Hong Kong Taxi Payment Methods Explained｜A Practical Guide to Cash, Octopus, PayMe, FPS, Alipay and Credit Cards

Not necessarily. Hong Kong law does not require taxis to accept electronic payment, so cash is the only method guaranteed on any licensed taxi. Whether Octopus, credit card, PayMe, FPS, Alipay or WeChat Pay is available depends on whether the specific vehicle has the corresponding payment equipment or account. This is also why we ask passengers to state this when booking which electronic payment they'd like — we'll arrange a vehicle that supports it, so you don't discover on arrival that you can't pay.

We accept cash, Octopus, Visa/Mastercard credit cards, PayMe, FPS and Alipay. Since not every vehicle has the same payment equipment, please state your preferred electronic payment method when booking and we'll arrange a supporting vehicle. If you don't state this in advance and the vehicle only accepts cash, we'll try to help, but cannot guarantee an immediate switch to electronic payment.

No, you shouldn't be. The statutory taxi fare table lists the fare and four statutory surcharges ($6 per luggage piece, $5 per animal or bird, $5 per booking, wheelchairs and crutches free), not including electronic payment handling fees. If a driver charges extra for electronic payment without stating this in advance, you can ask for an explanation, request a receipt, and keep records to report to the police or Transport Department. Our fixed fares and 85% off quotes never change based on payment method.

Technically yes, but the driver may not have enough change. Practical advice: first, carry $100, $50 and $20 notes where possible; second, tell the driver upfront if you only have a large note, so they can prepare; third, for a larger amount (e.g. a $280 airport fixed fare), a $500 note is generally fine. If change truly can't be made, switch to electronic payment (if supported) or get change at a nearby shop.

Three things. First, the vehicle must have an Octopus reader installed — not every taxi has one; second, the card balance must be sufficient, the negative-balance feature has a cap, and a long-distance fare may exceed it, so top up in advance; third, confirm the transaction succeeded and check the deducted amount after tapping. If using mobile Octopus, ensure your device has enough battery. Actual functionality, negative-balance caps and top-up arrangements are subject to Octopus Cards Limited's announcements.

Generally the driver provides a phone number, FPS ID or QR code, and you enter the amount and transfer via your own bank or e-wallet app — the transfer is usually instant. Practical notes: first, confirm the payee name matches the driver before transferring; second, double-check the amount before confirming, since FPS transfers generally cannot be unilaterally reversed; third, keep a screenshot of success and note the plate number as proof of payment. Actual functionality and limits are subject to each bank's and payment operator's announcements.

Yes, but it likewise depends on whether the driver has an account that can receive payment. PayMe is a Hong Kong local e-wallet requiring a local phone number and local bank account to open, so visiting travellers generally cannot set it up on the spot — similar to FPS. If you're a local user and want to use PayMe, state this when booking; keep a screenshot of the successful transfer after paying. Actual functionality and limits are subject to the service operator's announcements.

It depends on which version the driver supports. Both Alipay and WeChat Pay have separate Hong Kong versions (AlipayHK, WeChat Pay HK) and mainland versions, which are different wallet systems; some payees support only one. If you use the mainland version to spend in Hong Kong, the transaction is generally converted to RMB at the prevailing exchange rate, and the specific rate, fees and coverage are subject to each payment operator's announcements. Practical advice: clearly state the version when booking, and prepare HKD cash as a backup.

Some vehicles can accept this. We accept Visa and Mastercard, but the vehicle must have a credit card terminal installed, so please state this when booking. Also note: first, overseas-issued credit cards may involve cross-border transaction fees charged by the issuing bank, unrelated to us; second, whether contactless payment works depends on the terminal model; third, if you need it for company reimbursement, remember to also request a receipt.

No. Hong Kong statutory taxi fares are calculated in HKD, and drivers will not accept RMB cash, US dollars or other foreign currency notes. Visiting travellers who haven't yet exchanged HKD should use electronic payment (state this when booking), or withdraw HKD at an ATM in the airport arrivals hall, or exchange small amounts of HKD cash at a currency exchange shop.

No. Hong Kong taxis have no mandatory tipping culture — the statutory fare is the amount due. A common local practice is rounding the change to a round number (e.g. paying $120 for a $117 fare without asking for the $3 back), but this is purely voluntary, not an obligation. If a driver actively asks for a tip, or overcharges under the pretext of "no change needed," you can ask for the full change based on the metered reading or confirmed fixed fare.

Please tell the driver on boarding or before arrival that you need a receipt — licensed taxis can provide receipts. Note that an electronic payment transfer screenshot is proof of payment, but it's not the same as a trip receipt; reimbursement usually requires the latter. If you regularly need reimbursement, a more convenient approach is to apply for a corporate monthly account — we handle reconciliation centrally and provide monthly statements, suitable for regular staff transfers, client airport pickups, and conference and exhibition transfers. See Corporate Transfers for details.

Four steps. First, ask the driver to explain the fare breakdown, checking it against the meter reading or confirmed fixed fare; second, request a receipt; third, note the plate number, boarding time and route (for electronic payment, also keep the transfer screenshot); fourth, if it can't be resolved on the spot, keep the receipt and payment record to report to the police or Transport Department. If you booked through us, you can also call 5584 6444 with the plate number, and we'll help follow up immediately.

No difference — both can use any payment method we accept. The difference is only in how the amount is calculated: a fixed fare is a total locked in before departure, already including tunnel fees, the return tunnel fee and luggage fee; meter 85% off is the statutory meter reading multiplied by 0.85, with luggage and tunnel fees charged as actually applicable. Either way, the payment method doesn't affect the amount.

The Transport Department has introduced the taxi fleet licensing system, regulating taxi fleets through taxi fleet licences to raise service quality; licensed fleets must comply with relevant legislation and the service requirements in their licence conditions. Five licensed fleets are currently in service: Amigo, Bumblebee Fleet, Big Boss Taxi, JOIE Fleet and Sing Kwan Taxi. Specific service requirements (including payment arrangements) are subject to Transport Department announcements. We are not one of these five licensed fleets — we're a call-a-taxi service dispatching only licensed taxis, and we confirm the payment method with you at booking. See Taxi vs Uber/Ride-Hailing for details.

Effective from 14 July 2024: red taxi first 2 km $29, then $2.1 per 200m or minute of waiting, dropping to $1.4 once the reading reaches $102.5; green taxi $25.5 / $1.9 / $1.4 after $82.5; blue taxi $24 / $1.9 / $1.6 after $195. There are only four statutory surcharges: $6 per luggage piece, $5 per animal or bird, $5 per booking, and wheelchairs and crutches free. The three cross-harbour tunnels charge a flat all-day rate of $25 for taxis; a further $25 return fee applies when not boarding at a cross-harbour taxi rank. Any other charges (such as the airport car park fee) are not statutory surcharges and must be stated in advance. See 2026 Fare Standard and Surcharge Guide for details.