St Andrews sits about 55 miles from Edinburgh Airport, across the Forth and up through north east Fife. That is a long, fixed-price sort of journey rather than a hop across town, and the honest answer is that yes, you should arrange it before you fly. Here is what actually happens if you do not, and how to book sensibly.
The run from the airport to St Andrews takes roughly 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes on a normal day, out on the M9 spur, over the Queensferry Crossing, up the M90 and across on the A91 through Melville Lodges and Guardbridge. Add 20 to 30 minutes if you land into the Edinburgh rush or if there are roadworks on the Forth approaches.
For a trip of that length, the rank at the terminal is the wrong tool. Rank taxis run on the meter, and a metered fare to Fife will typically land somewhere north of £150, sometimes considerably more if traffic is slow, because the meter keeps ticking whether the car is moving or not. Pre-booked private hire is quoted as a fixed price agreed in advance, so a delay on the Forth is the operator's problem rather than yours.
Edinburgh Airport does have a taxi rank, and on a quiet Tuesday afternoon you will probably get a car. The problems come at the times most people actually arrive. Late evening arrivals, the tail end of a bank holiday weekend, and the first wave of morning flights all produce queues, and some drivers are reluctant to take a fare that puts them 55 miles from their licensing area with a likely empty return leg.
There is also no one tracking your flight. If you are two hours late off a delayed inbound, a pre-booked driver sees that and adjusts. A rank you have not spoken to does not know you exist. The same applies in reverse: if you clear a quiet baggage hall in fifteen minutes, a booked driver can often meet you early.
Some dates in the St Andrews calendar empty the local fleet completely. If your trip overlaps with any of these, a week or two of notice is not generous, it is the minimum.
Outside those windows, 48 to 72 hours is usually comfortable for a standard car, though a larger vehicle or a very early pickup is always worth locking in sooner.
Most transfer problems are luggage problems. A standard saloon will not take four golfers with four sets of clubs plus suitcases, and finding that out on the kerb at 10pm is a miserable start to a trip. Be blunt about what you are carrying.
Give your flight number rather than just a time, so arrivals can be tracked. Say whether you want meet and greet inside the terminal with a name board, which usually carries a small charge for car park access, or a kerbside pickup at the designated area. And mention child seats at the booking stage, since they have to be fitted and cannot be conjured up on the day.
You do not have to take a car the whole way. The tram from the airport to Haymarket, then a train to Leuchars, then a five to ten minute taxi into St Andrews, works well and costs a fraction of a private transfer. It is a genuinely good option if you are travelling light and not in a hurry. Allow around two and a half hours door to door and check the last Leuchars connection, because evenings thin out.
Where a private transfer earns its keep is bulky luggage, groups, late arrivals, small children, or a tee time the following morning that you do not want to gamble on. If none of those apply, save your money and take the train.
For most dates, 48 to 72 hours gives an operator enough room to allocate the right vehicle. For graduation weekends, the Dunhill in early October, or any group needing a large vehicle, book two to three weeks out.
A reputable operator will track your flight number and adjust the pickup time at no extra cost for reasonable delays. Free waiting time after landing is commonly 45 to 60 minutes on international arrivals, so check what is included when you book.
Most local operators accept cash or card in the vehicle, and many take payment or a deposit at the time of booking instead. Confirm the method when you book, as some will ask for card details to hold a late night or peak date slot.
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