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The Point to Point Transport (Taxis and Hire Vehicles) Regulation 2017 (the Regulation) requires that vehicles being used to provide a passenger service, and people driving those vehicles, meet certain safety standards.
Authorised service providers are responsible for ensuring, so far as is reasonably practicable, that their drivers and vehicles meet safety standards as outlined in the Regulation. The Point to Point Transport Commissioner provides the Driver Vehicle Dashboard (DVD) to help authorised service providers in meeting these obligations.
What is the Driver Vehicle Dashboard?
The DVD allows authorised service providers to run near real-time checks on drivers and vehicles, with the outcomes of those checks displayed in a traffic light format.
When onboarding and managing drivers, it is important to understand that the DVD will not provide you with the full background of a driver. The DVD only checks information within NSW and, in some cases, within certain date ranges. You will need to have appropriate processes in place to ensure a driver does not have a disqualifying offence or is ineligible to drive a taxi, hire or rideshare vehicle. This will most likely require a driver to provide you with additional information such as a National Criminal History (NCH) Check and/or a driver licence history.
The DVD will check each of the requirements listed below and the result will show as either a green, white or red traffic light. In the case of vehicle safety inspections, the date will either not be displayed; or it will be displayed in black or red.
Driver Checks
Point to Point Eligibility
Requirements checked |
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Traffic Light |
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| green light | No issues identified with the criteria described above |
| white light | n/a (only a green or red light will display for this requirement) |
| red light | Indicates the driver does not meet one or more of the criteria mentioned above |
What to do if the light is red |
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| The authorised service provider should let the driver know they have received a red light for the Point to Point eligibility check. If a red light shows for the driver in this check and the driver believes this to be incorrect, they should contact the Point to Point Industry Contact Centre (ICC) to check dates and details. | |
Considerations |
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| The DVD only checks a driver’s NSW record. If a driver has been found guilty of an offence interstate which is equivalent to a NSW point to point safety offence then this requirement would not be met. Authorised service providers will need to have procedures in place to check for interstate offences during driver onboarding and on an ongoing basis. | |
NSW Licence
Requirements checked |
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Traffic Light |
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| green light | No issues identified with the criteria described above |
| white light | Administrative issues e.g. Licence record not found * |
| red light | Indicates the driver does not meet one or more of the criteria mentioned above |
What to do if the light is red |
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| The authorised service provider should let the driver know they have received a red light for the NSW licence check. If the driver does not have a PT code applied to their licence, details are on the Service NSW website..
The light will be red if the licence has been suspended, cancelled or expired; OR if it is a restricted licence e.g a Learner or Provisional licence. If the driver believes this to be incorrect, then they will need to contact Service NSW for clarification. |
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Considerations |
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| The DVD only checks a driver’s NSW record. Service providers will need to have processes in place to check drivers from interstate.
*If the DVD shows a white light, check the name spelling, date of birth and licence number. Also check that the licence has a PT Code and is from NSW. If all details are correct, the driver should visit Service NSW for clarification. |
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NSW Licence Tenure
Requirement |
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| Drivers must have held an unrestricted Australian driver licence for a total of at least 12 months in the preceding four (4) years | |
Traffic Light |
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| green light | No issues identified with the criteria described above |
| white light | Administrative issues e.g. Licence record not found * |
| red light | Indicates the driver does not meet one or more of the criteria mentioned above |
What to do if the light is red |
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| The authorised service provider should let the driver know they have received a red light for the NSW licence tenure check.
The DVD will only check NSW driver licences. If a driver meets this requirement with an interstate licence, they will need to provide evidence of this to the authorised service provider. |
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Considerations |
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| The DVD can only check information about NSW driver licences. However, a driver may still be eligible to drive a taxi or hire vehicle if they hold or have held an unrestricted Australian driver licence in another state or territory for 12 months of the previous 4 years. Authorised service providers will need other methods for checking the eligibility of these drivers.
*If the DVD shows a white light, check the name spelling, date of birth and licence number. Also check that the licence has a PT Code and is from NSW. If all details are correct, the driver should visit Service NSW for clarification. |
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Serious Driving Offences
Requirement |
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Drivers must not have been found guilty of any disqualifying Serious Driving Offences. i.e. specific offences under:
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Traffic Light |
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| green light | No issues identified with the criteria described above (Additional historical checks may be required – see bold text below) |
| white light | Administrative issues e.g. Licence record not found * |
| red light | Indicates the driver does not meet one or more of the criteria mentioned above |
What to do if the light is red |
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| The authorised service provider should let the driver know they have received a red light for the serious driving offences check. A red light will indicate the driver has been charged with a disqualifying serious driving offence. If the driver was not found guilty or the case was withdrawn, the driver will need to provide evidence of this to the Point to Point Transport Commissioner. A red light cannot be overturned until the matter is finalised. Information on how to do this can be found in the DVD User Guide on the Commission’s website. | |
Considerations |
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| The DVD will only provide indicators of disqualifying offences where the matters were heard in a NSW Court. A driver will not meet the safety standards if they have been found guilty of an equivalent disqualifying offence in another state or territory. Authorised service providers will need other methods for checking the history of these drivers.
