Drivers and operators

Taxi driver

If you're interested in becoming a taxi driver, contact an Accredited Taxi Booking Service or the Taxi Council of South Australia to help you with driver training and provide information about your application. Training and other requirements will vary depending on whether you're interested in becoming a driver in metropolitan Adelaide, in a country area, or becoming accredited to drive an Access Taxi.

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

Chauffeur and special purpose driver or operator

Chauffeur and special purpose vehicles are an integral part of the passenger transport system, providing a personalised service to passengers who want to book a car and a 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. If you would like to operate a chauffeur or special purpose service, Accreditation and Licensing can help with advice. You need to understand the requirements for accreditation before purchasing vehicles.

When submitting your Operator Accreditation application (570.4 KB PDF), you must submit a Plan of Operation (266.6 KB PDF) to help define the type of service you wish to provide. Based on that information, Accreditation and Licensing will be able to 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.

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.

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

Community Passenger Networks

Community Passenger Networks (CPN) are available in 15 regions across South Australia, delivering 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 (266.6 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).

Rideshare driver

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.

Any person who has a full South Australian driver’s licence, relevant police clearances and meets the minimum fitness requirements can apply to become a rideshare driver.

If you are interested in applying as a rideshare driver and you are the registered owner of the vehicle you will use, you need both driver and operator accreditation and you will 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.

From 27 February 2025, 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.

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

Large passenger vehicle drivers

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, and 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.

Booking services

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 (243.6 KB PDF).

DIT must provide accreditation for you to operate a booking service.

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

Application forms

Driver accreditation

Operator accreditation

Booking services

Other forms