What is a passenger transport driver authorisation and do I need one?
A passenger transport driver (PTD) authorisation is an annual authorisation that permits a person to drive a vehicle for the purpose of transporting passengers for hire or reward.
You need a PTD authorisation if you drive, or intend to drive, a vehicle for hire or reward.
In deciding whether you need a PTD authorisation, you must consider whether you, as a driver, are receiving a payment or other reward for the driving, and whether the passengers are paying a fee or some other consideration for the transport service.
Transcript
[Text on screen: Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure logo. Learn about passenger transport authorisations. Transport WA.
Passenger Transport Driver Authorisation]
[Sound: Music playing in the background throughout.]
[Visual: Traffic including a taxi and a bus, cutting to a DTMI Officer talking to camera.]
DTMI Officer: A new authorisation is now required for anyone transporting passengers as part of their paid or volunteer work.
[Visual: A row of taxis, cutting to a Swan Taxi driver talking to camera, and then driving a taxi.]
[Text on screen: PTD = Passenger Transport Driver.]
Swan Taxi driver: The PTD or passenger transport driver authorisation started replacing the old F and T licence extension on the 1st of July 2020.
[DTMI Officer talking to camera.]
DTMI Officer: It’s basically a new industry licence to make things simpler and safer for people working in passenger transport and their customers.
[Visual: A TransWA driver talking to camera and then driving the large coach.]
TransWA driver: If you are thinking of becoming a coach driver, you now need to apply for a PTD authorisation. You also need a PTD authorisation for other jobs that involve driving passengers including bus drivers, taxi drivers, limousine drivers, rideshare drivers and people who drive tourist vehicles.
[Visual: A Perth Maxi Charter bus. The driver talking to camera and then driving the charter bus.]
[Text on screen: You need a PTD authorisation by 30 June 2021.]
Perth Maxi Charter bus driver: If you already have an F or T driver’s licence extension it will remain valid until 30th of June 2021.
You need to make sure you’ve applied for and been granted your PTD authorisation by the 30th of June 2021, that is if you want to continue driving passengers.
[Visual: A person using a mobile phone, cutting to a view of them scrolling through their DoTDirect account.]
Swan Taxi driver: Applying for your PTD authorisation online is easy through your DoTDirect account.
[Text on screen: Apply online. You need a national police clearance and a current commercial medical.]
[Visual: Swan Taxi driver talking to camera.]
Swan Taxi driver: Just have your national police clearance and an up-to-date commercial medical assessment ready when you go to log in.
[Visual: DTMI Officer talking to camera.]
DTMI Officer: A safer simpler solution.
[Text on a blue screen: The Government of Western Australia Department of Transport logo. www.transport.wa.gov.au/PTDhome ]
Am I driving for hire or reward?
The Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure (DTMI) does not mandate who must have a PTD authorisation. It is up to you, as the driver's licence holder, to consider your intended purpose in driving a vehicle. If you need an authorisation due to the nature of your driving, you can apply for a PTD authorisation via DoTDirect.
The first question to ask yourself is whether the vehicle is being used for carrying passengers for hire or reward.
You are generally driving for hire or reward if:
- the passengers or hirers of the vehicle have paid, or are required to pay, an amount to use the service; or
- you get paid to drive the vehicle as a primary part of your job, even if the passengers aren’t paying for the service; or
- you get paid directly by the passengers for the service.
Please note, the information below is provided as a guide only. You should consider your personal circumstances carefully in determining whether you require a PTD authorisation.
The Transport (Road Passenger Services) Act 2018 and associated regulations provide guidance outlining circumstances when passengers are or are not carried for hire or reward.
| Transport is for hire or reward | Example service |
|---|---|
|
Passengers are paying for the service directly to you as the driver, or to an on-demand booking service or hirer. |
|
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Passengers are paying for the service as they board or book tickets, or through other fees. |
|
|
Passengers are not paying for the transport service but you are paid to drive as a main part of your job. |
|
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Passengers are paying a contribution to trip costs as part of a car pooling arrangement where you are the driver. |
|
You are generally not driving for hire or reward if:
- You are driving in a volunteer capacity (not paid or otherwise rewarded) and neither the passengers nor hirer have paid in any way.
- You are driving in a volunteer capacity and the amount being paid by the passengers only covers the running costs of the vehicle, prescribed at 88 cents per kilometre.
- You are driving in a volunteer capacity and the vehicle is being driven to provide a community transport service.
- You are employed by or are a volunteer for an ambulance service or patient transport service.
- You are employed by or are a volunteer for the provider of the transport service but your main duties do not generally include the driving (i.e. the driving is incidental to what you are normally paid to do).
- You are driving in the course of providing or operating a child care service or as part of your employment in a child care service.
- You are driving in a car pooling situation with 9 or less people in the vehicle, including the driver (provided the vehicle is provided by the driver), and:
- the driver would be undertaking the journey anyway
- the driver or any other person do not ply or tout for the passengers, and
- the driver or any other person do not make a profit from the passengers’ payments.
Am I eligible to apply for a PTD authorisation?
You can apply for a PTD authorisation if you:
- are aged 20 years old or more; and
- hold a current and valid WA drivers licence; and
- have held a driver’s licence, or the equivalent driving authorisation from another jurisdiction for a period of three (3) years; and
- have not been charged or convicted of a disqualification offence.
How do I get a PTD authorisation?
Applications for PTD authorisations must be made online via DoTDirect.
Visit How to apply for a PTD authorisation for more information.
How much does a PTD authorisation cost?
There are two costs associated with a PTD authorisation:
- an initial application fee, when a driver first applies for a PTD authorisation; and
- an annual authorisation fee.
Visit On-demand Transport fees and charges to find the current fee amounts.
The application fee is only payable when you first apply for a PTD authorisation. If you renew your authorisation before it expires you will only need to pay the annual authorisation fee in subsequent years. If you do not renew your PTD authorisation by the renewal date and allow it to lapse, you will need to pay the application and authorisation fees to apply for a new PTD authorisation.
The annual PTD authorisation fee will recover the cost of DTMI's ongoing monitoring of drivers’ suitability to drive a vehicle for hire or reward.
WA Police and Department of Justice shares data with DTMI that allows us to monitor convictions and charges against people authorised to drive for hire or reward.
What does a PTD authorisation look like?
A PTD authorisation is supplied as a PDF document. It includes the:
- authorisation holder’s name;
- authorisation expiry date;
- authorisation number;
- authorisation issue date;
- due date for the holder’s next Commercial Driver Medical;
- due date for the holder’s next National Police Certificate; and
- any conditions of authorisation.
Once you are granted a PTD authorisation, your PTD authorisation document will be sent to you via email.
If you drive an authorised passenger transport vehicle (PTV), you must display driver identity information including your PTD authorisation number.