The disqualifying Serious Driving Offences check commenced on 29 May 2018. Authorised service providers will need other methods for checking for disqualifying Serious Driving Offences prior to 29 May 2018. *If the DVD shows a white light, check the name spelling, date of birth and licence number. Also check that the licence has a PT Code and is from NSW. If all details are correct, the driver should visit Service NSW for clarification. |
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Criminal Charges
Requirement |
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Drivers must not have been found guilty of any specific disqualifying Criminal Offences which are listed in the regulation and under:
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Traffic Light |
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| green light | No issues identified with the criteria described above (Additional historical checks may be required – see bold text below) |
| white light | Administrative issues e.g. Licence record not found * |
| red light | Indicates the driver does not meet one or more of the criteria mentioned above |
What to do if the light is red |
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| A red light will indicate the driver has been charged with a disqualifying criminal offence. If they were not found guilty or the case was withdrawn, the driver will need to provide evidence of this to the Point to Point Transport Commissioner. A red light cannot be overturned until the matter is finalised. Information on how to do this can be found in the DVD User Guide on the Commission’s website. | |
Considerations |
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| The DVD will only provide indicators of disqualifying offences where the matters were heard in a NSW Court. A driver will not meet the safety standards if they have been found guilty of an equivalent disqualifying offence in another state or territory. Authorised service providers will need other methods for checking the history of these drivers.
The disqualifying Criminal Charges check commenced on 26 November 2018. Authorised service providers will need other methods for checking for disqualifying Serious Driving Offences prior to 26 November 2018. *If the DVD shows a white light, check the name spelling, date of birth and licence number. Also check that the licence has a PT Code and is from NSW. If all details are correct, the driver should visit Service NSW for clarification. |
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Registration Check
Requirement |
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| The vehicle is currently registered in NSW and has 12 seats or less | |
Traffic Light |
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| green light | Vehicle is currently registered in NSW |
| white light | Check the type of vehicle (M = Motorcycle, O = Other)
Check the VIN and vehicle registration number match registration papers |
| red light | Vehicle not registered in NSW or has more than 12 seats |
What to do if the light is red |
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| If a vehicle is registered outside NSW, the vehicle owner will need to provide evidence of this to the authorised service provider. They will also need to show that the vehicle meets NSW registration requirements (Part 5 and Sched 2 of the Road Transport (Vehicle Registration) Regulation 2007) and point to point insurance requirements (Clause 22 of the Regulation)
If a vehicle is currently registered as carrying more than 12 people it cannot provide a passenger service under point to point transport law. There are some exceptions which are listed in Schedule 2, Clause 18 of the Point to Point Transport (Taxis and Hire Vehicles) Act 2016. |
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Considerations |
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| While a vehicle registered outside NSW may be used to provide passenger services, the DVD will only show results for vehicles registered in NSW. Authorised service providers will need another method for checking that interstate vehicles are registered and insured appropriately. | |
Safety Check
Requirement |
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| Vehicle safety check has been done in the past 12 months | |
Traffic Light |
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| Black date | Safety check has been done in the past 12 months |
| No date | The vehicle may have never had a safety check in NSW
Inspection station may be outside of NSW Inspection station that performed the most recent safety check may not submit safety checks electronically |
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Red date |
Safety check has not been done in the past 12 months
Inspection station that performed the most recent safety check may not submit safety checks electronically |
What to do if the date is red or there is no date |
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| The safety check may have been done interstate, or by a licenced motor repairer who does not have the capability to electronically submit their safety inspection checks to TfNSW. The vehicle owner/ driver will need to provide evidence of the safety check to the authorised service provider | |
Considerations |
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| While a vehicle registered outside NSW may be used to provide passenger services, the DVD will only show results for vehicles registered in NSW. Authorised service providers will need another method for checking that interstate vehicles are registered.
Any vehicle more than 12 months old needs to have had a safety check in the previous 12 months. A new vehicle less than 12 months old does not need a safety check until the first registration renewal. |
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What if a person disagrees with a DVD indicator?
The DVD draws on the official records of TfNSW, the Point to Point Transport Commissioner, and the NSW Police Force. A DVD indicator that is accurate will not be changed and is not reviewable.
When a driver or vehicle owner disagrees with a DVD indicator, Commission staff will only deal with the driver or vehicle owner and the relevant government agencies, and not with any third party (such as a service provider).
If a driver believes that a red traffic light result for a criminal charge offence is incorrect, they should contact the Industry Contact Centre on 131 727 and provide supporting information such as a recent National Police Check, court outcome or any other supporting documentation. Under no circumstances must a driver contact the NSW Police Force about criminal charge information they believe to be incorrect.
The Point to Point Transport Commissioner is unable to change records that are held by TfNSW. If a person believes that a DVD indicator relating to their vehicle registration, vehicle safety check, driver licence or serious driving offences is incorrect, they will need to contact Service NSW to confirm that the records held are correct, and if not, request Service NSW to amend the record.
For questions relating to Regulation safety offences or a driver authority cancellation or application, a driver can contact the Point to Point Transport Industry Contact Centre on 131 727.
A driver who believes that a red traffic light indicator for P2P eligibility is incorrect should provide their previous Driver Authority Number obtained under the Passenger Transport Act 1990 or the Passenger Transport Act 2014.
Further Information
Service providers can download the DVD User Guide from the Commissioner’s website.
Drivers wanting more information about the PT code can call TfNSW on 132 213 or visit http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/business-industry/public-passenger-vehicles/point-to-point-transport-drivers.html
The Industry Contact Centre can also provide assistance on 131 727.
