From 1 October 2025, WA Taxi User Subsidy Scheme (TUSS) vouchers can no longer be used to access subsidised travel in taxis. Drivers must accept Passenger Transport Subsidy Scheme (PTSS) cards. Interstate taxi subsidy vouchers must continue to be accepted.
If you are not already a taxi driver but would like to be, you will need to apply for and be granted a passenger transport driver (PTD) authorisation.
Are you a passenger transport vehicle (PTV) owner or authorisation holder? Visit Wheelchair accessible vehicles for specific information about vehicles equipped with modifications to provide safe on-demand transport services for people seated in wheelchairs.
Accepting PTSS
PTSS is a subsidy available to eligible people with disability travelling in on-demand rank or hail (taxi) vehicles.
Some PTSS participants may be able to travel in conventional taxis. Other participants may have accessibility needs that mean they need to travel in a specially modified wheelchair accessible vehicle (WAV).
All taxi drivers are required to accept PTSS journeys, using either:
- the PTSS mobile app; or
- dispatch equipment integrated with the PTSS application programming interface (API).
You must confirm how you should capture PTSS journey details with your on-demand booking service (ODBS). Visit the PTSS Responsibilities for drivers page to learn more about capturing PTSS journeys.
Christmas Day PTSS co-payments for rank or hail (taxi) WAV drivers
A special $20.00 additional co-payment is available for all WAV taxi drivers undertaking PTSS wheelchair subsidy journeys between 8.00am and 6.00pm on Christmas Day (Thursday 25 December 2025).
Drivers affiliated with Black & White Cabs, or any authorised ODBS that primarily operates in a regional area, will receive the Christmas Day co-payment in addition to their normal co-payment.
All PTSS journeys must be completed using:
- the PTSS mobile app; or
- dispatch equipment integrated with the PTSS API.
Journeys completed through the PTSS mobile app or API are submitted to DTMI, with all eligible journeys automatically receiving the additional co-payment. No further action will be required from you to receive the special Christmas Day co-payment.
Note: You must include a valid booking reference number for all journeys, otherwise payment will be delayed or rejected.
Driver education and training
As a driver for an ODBS, you have a duty of care to your passengers. These passengers may have a disability, be vulnerable or have diverse accessibility needs.
If you’re driving a WAV taxi, you need be able to demonstrate that you are competent in the safe loading, restraint and unloading of a passenger in a wheelchair.
Nationally recognised units of competency outline performance standards for particular workplace skills.
TLIC0026 is now the unit of competency related to providing WAV taxi services to passengers with disability. Visit the National Training Register for more information.
You need to be able to demonstrate that you can meet the standards of two parts of TLIC0026:
- Element 3 (Assist passengers into and out of a taxi in a manner suited to their disability); and
- Element 4 (Drive a taxi used by passengers with disabilities).
The Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure (DTMI) does not mandate driver training requirements. Your ODBS may require you to complete specific WAV driver training to be able to drive for them.
Please direct any queries about WAV driver training to the ODBS you drive for (or intend to drive for).
Transporting an assistance animal
Assistance animals come in all shapes and sizes and are highly trained to meet behavioural and hygiene standards.
Under the law, PTD authorisation holders in WA must not refuse to carry an assistance animal or an assistance animal in training.
Refusing to carry an assistance animal is an offence. You can be issued an infringement of $9,000 if you refuse to carry an assistance animal in your PTV.
Partnering with assistance animals helps many people with disability to live independently and provides a range of physical and emotional benefits. We all have a responsibility to ensure people who partner with assistance animals are supported in accessing transport that meets their needs.
For further information, visit the Australian Human Rights Commission website.
Mobility scooter (gopher) safety
WAVs are only designed to transport people seated in wheelchairs. It is not safe to carry, load or unload passengers in WAVs, while they are seated on a mobility scooter (gopher).
Passengers who use a mobility scooter must transfer from their scooter, before it is loaded into your vehicle. A mobility scooter cannot be used as a seat while people are being transported.
Note: This advice is based on the Australian Standard AS 2942-1994. Wheelchair Occupant Restraint Assemblies for Motor Vehicles.
Visit Wheelchair accessible vehicles for more information about WAV standards and modifications.
Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle Modification Grant
The Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (WAV) Modification Grant provides grants of up to $20,000, to assist with the cost of purchasing and installing wheelchair hoist and restraint systems in WAV taxis.
Read more about the WAV Modification Grant.
Regional Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle Taxi Service Grant Scheme
To encourage and support the provision of WAV taxi services in regional Western Australia, DTMI administers the Regional Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (WAV) Taxi Service Grant. This grant aims to ensure that regional WAV taxi services can be accessed where sufficient demand exists.
The Grant program has the following funding offerings.
- Up to $80,000 to support the establishment of a WAV service in a regional area where no service currently operates.
- Up to $60,000 to support the purchase of a WAV, in a regional area where a WAV service already operates but demand cannot be met by existing services.
- Up to $20,000 to install WAV equipment in a previously purchased vehicle, to operate in a regional area.
For more information visit the Regional WAV Taxi Service Grant Scheme page.