Becoming a taxi licence holder

A taxi licence holder is a person or business who: 

• uses a taxi licence that has been issued by the Point to Point Transport Commissioner to provide taxi passenger services (rank and hail) 
• has an affiliation with an authorised service provider (belongs to a network) or is an authorised service provider in their own right 

Under the new laws, taxi licences will be available from the Point to Point Transport Commissioner to any person who intends to operate a taxi service.  

Licences to operate a taxi service are available through the Point to Point Transport Commissioner’s Industry Portal for an annual fee of $200. 

This step by step guide will assist you through the application process or view our step by step demonstration video. 

An application fee of $200 applies for all new taxi licences (other than for a wheelchair accessible taxi licence which remains free of charge). Taxi licences will be renewable annually at a cost of $200*.  

Taxi licences cannot be sold, traded or leased.  

*Note: there is no application fee or annual fee for wheelchair accessible taxi licences. 

All operators providing a taxi service (taxi licence holders) must be either: 

• connected to an authorised service provider by being in a network (a taxi licence holder who operates their taxi under the authorisation of a taxi service provider is called an affiliate), or  
• an authorised service provider 

Applicants should be aware that they have safety obligations under the point to point transport law which they must comply with. 

Determine which taxi service provider you would like to be affiliated with (part of the network) and then speak with that service provider. In general, the taxi service provider will require you to enter into a commercial arrangement with them and provide you with the requirements for setting up your vehicle as a taxi, such as installing the dispatch system, fare calculation device and any signs, lights and markings required to be attached.  

For more information on being an affiliated provider, please go to the Affiliated providers fact sheet. 

Authorised service providers (ASP) are authorised by the Commissioner to provide taxi services and/or take bookings for passenger services.   

Being an ASP comes with serious safety obligations under the point to point transport law. 

To learn more about being an ASP and how to apply for authorisation, go to the Becoming an Authorised Service Provider webpage. 

No.

Historical geographical operating area restrictions will not apply from 1 August 2023 and all taxis will be able to provide services anywhere in NSW. However, there are additional requirements when providing taxi services in Urban areas such as a duress alarm system and vehicle tracking device.   

For further information on operating areas, go to the Operating areas fact sheet. 

Licences to operate a WAT service are available through the Point to Point Transport Commissioner’s Industry Portal and the application process is the same as for a taxi service. There is, however, no application or annual renewal fee for WAT licences. 

Once in the Industry Portal, log into the ‘Taxi Licence Gateway’ and, when you reach the ‘Application Type’ screen, make sure to select ‘Wheelchair Accessible Taxi Licence’.  

This checklist will help you make sure you have done everything you need to do before applying for a taxi licence and before providing taxi services.  

☐ Apply for, and be granted, a taxi licence (go to the Industry Portal to begin your application) 

☐ Become an authorised service provider yourself, or become affiliated with an authorised service provider (in a network) 

☐ Complete the Commissioner’s online short course on ‘Introduction to becoming a Taxi Service Provider’ (you will be required to create an account) 

☐ Arrange for the use of a suitable vehicle that is registered with Service NSW as a taxi 

☐ Make sure the vehicle is painted and fitted with compliant signs, lights and markings 

☐ Make sure the vehicle is fitted with a compliant fare calculation device, duress alarm system and security camera system 

☐ Make sure the vehicle is fitted with a compliant duress alarm system and vehicle tracking device if operating in the Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong or the Central Coast areas 

☐ Make sure the vehicle’s registration number, contact information for the taxi’s authorised service provider, a listing of all relevant fares and charges and advice of security camera surveillance are on clear display inside the taxi 

☐ Make sure the vehicle has third-party property insurance cover of at least $5 million 

The Point to Point Transport (Taxis and Hire Vehicles) Regulation 2017 requires the following of those who hold a taxi licence (operate a taxi service). 

☐ Abide by safety standards 

The Regulation sets out the safety obligations of a taxi licence holder. There are two levels of safety obligation, or responsibility: 

• for some safety standards, the taxi licence holder is identified as a ‘specified person’, in which case they must not violate the safety standard 
• for other safety standards, the taxi licence holder is identified as a ‘responsible person’, in which case they must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that the safety standard is complied with 

For each of the safety obligations below, the level of responsibility has been shown. For more information, please refer to the Safety standards for taxis webpage.  

☐ Only use a registered and roadworthy vehicle  

The vehicle used to provide a taxi service must be appropriately registered and safe to be driven on the road (roadworthy). It must undergo annual safety checks — previously called a ‘pink slip’ — even if it is less than five years old. For this safety standard, the taxi licence holder is a responsible person. For more information, please refer to the Safety standards for taxis webpage. 

☐ Make sure the vehicle is regularly and properly maintained 

A vehicle used to provide a taxi service must be regularly and properly maintained by a qualified mechanic, consistent with the recommendations of the vehicle manufacturer and records providing evidence of this maintenance must be readily available. For this safety standard, the taxi licence holder is a responsible person.  For more information, please refer to the Vehicle maintenance and safety inspections checklist. 

