South Australian Point to Point Industry Update

In this issue:

  • Temporary fuel surcharge
  • Metropolitan taxi licence cancellation payments

Temporary fuel surcharge

From 2 April until midnight on 28 June 2026 (unless revoked earlier), metropolitan and country taxi operators are permitted to apply:

  • a $1.00 surcharge to any journey undertaken by a general taxi service
  • a $2.00 surcharge to any journey undertaken by an access taxi service.

Only one surcharge can be applied per journey. It is a requirement that the surcharge be charged through the meter.

The temporary surcharges aim to help operators cover rising fuel costs so they can continue to provide vital services to the community.

Impacts to industry will be closely monitored. The surcharge will be revoked as soon as it is no longer needed.

Given the temporary nature of this measure, the Department for Infrastructure and Transport is not requiring fare labels to be updated to reflect the surcharge.

Further information regarding the application of the surcharge, is available at SA.GOV.AU - Taxi fares and charges

Metropolitan taxi licence cancellation payments

Application closing date

Applications for $190,000 cancellation payments closed on 16 March 2026.

However, applications submitted up to 15 April 2026 will be considered if there is a valid reason why the application was not completed by 16 March 2026.

Applications submitted by an executor or administrator of a deceased eligible licence holder will also be accepted.

If you are not sure if you are eligible, we encourage you to submit an application. We will assess your application and advise if you do not meet the eligibility criteria.

Applications can be submitted:

  • Online via SA.GOV.AU.
  • By requesting a hardcopy application form. You may request a hardcopy application form by calling 13 10 84 (Option 6), or attending a Service SA centre. Hardcopy applications can be emailed to DIT.Metropolitantaxilicence@sa.gov.au.

You must provide a reason why the application was not submitted by the due date. This can be included in the ‘further supporting information’ field following the Declaration.

Social security — exempt lump sum determination

The Australian Government's Department of Social Services has determined that:

  • the additional payment of $190,000 is an exempt lump sum for the purposes of the social security income test
  • $10,000 payments for the cancellation of taxi licences paid to licence holders in December 2025 are also an exempt lump sum for social security purposes.

This means that payments will not be assessed as income under the social security income test and, on receipt, will not impact your social security payments, including the Age Pension.

Depending on how the funds are used by individuals receiving the payments, any resulting assessable asset and/or ongoing income generated by investing the payments will be subject to the relevant asset and income tests for social security purposes.  People who are receiving a payment can contact Services Australia.

Taxation

Metropolitan taxi licence cancellation payments may have taxation implications for you. The Australian Taxation Office is preparing information about payments made under the prescribed scheme. We will write to you to provide this information when it is available.

You are also encouraged to seek your own independent taxation and legal advice based on your individual circumstances.

Transition to annual taxi licences

All perpetual metropolitan taxi licences will be cancelled by 30 April 2026.

Taxi licence holders who currently operate their own taxi must apply for a new annual taxi licence to keep operating. You will not need to pay a fee to transition to the annual licence.

During the transition period, operators can continue using their existing licence until the new annual licence is issued and the old one is cancelled.

To transition, operators must contact Service SA (13 10 84, Option 6) before 30 April 2026.

Existing taxi operators who apply for a new annual licence will be issued with a new taxi number plate. These plates have a new design.

If you wish to keep your current taxi plate number, Service SA will arrange for a new plate with the same number. Operators must bring the letter previously sent to them listing their plate numbers when visiting a Service SA centre.

Operator accreditation

Licence holders do not need to hold or renew operator accreditation if they are not operating a vehicle as a metropolitan taxi or other passenger transport service.

If you do not wish to renew your operator accreditation, please notify us at DIT.ALCenquiries@sa.gov.au to ensure records are updated and any operator accreditation correspondence can cease.

Operators who hold both taxi and metro MV chauffeur/ rideshare operator accreditation will need to maintain their MV accreditation.

For more information

If you have questions about the cancellation of existing metropolitan taxi licences or the transition to annual licences, you can:
For further information please visit the Taxi and Chauffeur Vehicle Industry Reform FAQ page, or email DPTI.P2Preforms@sa.gov.au