Taxis and commercial passenger vehicles
Aviation and airports
The Northern Territory (NT) Government is responsible for developing aviation policy, supporting the development of domestic and international air service routes, and off-airport land use planning in the NT.
The government also provides funding support for 70 regional and remote aerodromes throughout the Territory.
The Australian Government is responsible for all of the following:
- air safety
- aviation carrier liability
- security
- bilateral air services agreements
- publicly owned airports that are leased to private operators
- on-airport planning of leased airports
- building and environmental clearances
- financial assistance for remote air services and aerodromes.
To find out more, go to the Australian Government's Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications website.
To read more about NT aviation policy and development, go to the Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics website.
NT airports
Find out more about NT airports:
- Darwin Airport
- Alice Springs Airport
- Katherine Airport
- Gove Airport
- Tennant Creek Airport
- Groote Eylandt Airport.
Remote aerodromes
For more information about remote aerodromes, contact the department on 08 8999 4682.
Flying and the Patient Assistance Travel Scheme
Find out more about the Patient Assistance Travel Scheme.
Become a transit officer
Transit officers work in the Northern Territory's (NT) public bus system.
A transit officer can remove people from a bus, bus stop or interchange, and issue on-the-spot fines.
Read more about the role of a transit officer.
Before you apply
Transit officers are required to meet all of the following:
- hold a current unrestricted C or C-A class driver licence
- hold a current working with children clearance
- hold a current first aid certificate
- wear a uniform
- work shift hours including public holidays
- work under pressure and be a reliable team member
- deal with difficult passengers, provide conflict management and undertake an enforcement role with non-compliant passengers.
The approval process includes all of the following:
- a criminal history and traffic offence check
- aptitude testing
- psychometric testing
- an interview
- a medical examination.
How to apply
To check and apply for transit officer positions, go to the Careers in Government website.
Become a driving instructor
A driving instructor is a person who receives payment to teach others how to drive or ride for the purpose of gaining a class of licence.
An approved driving instructor will have a driving instructor ‘D’ endorsement on their Northern Territory (NT) driver licence.
Approval is valid for 5 years and all driving instructors must comply with the:
Code of practice for NT driving instructors and driving examiners PDF (758.8 KB)
Code of practice for NT driving instructors and driving examiners DOCX (656.3 KB).
How to become a driving instructor
To get your driving instructor ‘D’ endorsement, you must follow these steps:
Step 1. Take a driving instructor training course
You must complete a Certificate IV in motor vehicle driver training.
There are 3 specialised groups within the Certificate IV qualification:
- group A - car driving instruction
- group B - heavy vehicle driving instruction
- group C - motorcycle riding instruction.
Find a registered training provider.
You must also have held the relevant class of open licence in Australia for a continuous period of 3 years immediately prior to the date of application.
Step 2. Submit your documents to the MVR
You will need to take the following to the MVR:
- a complete medical assessment of fitness to drive form
- National Police Certificate issued in the NT - apply for a criminal history check
- traffic offence history issued in the NT - go to the NT Police, Fire and Emergency Services website
- your Certificate IV in motor vehicle driver training
- current NT driver licence.
Your medical assessment must:
- not be older than 3 months
- show you are medically fit to drive.
Your criminal history and traffic history checks must not be older than 3 months.
Step 3. Pay for and get your driving instructor endorsement
Your driving instructor "D" endorsement will be added to your licence after:
- your documents have been processed
- you have paid the driving instructor endorsement fee.
After you get endorsed
You will need to renew your driving instructor endorsement every 5 years. You will need to provide:
- a fitness to drive medical assessment, and
- national criminal history check.
Interstate driving instructors
If you hold current driving instructor accreditation in another state or territory, you can apply for a NT driving instructor endorsement without the need for additional training.
You will need to provide:
- your last fitness to drive medical assessment, and
- national criminal history check.
These will be used to calculate your driving instructor endorsement renewal date.
If you can't give details, you will need to provide a current medical and criminal history check.
Fatigue management for transport operations
In the Northern Territory (NT), road transport operators and workers are required to manage the risk of fatigue under the Work Health and Safety (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2011.
The Road Transport Fatigue Management Code of Practice was revoked on the 4 March 2020, as it no longer aligned with best practice risk management processes.
New guidelines are being developed to assist road transport operators and workers.
Read about fatigue management for operating across borders.
For general information on managing the risk of fatigue, go to the NT WorkSafe website or call NT WorkSafe on 1800 019 115.
Funding for remote passenger transport services
Funding is available to increase passenger transport access in remote areas.
This is offered under the government's Remote Passenger Transport Program.
Proposed services should fill gaps that exist because passenger transport in an area may not be commercially viable or has not been provided for other reasons.
Funding is usually limited to terms of one to three years, on a trial basis.
There is typically one funding round per year.
Applications for 2022-23 funding round are closed.
What services are eligible
Services can be classified as either inter-town or intra-town.
An inter-town service covers transport between communities and key centres. It is typically long distance such as Numbulwar to Katherine.
An intra-town service is typically within a town or from nearby communities, such as Yirrkala to Nhulunbuy on the Gove Peninsula.
Inter-town services
To be considered for inter-town funding a location should:
- not have a passenger transport service that runs at least weekly to the nearest key centre
- have a permanent population base of at least 100
- be more than two hours travel time by road to a key centre providing essential services, and
- be more than one hour (one-way) by road to a location that has a regular passenger transport service.
Locations with less than 100 people can be considered as part of a stop or extension of another transport route.
