Drivers

The Department has released the Passenger Transport Act Review report which outlines the outcomes of the Passenger Transport Act 1994 (the Act) review.

The outcomes of the review have been informed by feedback from industry, customers, and key stakeholders, along with ongoing engagement with the sector.

The report makes 29 recommendations for changes to how the sector is regulated. These are designed to:

• improve the safety of drivers, passengers and other road users
• support better services and better protect consumers
• address the unacceptable and appalling behaviours experienced by drivers and passengers.

The review recommendations will transition the taxi industry into a modern, fit for purpose regulatory structure, with a new service delivery model for wheelchair accessible transport to be identified through a market sounding process.

The Department is now working with industry and key stakeholders to progress changes to the Act in line with key recommendations in this review and supported by a Taxi Industry Reform Package.

Amendments to the Act will then be introduced into the South Australian Parliament in early 2025.

The Service SA Centre at Mile End permanently closed on 31 May 2024 to make way for upgrades to the nearby road network and the development of a new South Australian Ambulance Service (SAAS) Emergency Operations Centre.

Passenger transport transactions, previously only available at the Mile End centre, will now be available across all Service SA Centres. This expansion will allow passenger transport drivers and operators to conveniently visit any Service SA Centre across the state to complete their transactions. This includes centres that operate on Saturdays.

Many transactions are already available across all Service SA Centres, these include:

• New Driver Accreditation
• Renew Driver Accreditation
• Modify Driver Accreditation
• New Rideshare Operator Accreditation
• Vehicle upgrades and downgrades for rideshare
• Changes to booking services for rideshare operators
• Renew Rideshare Operator Accreditation
• Cancellation of Driver Accreditation
• Cancellation of Operator Accreditation
• Annual Instalments for all classes of Operator Accreditation
• Renewal of a Taxi Plate Licence

Find a Service SA Centre near you

South Australian Transport Subsidy Scheme (SATSS)

Paper-based vouchers are no longer issued for subsidised taxi fares.

SATSS members are now issued with a barcoded member ID card which will be scanned by drivers using the SATSS app to access subsidised fares. Visit the SATSS website to learn more.

To process subsidised taxi fares, all accredited drivers must:

• have a mySA GOV account;
• have the SATSS app downloaded on their mobile device; and
• accept the SATSS card via the app as part payment for a journey if presented (taxi drivers only).

Drivers will be in breach of regulations if they do not accept SATSS via the app.

Drivers who do not have the SATSS app downloaded or refuse to provide a SATSS member with a subsidised fare will be in breach of the SATSS Conditions of Use for Drivers of Taxi Services and Certain Car Services.

For more information about changes to SATSS for drivers, and how to download and use the SATSS app, visit SATSS Drivers.

If you have any enquiries, please send an email to DIT.ALCEnquiries@sa.gov.au

Lifting fee

For South Australian Transport Subsidy Scheme (SATSS) trips

The State Government pays a lifting fee of $25 plus GST to the driver for all 50 and 75% SATSS trips booked through the Access Taxi Centralised Booking Service (Access Taxi CBS).

This replaces the on-time bonus previously payable to the driver and the $10 lifting fee that previously applied to 75% SATSS trips.

Only one lifting fee continues to apply per trip, regardless of how many SATSS member passengers are being transported in the trip. Lifting fee payments will not be paid for journeys deemed to be falsified or fraudulent.

Learn more about how the lifting fee works.

Non-SATSS trips

The State Government has extended the application of the $25 lifting fee to Access Taxi customers who use a wheelchair, scooter or large (ride-on) mobility aide and are not currently a member of the South Australian Transport Subsidy Scheme (SATSS).

This arrangement was previously only available for SATSS members for trips booked through the Access Taxi CBS.

Non-SATSS customers who use a wheelchair, scooter or large (ride-on) mobility aide and are not currently a SATSS member can register for a non-SATSS Access Taxi Card.

The non-SATSS Access Taxi Card supports drivers in providing the lifting service for all eligible non-SATSS Access Taxi trips to ensure customers receive a consistent, accessible and reliable service. Customers who do not hold a non-SATSS Access Taxi Card can still book an Access Taxi.

Drivers must comply with the Lifting Fee Determinations made under Schedule 3 Clause 1(5) of the Regulations. An extract of the determination outlining the Conditions for Drivers and Operators can be accessed here.

