Last updated: 20 July 2026
Pricing
This page explains how a Vaai fare is worked out. All prices are in South African Rand (ZAR) and include VAT where applicable. Rates below are the current base rates and may be updated from time to time — the fare shown to you in the app before you confirm a trip is always the rate that applies to that trip.
How a fare is calculated
Every trip fare is made up of three parts:
- Base fare — a fixed amount charged the moment a trip starts.
- Distance rate — charged per kilometre travelled from pickup to drop-off.
- Time rate — charged per minute of trip duration, which accounts for waiting in traffic.
Fare = (Base fare + Distance rate × km + Time rate × minutes) × Surge multiplier × Zone multiplier
Base rates by vehicle class
| Class | Seats | Base fare | Per km | Per minute |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | 4 | R25.00 | R8.50 | R0.80 |
| Accessible | 4 | R30.00 | R9.00 | R0.85 |
| XL | 7 | R45.00 | R12.00 | R1.00 |
| Premium | 4 | R50.00 | R14.00 | R1.20 |
Surge pricing
When rider demand in an area outpaces the number of available drivers, a surge multiplier (up to 2×) may apply to encourage more drivers online and manage demand. Surge is always shown in the app and included in the upfront fare quote before you confirm a trip — you never pay a surged rate you weren't shown first.
Zone pricing
Certain zones (for example airports or event venues with special access arrangements) may carry a fare modifier reflected in the upfront quote. This is disclosed before you confirm your trip.
Booking / platform fee
A platform commission (currently 15%of the fare, plus a small flat fee where applicable) is retained by Vaai from the driver's side of the fare to cover payment processing, insurance, safety infrastructure (in-app SOS, trip sharing, 24/7 monitoring) and platform operations. This does not change what you, the rider, are quoted and charged.
Cancellation fee
Riders can cancel a trip free of charge within 3 minutes of requesting it. After that grace period, or if a driver arrives at the pickup point and the rider is a no-show, a cancellation fee of R20.00 may apply. See our Refund & Cancellation Policy for full details.
Tolls, parking and surcharges
Any toll road fees, airport surcharges or parking costs incurred during a trip are added to the fare and shown in your trip receipt.
Payment
Fares are paid securely in-app via card (processed by Paystack) or, where enabled, cash. Card details are entered directly into Paystack's hosted payment page — Vaai never stores your card number or CVV.
Questions about a fare
If you believe you were charged incorrectly, contact us at support@vaai.taxiwith your trip details and we'll review it — see our Refund Policy for how disputed charges are handled.