Drivers of passenger service vehicles have a number of legal and other responsibilities in providing a safe and effective passenger service.
To drive a passenger service vehicle, you must hold a current and valid licence for the class of vehicle you are driving. You must also have a current and valid P (passenger) endorsement.
Read more about when a passenger endorsement is required
Remember to renew your licence and/or endorsement on time (allowing enough time for us to process your renewal before your current licence and/or endorsement expire).
Find out which class of licence you need
As a professional driver, you should always:
This also applies away from work.
A number of penalties apply to drivers found to be breaking the traffic rules, including vehicle impoundment, which will affect your ability to work.
Find out more about driving offences and penalties
By law, drivers have a maximum numbers of hours they can work.
Work-time and logbook requirements
Drivers are responsible for coming to work ‘fit for duty’. Factors that can affect your well-being and fitness for work include:
Medical and health conditions can also affect the ability to think quickly and clearly.
More information about medical requirements and fitness to drive
If you're driving a small passenger service vehicle, such as a shuttle, taxi or app-based service, you must meet a number of detailed requirements relating to:
Read our information for users of passenger service vehicles
When your P endorsement is approved you will be issued an ID card. This must be displayed in a fixed central and vertical position at the front of your vehicle visible to all passengers, for example on the dashboard. If you change vehicles, the card must be displayed in the new vehicle.
If you drive the customer's vehicle in a dial-a-driver service, your ID card must be displayed so it is clearly visible to the front seat passenger such as on a lanyard worn around the neck or pinned to a jacket.
Drivers must agree the scale or basis of the trip with the passenger before the trip (including applicable extra charges and GST). For example, you can agree to a total price or use an agreed distance or time rate.
At the end of the trip you cannot charge any more than the agreed amount, including deductions for any pre‑payment made by the passenger.
When doing hail or rank work, or operating from a small passenger service vehicle stand in one of the main urban areas, you must have an in-vehicle security camera operating or only accept pre-registered passengers.
You must also comply with any local bylaws regarding parking.
You can only take up a position at a designated small passenger service vehicle stand (former ‘taxi’ stand) if your vehicle is available for hire. You must remain with your vehicle. Current road signs for taxi stands will remain until the road controlling authority changes them.
Find out more about approved in-vehicle security camera systems
You must accept the first hire unless there is a lawful reason to refuse. For example, you believe that your personal safety is at risk, or the service you work for is one that only provides services to registered passengers (such as through an app).
You must take the best route for the passenger unless the passenger asks for something else, or the trip has more than one passenger with different drop off points.
Before you drive any vehicle, you should do a simple pre-use ‘walk-around’ check.
This will help ensure that the vehicle is safe to operate. It will also enable you to identify the need for, and schedule, repairs and maintenance – reducing the need to deal with unexpected breakdowns. That could also mean long-term savings for your business.
Read our small passenger service vehicle walk-around check guide [PDF, 128 KB]
Read our guide to pre-use checks for heavy vehicles
Best practice fleet management includes a system for drivers to report any vehicle faults they find, and a process for advising drivers on what happens about the reported faults. Make sure you have a vehicle fault reporting and resolution system in your business.
Fatigue can be dangerous for drivers, especially people who drive as part of their job. As a driver, you should know how to prevent and manage fatigue.
More about identifying and preventing driver fatigue
A number of in-vehicle security camera systems have been approved for the purpose of the Land Transport Rule: Operator Licensing 2017.
Find out more about approved in-vehicle security camera systems