A transitional period was in place from Friday 1 December 2023 to Sunday 30 June 2024 that allowed drivers to claim the lifting fee even if a customer did not present a non-SATSS Access Taxi Card. From Monday 1 July 2024 non-SATSS Access Taxi Card holders will be required to present their card to drivers for the lifting fee to be applied.

The lifting fee is not applicable for non-SATSS trips that are covered under contracted arrangements with facilities such as schools. The lifting fee will apply to access trips booked by hospital staff in an individual capacity and where the metered fare is applied.

Learn more about how the lifting fee works.

Inappropriate use of SATSS vouchers, a SATSS Member ID Card or a non-SATSS Access Taxi Card may result in penalties and/or referral to the Passenger Transport Standards Committee for breaches of the Passenger Transport Regulations 2009.

• COVID-19 face mask requirements
• COVID SAfe Check-In
• COVID-19 vaccination requirements
• General information

COVID-19 face mask requirements

Effective from 20 September 2022, masks are no longer required to be worn on passenger transport services. This includes:

• taxis
• rideshare
• trains
• trams
• buses
• chauffeur
• other hire or charter vehicle arrangements.

People who wish to wear masks on passenger transport services may continue to do so.

For more information from SA Health click here.

COVID SAfe Check-In

From 12 March 2022, operators in the point to point industry (taxi, rideshare and chauffeur) are no longer required to make sure vehicles have a COVID Safe Check-In QR Code available.

COVID-19 vaccination requirements

Vaccination requirements for the point to point industry have now changed.

The emergency declaration issued on 10 December 2021, which required passenger transport workers to be vaccinated, has been revoked. A copy of the current Emergency Management (Education and Early Childhood Settings and Passenger Transport Vaccination) (COVID-19) (Revocation) Direction 2022 which came into effect on 31 March 2022 can be accessed here: Passenger transport vaccination | SA.GOV.AU: COVID-19

For more information, contact the SA COVID-19 information line at 1800 253 787.

General information

For local information and advice on general COVID-19 matters contact the SA COVID-19 information line at 1800 253 787.

If you require mental health support surrounding COVID-19 contact your local GP or the SA COVID-19 Mental Health Support Line at 1800 632 753.

For information on the current state, please see the below links for information for drivers of public transport (including taxis, chauffeur and rideshare) regarding COVID-19:

Australian Government – Department for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts

COVID-19 Information for Public Transport

Safe Work Australia

Guidance from Safe Work on taxi and rideshare

SA Health

Guidance for Transport and Tour Vehicles

General COVID-19 Information

Department of Treasury and Finance

Support for businesses, jobs and the community impacted by COVID-19

• Eligibility for driver accreditation
• Driving in metropolitan and non-metropolitan Adelaide

If you are interested in becoming a taxi driver, contact an Accredited Taxi Booking Service or the Taxi Council of South Australia to assist you with driver training and to provide information about your application.

If you are interested in applying as a ridesourcing (rideshare) driver and you are the registered owner of the vehicle you will be using, you need both driver and operator accreditation and you will be responsible for your vehicle inspections, insurances and accreditation.

If you would like to operate a chauffeur or special purpose service, contact the Accreditation and Licensing Centre (ALC) for advice.

To apply for driver accreditation for a large passenger vehicle, you need to have held any class of Australian driver's licence for a minimum period of six months.

For more information on driving for these services, and to access application forms and booking services, see Drivers and operators.

Eligibility for driver accreditation

Before you can drive a public passenger vehicle in South Australia, you must have South Australian driver accreditation, which can be issued by the Accreditation and Licencing Centre or Service SA Mile End.

Driver accreditation is issued for a maximum period of three years or in line with your Working with Children Check or Driver’s Licence expiry, whichever is sooner.

There are a number of eligibility requirements to becoming an accredited passenger transport driver. You must:

• hold a current unrestricted South Australian driver’s licence;
• have been driving for a minimum of six months in Australia;
• want to drive a public passenger vehicle, such as a taxi, ridesource (rideshare) vehicle, chauffeured vehicle, or bus.

Anyone wanting to provide ridesourcing services must also obtain operator accreditation if the vehicle is their own.

For more information, see Driver accreditation for large or small passenger vehicles.

