Taxi
A taxi operator must be accredited and be the responsible person for a taxi licence.
Taxis can only be operated to, from or within the taxi area to which their licence relates. A taxi driver is not allowed to accept a hiring which starts and finishes outside their taxi area.
View a map of the taxi areas in Tasmania. Zoom in on the map for detail of taxi area boundaries.
A vehicle which has not previously been used as a taxi in Tasmania can begin to be used as a taxi provided:
Vehicles that meet the ANCAP five star safety rating. Safety rating shows the level of safety a vehicle provides for occupants and pedestrians in a crash, and its ability – through technology – to avoid or minimise the effects of a crash. The ANCAP five star rating does not apply to vehicles that are intended to be used as a wheelchair accessible taxi.
Before a vehicle can be used as a taxi, it must have passed a regulatory inspection, have a class 6 MAIB insurance premium paid and a taxi licence plate attached to it.
Taxis can be used until aged 12 years.
The 12 year period is calculated from the:
Wheelchair accessible taxis can be used while they are roadworthy and safe.
Wheelchair accessible taxis must be specifically approved for use as a WAT after showing that they have the following characteristics:
These licences are no longer being issued. The only way to obtain one of these licences is to purchase or lease one from an existing licence holder.
If you purchase a licence, you own it. You can use it to operate your own taxi service (if you hold accreditation) or you may lease it to an accredited operator.
When you lease a perpetual taxi licence, you need to:
When you purchase a perpetual taxi licence, you need to:
There are two ways to obtain one of these licences:
To apply for the transfer of a licence from another operator use this form
There will be no new owner-operator taxi licences made available by tender until after 1 October 2024.
The tender to purchase a new owner operator taxi licence (OOTL) will not go ahead between 2020 and 2024.
A wheelchair accessible taxi licence can be obtained from the Transport Commission or purchased from an existing operator. These licences cannot be leased.
Licences from the Commission are free (there is an application fee).
To be eligible you must:
If you want to obtain a wheelchair accessible taxi licence from the Commission, you need to make an application for a licence
If you want to transfer a wheelchair accessible taxi licence from another operator you will need approval from the Transport Commission. You will need to complete this form.
If you have a wheelchair accessible taxi licence and you want to transfer the licence to another vehicle, you need to complete this form
This licence has the same effect as an owner operator taxi licence, except a temporary taxi licence is limited to the period that it is issued and is not transferable.
To be eligible for this licence you must:
A temporary taxi licence is issued for a limited period of time from the Transport Commission