Industry

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

• COVID-19 face mask requirements
• COVID SAfe Check-In
• COVID-19 vaccination requirements
• COVID-19 Industry Assistance
• 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.

COVID-19 industry assistance

The South Australian Government provided a $5.2 million support package for the taxi and bus, tour, charter and chauffeur industry in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

For more information on the assistance package, see Financial Support for Taxi Industry – COVID-19. (PDF, 178 KB)

A waiver of fees for the bus, tour, charter, chauffeur and country taxi assistance was also provided for for a period of twelve months from 1 June 2020.

For more information, see Financial Support for Bus, Tour, Charter, Chauffeur and Country Taxi Operators – COVID 19. (PDF, 197 KB)

Other support may be available through the Department of Treasury and Finance.  For more information see Support for businesses, jobs and the community impacted by COVID-19.

General information

For 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 of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development 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

A centralised booking service (CBS) accepts bookings for a passenger transport service from the public and then assigns the booking to a driver.

The CBS is responsible for:

• fulfilling booking requests from customers;
• resolving customer service issues (e.g. complaints, lost property);
• charging customers and collecting fares online where payment isn’t made via the driver or EFTPOS; and
• checking drivers are accredited before giving them work.

To operate a CBS, you need to be accredited to ensure that safety, efficiency and competency standards are met.

There are different accreditation requirements depending on the type of passenger transport service being provided. In some cases, you may need accreditation as both an operator and a driver.

For more information, see Passenger services. Alternatively, you can contact the Accreditation and Licensing Centre for information and assistance with applying for accreditation.

An operator is any person or entity responsible for the operation of a passenger transport service, including ridesourcing operators who are also drivers.

To be an operator, you need to hold a current accreditation to ensure the safety of passengers and the public, the quality of service to passengers and the safety and suitability of vehicles and equipment.

Operators will also require 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.

Operator accreditation is assessed by the Department for Infrastructure and Transport (DIT) through the Accreditation and Licensing Centre or through Service SA at Mile End.

For information on eligibility, operator accreditation vehicle categories, how to apply for operator accreditation, responsibilities, inspections and application forms, see Operating a passenger transport business.

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).

Taxi fares may vary depending on when you travel. When you catch a taxi you are required to pay the metered fare plus any booking fee or extra charges when you arrive at your destination.

Taxi fares are calculated by adding a flagfall, a distance rate and a waiting time.

Fares for transport services other than taxi services must be a fixed amount determined before the journey begins, or a known cost determined per kilometre, hour, or passenger.

Extra charges

Extra charges may appear on the taxi meter and are included in the fare. Extra charges may include:

• Adelaide Airport Service Fee: $3, pick up from T1 Airport Terminal Taxi Rank.
• Booking Fee: as charged by the booking service when pre-arranged with the hirer.
• Point to Point Transport Service Transaction Levy: $1, charged once per journey.
• Peak Period Fee: $2, between 12.01 am and 5.59 am on Saturday, Sunday, or public holidays.
• Soiling Fee: $88, vehicle must be cleaned and deodorised before further use. If applicable, this fee will not appear on the taxi meter.

Payment options

Taxi fares can usually be paid by cash, EFTPOS, debit and credit cards, Cabcharge or SATSS voucher or card.

There is a maximum non-cash payment surcharge of 5% on the payment of taxi fares by debit or credit card.

It's a good idea to ask the driver about the payment options and approximate cost before the start of your trip. The driver may also request proof of payment from you.

At the end of your trip you must pay the metered fare plus any additional charges or tolls that may apply.

Find out more about fares, charges and payment options.

• Inspections
• Signage
• Cameras
• Authorised taxi meter manufacturers

Inspections

All vehicles used for a passenger transport service in South Australia need to meet road safety and basic amenity standards.

Vehicles must be checked at approved vehicle inspection stations prior to being used as passenger transport vehicles. Vehicles will then be subject to ongoing inspections:

• every 6 months for metropolitan taxi vehicles; and
• every 12 months for country taxi, chauffeur, special purpose and ridesourcing vehicles.

Signage

All passenger vehicles must display the following signs:

• booking service or operator details; and
• vehicle inspection sticker on the windscreen front left-hand corner.

Taxi vehicles (metropolitan and country taxis) must also:

• be white in colour;
• be fitted with side stripes compliant with regulation; and
• display an approved taxi sign.

Private plated vehicles, such as ridesourcing (rideshare) vehicles, must display removable identification signage issued by their booking service.

Find out more about vehicle standards and signage requirements.

Cameras

All metropolitan taxis must be fitted with security cameras, as they provide accountability, ensure safety for drivers and passengers and act as a deterrent to criminal behaviour.

Security cameras must be approved security camera models. They must abide by the Department for Infrastructure and Transport's (DIT) specifications and procedures and will be subject to inspections.

Exceptions:

• Country taxis are not required to be fitted with security cameras.
• Booked services (i.e. ridesourcing) are not currently required to be fitted with security cameras.

Authorised taxi meter manufacturers

Only taxi meters approved by Department for Infrastructure and Transport may be used.

See Authorised taxi meter manufacturers for details on approved manufacturers, installers and audio video equipment.