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1What is a public passenger vehicle (PPV)?

There are two types of public passenger vehicle:

  • Less than 10 seats (including the driver) and used to carry passengers for hire or reward (taxis and ride source).
  • 10 or more seats, including the driver (large public passenger vehicle e.g. a bus).

2What type of ancillary certificate do I need (Taxis, Ride Source and public passenger vehicles)?

There are four main types of ancillary certificate but you need to make sure that you’re licenced to operate the vehicle as well (e.g. for buses you need have a heavy vehicle driver licence also). The one you need depends on what you want to use it for:

  • PPV - Taxi allows you to operate taxis (including public passenger vehicles).
  • PPV - Other allows you to operate any public passenger vehicle (not taxi).
  • PPV - Instructor allows you to provide paid instruction to learner drivers.
  • PPV - Other and X-Condition - for ride source drivers it allows you to operate a nominated ride source vehicle. The vehicle you nominated for ride sourcing will also appear as a condition on your licence.

You can also use the Self-Assessment – Ancillary Certificate Tool to find out whether an ancillary certificate is required for drivers of a particular services.

3Am I eligible to drive a public passenger vehicle?

To get an ancillary certificate, you must:

  • hold a current Australian driver licence for a minimum of 12 months:
    • be at least 20 years of age
    • if you are 20 years of age you must have held your car licence for at least two out of three years before you make an application
    • if you are 21 years or older you must have held your car licence for at least one year out of the three years before you make application.
  • be an Australian or New Zealand Citizen, permanent resident or hold a visa allowing you to work in Australia
  • hold a current Working with Vulnerable People (children) Registration issued by the Department of Justice
  • satisfy the character requirements by supplying a –
    • Taxi and Ride Source Ancillary applications: Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check
    • Other Ancillary applications: National Police Certificate from Tasmania Police
  • be medically fit at the commercial standards
  • understand and be familiar with the Tasmanian Road Rules and the PPV operating requirements. A knowledge test or a training course may be required depending on the type of ancillary being applied for.

There may also be additional requirements for certain ancillary certificates, which will listed on the specific ancillary certificate page.

4What are the medical requirements for holding an ancillary certificate?

To hold an ancillary certificate, you will be required to:

  • For Taxi Ancillary Certificates:
    • Complete the Medical Declaration on the Ancillary Certificate to drive a Taxi Application form at the time of your initial application and annually at the time of renewal
  • For Other Ancillary Certificates:
    • undertake a medical assessment at the commercial standard every three years (if you’re over 65, you will need to undertake this assessment every year)

We can also request that you undertake a medical assessment at any time.

If you hold an ancillary certificate which is restricted to operating only nominated ride source vehicles you will be required to:

  • complete an annual medical declaration or
  • be under medical review (at the commercial standards) due to a medical condition.

5What are the character requirements for getting an ancillary certificate?

You will need to provide a:

  • Evidence of your current Working With Vulnerable People registration
  • Taxi Ancillary applications: Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check
  • Other Ancillary applications: National Police Certificate from Tasmania Police
  • Other documents to support your good character if you’ve:
    • been convicted with a criminal or serious traffic offence
    • been refuse a taxi or public vehicle licence in the past
    • had a taxi or public vehicle licence cancelled.

We will consider numerous factors when considering your application for an ancillary certificate. These include your:

  • road safety history
  • honesty and integrity
  • social behaviour.

See Ancillary Certificate Decision making Guidelines

6What happens to your ancillary certificate if you’re disqualified from driving?

Your ancillary certificate(s) may be cancelled if you commit:

  • a criminal offence or crime
  • an alcohol/drug related offence
  • traffic offences.

If you’re disqualified from driving, your ancillary certificate(s) will automatically be cancelled.

7What is Public Passenger Vehicle Knowledge Test?

The public passenger vehicle knowledge test will assess your knowledge of the Tasmanian road rules and can be taken at Service Tasmania.

It will assess you on the following questions:

Questions

Answers

When is the driver of a public passenger vehicle required to carry an ancillary certificate to drive a public passenger vehicle?

A driver must carry their ancillary certificate at all times that the vehicle is being used for its intended purpose. This applies whether passengers are in the vehicle or not. (For example, the driver of a taxi standing on a taxi rank must carry their ancillary certificate).

Is smoking permitted in a public passenger vehicle?

No. It is an offence for the driver or passengers to smoke in a public passenger vehicle.

What is a driver permitted to do if a passenger is doing something which they believe may endanger the safety of the vehicle or another person?

A driver may stop the vehicle and direct the passenger to leave the vehicle, and/or request the passenger to state his or her name and address.

There are offences that apply to the driver of a public passenger vehicle. Name these:

The driver of a public passenger vehicle:

shall not refuse a hiring without lawful excuse;

shall not threaten, harass or attempt to intimidate a passenger;

shall not have any alcohol in their body while in charge of the vehicle;

must not stand or park a vehicle to pick up or set down passengers in such a way as to create an unreasonable risk to other road users;

must not drive any vehicle with any luggage not being safely stowed.

How does a driver show that they are operating a public passenger vehicle that has passed the regular inspections required by law?

A vehicle inspection label must be affixed and kept affixed to the vehicle by the person to whom it is issued. It is an offence for the registered operator to use or permit the use of a public passenger vehicle which is not under current inspection.

What is the maximum number of hours, in a period of 24 hours, a person can drive a bus with a seating capacity of 13 or more, including the driver?

12 hours

Are passengers permitted to stand in a bus?

Passengers are permitted to stand provided:

that there is only one person for every 1600 square cm of floor space;

they do not obstruct an entrance or exit nor cause danger or discomfort to another passenger;

the distance between the roof and the floor of the vehicle is 1.7 m or over;

the aisle is over 380 mm wide and a holding device is provided for each standing passenger.

What is the maximum legal Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) for the driver of a public passenger vehicle?

Nil.

Is the driver of a taxi, luxury hire car or restricted hire vehicle permitted to approach a person in the street to make it known that his/her vehicle is available for hire?

No. It is an offence to solicit passenger trade for a motor vehicle on a public street.

Is the driver of a luxury hire car or restricted hire vehicle permitted to stand the vehicle on a public street?

No. A person must not stand or park a luxury hire car or restricted hire vehicle on a public street unless it is:

picking up passengers who have pre-booked the vehicle;

dropping off passengers;

about to commence a tour; or

displaying a sign bearing the words “not for hire”.

Is the driver of a taxi permitted to stand the vehicle on a public street?

No. A person must not stand or park a taxi on a public street unless it is:

  • standing   on a taxi rank;
  • picking up passengers who have pre-booked the vehicle;
  • dropping off passengers;
  • about to commence a tour; or
  • displaying a sign bearing the words “not for hire”.

Is a luxury hire car or restricted hire vehicle permitted to stand on a taxi rank?

No. Only a taxi that is operating under the authority of a taxi licence for the area may stand on a taxi rank in that area.

Can the driver of a small passenger vehicle carry paying passengers if the vehicle is not a taxi, luxury hire car or restricted hire vehicle?

Only if the vehicle is providing a service that is not available to the general public and/or is not operated as a commercial transport service. For example, non-commercial transport, services that are restricted to clearly defined groups (such as nursing home clients), incidental transport (such as toy trains).

What services may a restricted hire vehicle undertake?

Restricted hire vehicles operating specific RHV services may be hired out for:

  • weddings;
  • funerals;
  • school, college or university balls, formals or leavers functions; and
  • tours.

Restricted hire vehicles operating general RHV services may be hired out for any purpose, provided that the service is pre-booked.