To find out more about applying for driver accreditation, see Apply for driver accreditation.

Driving in metropolitan and non-metropolitan Adelaide

Drivers must be aware of the distinction between metropolitan Adelaide and non-metropolitan areas to ensure they are accredited appropriately.

Metropolitan taxi and small passenger vehicles are currently restricted to operating within the metropolitan Adelaide boundary under the Passenger Transport Act 1994, which now includes the Adelaide Hills and Mount Barker Council areas.

Country taxis and small passenger vehicles are restricted to operating outside of the metropolitan Adelaide boundary, the non-metropolitan area. Note that country taxis and small passenger vehicles operating within the Adelaide Hills and Mount Barker Council areas an continue to operate within these areas as country service providers.

A map of  the new metropolitan Adelaide area is available below.

• Point to Point metropolitan Adelaide boundary (PDF, 1444 KB)

For more information about the expansion to the Adelaide Hills and Mount Barker Council areas, visit Changes to the point to point industry.

View the accreditation requirements for rideshare drivers in metropolitan areas (PDF, 744 KB).

View the accreditation requirements for rideshare drivers in non-metropolitan areas (PDF, 680 KB).

All South Australian accredited drivers must comply with the following requirements:

• Hold a current full South Australian driver’s licence, not subject to any conditions such as provisional, probationary or suspended.
• Have held a full Australian driver’s licence for a minimum of six months.
• Have a valid Working with Children Check issued by the South Australian Department of Human Services.
• Have a National Criminal History Check issued by SA Police (SAPOL) or an Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) accredited body that includes a complete criminal history.
• Meet minimum requirements for fitness, medical and eyesight assessed by a medical practitioner in accordance with the National Assessing Fitness to Drive guidelines for commercial vehicle drivers.
• Be eligible to work within Australia.
• Have sufficient English speaking, reading, and writing abilities.
• Advise the ALC within two (2) business days of the laying of a charge for an offence;
• Advise the ALC within two (2) business days of a finding by a court of law that they have been found guilty or convicted of an offence; and
• Advise the ALC within seven (7) business days of a change to their medical condition and/or medication.
• Taxi drivers must also successfully complete an approved training course.

Find out more about Driver accreditation for large or small passenger vehicles.

Driving safely and meeting obligations

In addition to the South Australian laws in place to protect users of the road, there are additional requirements for drivers responsible for the safety of their passengers.

While working, accredited drivers:

• cannot refuse a passenger with a working animal or discriminate against a person because of the person’s sex, race, disability, age, marital status, sexuality or pregnancy;
• cannot drive a public passenger vehicle if their driver’s licence is expired, suspended or disqualified, or has been cancelled;
• must display their photo ID accreditation;
• cannot refuse a passenger with an assistance dog;
• must observe safe driving laws and must not have any concentration of alcohol in their blood or presence of illicit drugs while driving a public passenger vehicle; and
• must accept South Australian Transport Subsidy Scheme (SATSS) vouchers as part payment for a journey if presented (taxi drivers only).

Drivers who do not comply with these requirements may face either temporary or permanent disqualification of their accreditation.

Note that only taxis are permitted to stop at ranks and only taxis can perform rank and hail work.

The information provided relates to the requirements of the South Australian Government. It is recommended that drivers also ensure that they are aware of any policies of their associated booking service or operator accreditation.

For information on vehicle standards and signage, visit the Industry page.

For information on fees and fares, visit the Industry page.

The Point to Point Transport Service Transaction Levy ($1 Levy) applies to all trips that commence in the metropolitan area by accredited metropolitan point to point service providers (taxi, chauffeur, and ridesourcing vehicles).

The Passenger Transport Regulations 2009 require drivers of public passenger vehicles to carefully examine the vehicle for property that may have been left in the vehicle at the conclusion of each shift.

In the event lost property is found, the driver must immediately notify the Centralised Booking Service that the property has been found and deliver the property to the operator of the CBS as soon as possible (and within 48 hours).

Property which is delivered must be accompanied by a written notice signed by the driver which specifies:

• the licence or registration number of the vehicle on which the property was found;
• the day and time that the property was found; and
• the driver's name and identification number.

The operator to whom property is delivered must hold the property for 2 days (unless the property is returned to its owner in the meantime) and may then deliver it to an approved collection agent.