Plenty of people search for a pet friendly taxi in Melbourne, so here is the straight answer from us. Assistance animals, including guide dogs, travel in every 13 Melbourne Taxi, because Victorian law says they must. Pets are a different matter: 13 Melbourne Taxi does not offer a pet transport service. This guide explains the difference, what to tell us when you book, and how to plan a trip when a pet is part of the move.
The Short Answer
- Assistance animals: always welcome, on every booking, in every vehicle we send.
- Pet dogs, cats and other pets: we do not offer a pet service, and we cannot book a car for a pet.
- Moving with a pet: use a specialist pet transport company for the animal, and book us for yourself and your luggage.
Assistance Animals Ride on Every Booking
Safe Transport Victoria, the state regulator for taxis and rideshare, is clear that assistance animals, including guide dogs, are allowed in all taxis and rideshare vehicles, and that refusing a passenger with their assistance animal is an offence. Drivers who refuse can face a fine, prosecution or the loss of their accreditation.
An assistance animal is a trained working animal, not a pet. It is trained to help a person with a disability, and it can go anywhere its handler needs it to. Safe Transport Victoria’s Drive With Heart program also points out that some assistance animals wear a jacket or badge, but not all of them do, so a missing vest is never a reason to turn a passenger away.
Where the Animal Sits
You decide where your assistance animal sits. Most dogs settle in the footwell, and the driver can slide the front passenger seat forward to make more room.
What to Tell Us When You Book
You do not have to tell us you are travelling with an assistance animal. It still helps, because we can send a car with comfortable room for you, the animal and your bags. A few details make the pickup smoother:
- That you are travelling with an assistance animal, in the notes for the driver on our booking form or when you call.
- How many passengers and how much luggage, so we can choose between a sedan, an SUV or a maxi taxi.
- Exactly where to meet you, such as a unit number or, for Melbourne Airport pickups, your flight number.
The fare is worked out the same way as any other trip. You can get a fare estimate online, or call or email us for a fixed quote agreed before you travel.
If Something Goes Wrong
If any driver refuses you because of your assistance animal, Safe Transport Victoria takes complaints on 1800 638 802, and you can also contact the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission on 1300 292 153. If it happened on one of our bookings, please tell us as well on 0405 678 001 or at info@13melbournetaxi.com.au, so we can follow it up.
Travelling With a Pet in Melbourne
The law that protects assistance animals does not cover pets, so whether a pet can ride in a taxi is up to each taxi company and driver. 13 Melbourne Taxi does not offer a pet transport service. There is no pet option on our booking form, and we cannot promise a car that will take a pet dog, cat or other animal, so please do not book with us expecting to bring a pet along.
That is not the dead end it sounds like. If you are moving house, relocating interstate or bringing a pet home from a flight, a specialist pet transport company is usually the better choice anyway. Their vehicles are set up for animals, they handle crates properly, and many of them handle airline pet collections.
Pets Flying Into or Out of Melbourne Airport
Pets often travel with an airline’s pet or freight service rather than in the cabin, and they may be collected from a different place and at a different time to your own arrival. Check with your airline how your pet is travelling and where to collect it, then arrange a pet transport company to meet it. Meanwhile, you can book a taxi from Melbourne Airport for yourself, your family and your luggage.
Choosing a Carrier or Crate
Whoever moves your pet, a good carrier makes the trip calmer:
- Pick a secure, well ventilated carrier or crate that suits your pet’s size and meets your airline’s rules if it is flying.
- Let your pet get used to the carrier at home for a few days before the trip.
- Put a familiar blanket inside and label the carrier with your name and phone number.
- Give your pet a chance to drink and go to the toilet before it is loaded.
Planning Your Trip With 13 Melbourne Taxi
We run 24 hours a day across Melbourne, with sedans, SUVs, maxi taxis for groups and luggage, and silver service cars. You can book online and see a fare estimate straight away, or ask for a fixed quote by phone or email. Call 0405 678 001 any time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you take a dog in a taxi in Melbourne?
An assistance dog, such as a guide dog, yes. Assistance animals are allowed in all taxis and rideshare vehicles in Victoria, and refusing a passenger with their assistance animal is an offence. A pet dog is different: there is no rule that a taxi must carry one, and 13 Melbourne Taxi does not offer a pet transport service.
Does 13 Melbourne Taxi offer pet friendly taxis?
No. We do not run a pet transport service and there is no pet option on our booking form, so we cannot book a car for a pet dog, cat or other animal. For a pet, a specialist pet transport company is the better choice.
Do I need to tell you I am travelling with an assistance animal?
You do not have to, and your assistance animal travels with you either way. Mentioning it in the notes for the driver, or when you call, helps us send a car with comfortable room for you, the animal and your luggage.
Does my assistance animal need to wear a vest or ID?
No. Safe Transport Victoria notes that some assistance animals wear a jacket or badge, but not all of them do. A missing vest is never a reason for a driver to refuse you.
Where does an assistance animal sit in the taxi?
The passenger decides. Most assistance dogs settle in the footwell, and the driver can slide the front passenger seat forward to give more room.
How do I get my pet to or from Melbourne Airport?
Book a specialist pet transport company for your pet, and check with your airline where and when your pet will be collected. You can then book a 13 Melbourne Taxi for yourself, your family and your luggage.