What are the safety standards for a taxi licence holder?
Taxi licence holders are responsible for ensuring that the vehicle which operates under their taxi licence meets certain requirements. The specified requirements are summarised in the table below.
Visit the Safety Standards for Taxis page for more detailed information on these requirements.
| Vehicle Standard | Description |
|---|---|
| Vehicle registration | Taxi vehicles must at all times meet the requirements of Part 5 and Schedule 2 to the Road Transport (Vehicle Registration) Regulation 2007. |
| Vehicle maintenance | Maintenance conducted on a taxi must be carried out by a licensed mechanic, unless those repairs are sufficiently minor to not be considered maintenance. |
| Wheelchair accessible vehicles | Wheelchair accessible taxis must comply with the requirements for wheelchair accessible vehicles providing passenger services. These requirements can be found here: Wheelchair accessible vehicle legislation |
| Accommodation standards | Taxis must have room for the driver and at least four other persons and no more than 11 other persons. The taxi must also have four side doors unless it is a wheelchair accessible taxi or a taxi that has seating accommodation for six or more adults. |
| Signs, lights and markings | Taxis that stand or ply for hire must be clearly identifiable as a taxi by being marked or painted in a uniform way. The taxi should also display prominently the name and contact information of the taxi service provider. |
| Fare calculation device | Taxis that stand or ply for hire must be fitted with a compliant fare calculation device (meter). |
| Display of information | The vehicle registration, contact information for the authorised taxi service provider and the fares that may be payable must be displayed so that it is clearly visible to any passengers in the taxi, if the taxi stands or plies for hire. |
| Duress alarm systems and vehicle tracking systems | Taxis that stand or ply for hire in Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong or the Central Coast must be fitted with a duress alarm system and a vehicle tracking system. |
| Security camera systems | Taxis that stand or ply for hire must be fitted with an approved security camera system and signs inside and outside of the taxi must advise persons that they are under video surveillance while in or near the taxi. |
| Insurance | Taxis must be insured for at least $5 million for third party property damage. |
