Regular passenger transport services

Regular passenger transport (RPT) is the transport of passengers for hire or reward that is conducted according to regular routes and timetables.

RPT services require a regular passenger transport service (RPTS) authorisation. An RPTS authorisation is valid for five years. Applications can be made by completing the below form and submitting to On-demand Transport.  

Operators with existing RPT vehicles will need to apply for the new RPT authorisation, for a fee of $119. Existing operators will be contacted by the Department to confirm the area and routes that they were authorised for under the Transport Co-ordination Act 1966.

Once authorised as an RPT service provider, the business will be able to manage their vehicle fleets independently of their approved routes. 

RPT services do not require on-demand booking service authorisation if they solely undertake regular passenger transport. However, individuals or businesses that take bookings for any on-demand services such as airport transfers, will be required to apply for an on-demand booking service authorisation. For further information, please refer to On-demand booking services.

Safety

Under the Transport (Road Passenger Services) Act 2018 (the Act), there are a range of safety duties and safety standards for passenger transport services, including RPT. Under the Act, authorised RPT services must ensure the health and safety of their passengers and drivers.

RPT providers must develop and maintain a safety management system. A safety management system is a set of policies, procedures and plans that systematically manage health and safety at work by identifying safety risks and putting in place steps to mitigate them.

DoT has provided resources that may be helpful for RPT providers to develop their safety management system. Visit Safety management for authorised booking services for supporting resources.

Vehicle and driver authorisation

Vehicles used for RPT services must have a passenger transport vehicle (PTV) authorisation in the RPT category.

If the vehicles are also used for on-demand work, the PTV authorisation must also include the on-demand charter category. There is no extra cost to authorise PTVs in multiple categories.

See Passenger transport vehicles for further information.

Record keeping

Authorised RPT services are required to keep records of each trip, including:

• day and time the journey started and ended;
• vehicle licence plate number;
• driver’s name and passenger transport driver (PTD) authorisation number;
• scheduled locations for picking up and setting down passengers; and
• the fare structure applied to the journey.

RPT services must also keep records of customer complaints and the resolution of these complaints.

RPT records must be kept for 2 years, and may be requested by DoT at any time.

Fares

Authorised RPT services are required to be transparent in their determination of fares. Any fares charged must be available to passengers prior to the journey commencing.

Advertising

Advertising for authorised RPT services must include either the business/trading name or authorisation number.

Any company contracted to you, as the authorised RPT service provider, can advertise the RPT services on your behalf. This ensures that DoT officers and passengers can easily determine whether an RPT service is authorised.

Complaints handling

RPT services are required to have appropriate complaints management processes and procedures in place.

The following links are provided to assist RPT services to establish complaints management processes that meet their needs. A large range of example complaint management processes, policies and procedures can be found online and from other established businesses.