Intra-town services
To be considered for intra-town funding a location should:
- not have a passenger transport service such as a town bus, minibus or taxi that runs at least two days per week
- have a permanent population base of at least 1,000, and
- not have reasonable access to essential services.
Who can apply
An applicant can be any person. For example, a commercial bus operator or a representative of a community.
To be eligible you must demonstrate the need for regular passenger transport in the location that will receive the service.
Previously receiving funding for a particular service does not guarantee ongoing funding.
What to include in your application
Applications will be assessed against the criteria listed below.
You need to include all information that shows your application meets the criteria.
All documents submitted will be retained by the department and kept confidential.
Eligibility
Demonstrate your project meets the eligibility requirements.
Service provider details
Provide the following:
- general information about the service provider
- evidence of past successful delivery of similar services
- evidence of the organisation’s financial sustainability such as recent financial statements
- copy of the organisation’s business plan.
Commercial viability potential
You need to include:
- A proposal for the service including
- an assessment of the potential commercial viability
- estimated passenger numbers and ticket revenue
- a plan to improve the service’s commercial viability over time.
- An estimate of service costs including:
- vehicle
- operations such as fuel and maintenance
- staffing
- overheads
- margin
- training and professional development
- any other costs.
- An estimate of the funding you require and a schedule of proposed payments. Payments are typically split between an establishment (up front) payment and ongoing operational payments every six months. Alternate payment schedules can be proposed with justification.
- Demonstrated consideration of other potential funding sources. Provide details of other funding sources that will be used in providing the service.
Service plan
Include a service plan that has the following:
- a fare structure (based on typical commercial rates)
- a timetable for the service that includes trip distance, time and any connections to other services
- fare payment options and systems
- internal policies such as a cancellation of fares policy, grievance procedure and fatigue management
- information on how services will be suitable for disabled and mobility impaired persons, or an explanation about why these services can't be provided.
Nominated fleet
The information about your nominated fleet should include:
- details of the vehicle/s to be used to deliver the service
- evidence that vehicle/s are in a good working condition and appropriate to deliver the services in the relevant environment
- a contingency plan for incidents such as a vehicle breakdown.
Commencement plan
Provide a commencement plan that includes the lead time required to start the service.
Stakeholder engagement, marketing plan and community development
Your application should include a plan for engagement, marketing and ridership growth.
You will also need to supply a plan for community development. This could include details about:
- an indigenous employment plan
- local industry involvement
- community involvement.
Compliance
Your application needs to include evidence of any compliance requirements such as:
- industry certification
- licenses
- permits
- insurances.
How to apply
Applications for 2022-23 funding round are closed.
If you are successful
Successful applicants will receive a funding agreement.
This agreement sets out the terms and conditions for the use of the funding.
You will need to report on and acquit all funding provided.
Further details will be in the funding agreement you receive.
Contact
Contact the Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics by email contracts.dipl@nt.gov.au or by phone 08 8924 7265.
Use a public bus facility for private transport services
If you run a private transport company, you can apply to use public bus facility or interchanges to pick up and drop off passengers.
You must get permission from the Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics to use these facilities.
Types of bus facilities
You can apply to use the following bus facilities for pick-ups and drop-offs:
- bus stops
- interchanges
- Park and Ride stations.
How to apply
Contact Public Transport by calling 08 8924 7852 or emailing public.transport@nt.gov.au.
Register your vehicle for hire or rental
If you want to use your vehicle for hire or rental in the Northern Territory (NT), you must register it as one.
This will ensure your compulsory third party insurance (CTPI) is changed to the appropriate class for hire or rental.
It’s an offence to drive your vehicle without the appropriate CTPI, so it can’t be used for hire or rental unless this is done.
Otherwise, your vehicle may be deemed unregistered or uninsured.
If you have a motorcycle or trailer for hire or rental, you don’t need to apply for a different CTPI.
How to register
To register your vehicle for hire or rental, you must follow the relevant process below.
First time NT registration
If your vehicle is not registered in the NT, you must register it how you would with any vehicle.
When you apply, you must declare this in section 8 on your application.
Find out how to register your vehicle.
Existing NT registration
If your vehicle is already registered in the NT, you must declare it's being used for hire and rental.
To declare, follow these steps:
Step 1. Fill in and sign the M3 statutory declaration PDF (356.3 KB).
You must include the:
- VIN/chassis
- make or model
- date from when your vehicle will be used for hire or rental.
Step 2. Attach the following supporting documents:
- evidence of identity
- a letter of authority if you're not the registered owner.
Step 3. Submit your statutory declaration and supporting documents:
- by email to mvr@nt.gov.au
- to an MVR office.
You must also pay the difference in CTPI fees using EFTPOS, Mastercard, Visa, BasicsCard or cash.
This will depend on how much registration is left on your vehicle.
If your vehicle is no longer used for hire or rental
If you’re no longer using your vehicle for hire or rental, you must declare it, so your CTPI is changed to private use (insurance class A).
Follow these steps:
Step 1. Fill in and sign the M3 statutory declaration PDF (356.3 KB).
You must include the:
- VIN/chassis
- make or model
- date when your vehicle was last used for hire or rental.
Step 2. Attach the following supporting documents:
- evidence of identity
- a letter of authority if you're not the registered owner.
Step 3. Submit your statutory declaration and supporting documents:
- by email to mvr@nt.gov.au
- to an MVR office.
You may also be eligible for a refund from the difference in CTPI fees (an administration fee applies).
This will depend on how many months are left on your vehicle registration.