requested at booking. Rear-facing capsules, forward-facing, and boosters are all available for an additional fee ($10 to $25 per seat depending on type). Not every cab carries them — pre-book with the specific requirement.
Sporting teams or clubs. Equipment often exceeds luggage allowances. Specify at booking that you have "oversized" items and the operator will allocate vehicles with appropriate capacity.
Wedding parties. Some operators offer dedicated wedding transfer services, which include multiple matched vehicles, a specific meet time, and more premium vehicles. See the chauffeur vs taxi comparison for context.
Corporate groups. Business travellers often want each passenger on a separate Cabcharge account, meaning multiple cabs even when a single maxi would fit. Discuss with the operator at booking.
Accessibility needs. Maxi cabs are wheelchair-accessible by default and can remove seats to accommodate mobility aids. Specify at booking to ensure the right vehicle is allocated.
The rule
For group travel, the question is not sedan or maxi, it is pre-book or wing it. Pre-book every time for 5 or more passengers. You save 20 minutes, you lock in a price, and you know the vehicle is actually on the ground at the airport when you land. The few extra minutes of admin before your flight pays for itself at the kerb.