☐ Make sure the vehicle has enough seating and doors 

A taxi must have seating accommodation for the driver and for at least four and not more than 11 other adult persons. It must have at least four side doors except if it is a wheelchair accessible taxi or sits more than six people. For this safety standard, the taxi licence holder is a specified person. For more information, please refer to the Safety standards for taxis webpage. 

☐ Make sure the vehicle has taxi plates issued by Service NSW 

The application process for a taxi licence includes a step in which the applicant will either select a Service NSW branch from where they will pick up their new taxi plates or validate existing taxi plates which will then be associated with the new taxi licence. The taxi plates must be securely attached to the vehicle providing taxi services. For this safety standard, the taxi licence holder is a responsible person. For information on how to manage taxi number plates, please refer to the Taxi Plate Management webpage. 

☐ Make sure the vehicle is fitted with proper signs, lights and markings 

- Signs: A taxi must be fitted with a roof sign that displays the word “TAXI”, “CAB” or “CABS” in black lettering at least 70 mm high. These words can be in upper or lower-case letters, or a combination of upper and lower-case letters. 

- Lights: A taxi must be fitted with a roof light that is clearly visible in daylight from a distance of 40 metres by a person with normal eyesight. The roof light must be lit when the taxi is available for hire but must not be lit at any other time. 

- Markings (or livery): A taxi must be painted or marked so that it is clearly identifiable as a taxi. The provider of the taxi service must paint or mark the taxi so that the following details are displayed prominently and are clearly visible on the taxi – the provider’s name or logo or colours and contact information. 

For this safety standard, the taxi licence holder is a responsible person. For more information, please refer to the Safety standards for taxis webpage. 

☐ Make sure the vehicle is fitted with a compliant fare calculation device (‘meter’)  

Taxis must have a functioning fare calculation device (‘meter’) which is resistant to tampering and vandalism, securely fixed in a commercially designed and manufactured mount, in safe position and which can display and charge the authorised fare depending on taxi location. For this safety standard, the taxi licence holder is a specified person. For more information, please refer to the Fare Calculation Devices. 

☐ Make sure the vehicle is fitted with a compliant security camera system  

Taxis must have an approved security camera system that is in working order, and for which there are obvious signs inside and outside the taxi advising that persons may be under surveillance. For this safety standard, the taxi licence holder is a specified person. For more information, please refer to the Security Camera Systems webpage. 

☐ Make sure the vehicle is fitted with a compliant duress alarm system 

Taxis used to provide services in the Metropolitan, Newcastle or Wollongong transport district or within the Central Coast local government area, must have a working and compliant (per TfNSW specifications) duress alarm system. For this safety standard, the taxi licence holder is a specified person. For more information, please refer to the Safety standards for taxis webpage. 

☐ Make sure the vehicle is fitted with a compliant vehicle tracking device  

Taxis used to provide services in the Metropolitan, Newcastle or Wollongong transport district or within the Central Coast local government area, must have a working and approved vehicle tracking device. For this safety standard, the taxi licence holder is a specified person. For more information, please refer to the Safety standards for taxis webpage. 

☐ Make sure specified information is displayed inside the taxi 

A taxi must display the following information inside the vehicle and it must be in clear view of passengers: 

- The vehicle registration number of the taxi  

- Contact information (telephone number and/or website) for the person or business authorised to provide the taxi service – the taxi service provider.  

- Fares and other charges: The authorised fares for journeys and any additional tolls, fees or charges, that may be payable. 

- Security camera notice: A notice advising passengers that they may be under video surveillance while in or about the taxi. 

For this safety standard, the taxi licence holder is a specified person. 

☐ Make sure each vehicle has $5 million of third-party property insurance  

A vehicle used to provide a taxi service must have third-party property insurance which provides cover of at least $5 million. For this safety standard, the taxi licence holder is a responsible person. For more information, please refer to the Vehicle Insurance fact sheet. 

The Regulation requires the following of those who hold a Wheelchair Accessible Taxi (WAT) licence (operate a WAT). For more information, please refer to the Wheelchair Accessible Taxis (WAT) webpage. For each of these obligations, the taxi licence holder is a specified person. 

☐ Ensure the WAT vehicle 

• Is of suitable size: The WAT must contain a space of suitable size (not less than 1.3m long, 0.8m wide and 1.5m high) for the wheelchair passenger. 

• Has no passenger space intrusions: Have no intrusions in the space created for the wheelchair passenger, other than adjustable restraint devices. 

• Carries sufficient wheelchair restraints: Must carry wheelchair restraints that enable the taxi to convey occupied wheelchairs safely and securely attached to the WAT. 

• Carries a child restraint: Be supplied with an approved child restraint. 

• Complies with the relevant safety standards: AS/NZS 3856.1:1998, AS/NZS 3856.2:1998,  AS/NZS 3696.19:2009, AS/NZS 10542.1:2015 

• Complies with legislation: Must comply with the applicable standards of the Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport issued under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Commonwealth).