Drivers and operators

If you're interested in becoming a taxi driver, you can contact an Accredited Taxi Booking Service or the Taxi Council of South Australia. They will:

• help you with driver training
• provide information about your application.

Training and other requirements will vary depending on whether you want to drive:

• in metropolitan Adelaide
• in a country area
• an Access Taxi.

For more information on becoming a taxi driver see Driver accreditation.

Chauffeur and special purpose vehicles are an integral part of the passenger transport system.  They provide a personalised service to passengers who want to book a car and driver for a special event. Chauffeured vehicles may also be used for corporate bookings and private hire.

The Chauffeured Vehicle Association of South Australia represents the South Australian small passenger vehicle industry.

Apply for operator accreditation

Before you apply to operate a chauffeur or special purpose service, contact  Accreditation and Licensing. They will help with understand the requirements for accreditation before purchasing vehicles.

When you're ready to apply:

• complete the Operator Accreditation application (570.4 KB PDF),
• complete the Plan of Operation (357.6 KB PDF) to help define the type of service you wish to provide
• submit both documents to dit.alcenquiries@sa.gov.au

Accreditation and Licensing will review your application and determine what category you would be accredited for, and if you or others associated with your service need to apply for driver accreditation and a booking service accreditation.

Operating statewide

Restrictions have been removed for metropolitan-based chauffeur drivers allowing you to operate statewide.

You no longer need to apply for a separate accreditation to operate outside the metropolitan area.

These changes will increase service availability for tourists and locals year round.

The Point-to-Point Transport Service Transaction Levy can only be applied to trips that start within the metropolitan boundary.

Community Passenger Networks (CPN) are available in 15 regions across South Australia.  They deliver a transport service where no other appropriate services exist.

CPNs are considered passenger transport services under the Passenger Transport Act 1994 because passengers pay a fare or contribution for the service.

Organisations providing a CPN need to hold operator accreditation, regardless of whether drivers are volunteers or paid.

Volunteer drivers, who are unpaid, must apply for the Volunteer Driver Accreditation Program (VDAP). The VDAP will assess a person’s suitability against medical fitness and criminal history standards.

Volunteer drivers can contact the Department for Infrastructure and Transport to apply for accreditation.

To apply for operator accreditation:

• Complete the application for operator accreditation form (570.4 KB PDF).
• Submit the form together with a Plan of Operation (357.6 KB PDF) to dit.alconline@sa.gov.au.

All individuals must provide a National Criminal History Check when an application for operator accreditation is lodged. You can obtain this from any provider accredited by the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, including online providers.

Learn more about accreditation requirements for Community Passenger Network operators (262.9 KB PDF).

Ridesharing allows private vehicles to be used to provide a transport service, offered to passengers through an accredited booking service, generally through a smartphone application.

A person can become a rideshare driver if they:

• have a full South Australian driver’s licence
• have relevant police clearances
• meet the minimum fitness requirements.

If you are interested in applying to become a rideshare driver and you are the registered owner of the vehicle you will use, you need both driver and operator accreditation.  You will also be responsible for your vehicle inspections, insurances and accreditation.

If you are not the registered owner of the vehicle, the registered owner must:

• ensure the vehicle is covered under a current vehicle insurance policy that includes the correct premium class for Compulsory Third Party
• have a current Certificate of Inspection of roadworthiness for its use as a passenger transport vehicle.

The driver using the vehicle for ridesharing purposes must hold current driver and operator accreditation.

Operating statewide

Metropolitan-based rideshare drivers are no longer required to apply for a separate accreditation to operate outside of the metropolitan boundary.

Restrictions have been removed for metropolitan drivers allowing them to operate statewide.

These changes will increase service availability for tourists and locals year-round.

The Point-to-Point Transport Service Transaction Levy can only be applied to trips that start within the metropolitan boundary.

A large passenger vehicle is any vehicle that has 13 seats or more. This may include:

• chauffeured limousines with a seating capacity of 13 seats or more
• all sizes of buses including private tour buses or government contracted bus services providing a passenger service to the metropolitan area.

To apply for driver accreditation for a large passenger vehicle, you must have held any class of Australian Drivers licence for a minimum period of 6 months.

You must hold an accreditation to operate a booking service.

There are 2 types of booking service accreditation you can apply for:

• centralised booking service for taxis (448.8 KB PDF)
• transport booking services for rideshare and chauffeured vehicles (452.1 KB PDF).

Contact the Accreditation and Licensing team for information and assistance with applying for booking service accreditation.

Phone: 7109 8117

Email: dit.alcenquiries@sa.gov.au

At the end of each shift, drivers public passenger vehicles must carefully examine the vehicle for property that may have been left in the vehicle. This is a requirement of the Passenger Transport Regulations 2024.

If lost property is found the driver must:

• immediately notify the Centralised Booking Service (CBS) that the property has been found
• deliver the property to the operator of the CBS as soon as possible (and within 48 hours).

When property is delivered to the CBS, the driver must include a signed written notice which specifies:

• the licence or registration number of the vehicle on which the property was found
• the day and time that the property was found
• the driver's name and identification number.

The operator must hold the property for 2 days (unless the property is returned to its owner in the meantime) and may then deliver it to an approved collection agent.

Application forms