Operating or owning a commercial passenger vehicle

Introduction

This guide includes the three mandatory requirements you need to operate a commercial passenger vehicle (CPV) in the Northern Territory (NT):

  1. Accreditation in the NT.
  2. Commercial vehicle licence (CVL).
  3. Registration of CPV.

There is a cap on the number of taxi licences operating in Darwin and Alice Springs and licences are currently issued through a ballot.

Taxi ballots are held when licences become available.  The ballot is advertised at least three weeks in advance.

If a taxi licence has expired for more than three months it will be considered cancelled and placed on a list of licences available in the ballot.

This guide also includes the steps you need to follow for complaints, code of conduct, multiple hire, number plates, taxi areas, meters and fares, as well as how to place your CVL licence on hold.


Accreditation in the NT: apply or renew

You can apply for accreditation to operate a commercial passenger vehicle (CPV) in the Northern Territory (NT).

Your accreditation is valid for 5 years and can be renewed.

To be approved as an accredited operator, you must be considered fit and proper to be responsible for the operation of a CPV.

You cannot transfer your accreditation to another person.

Your accreditation may be cancelled if you're:

  • convicted of a disqualifying offence or
  • deemed not fit and proper to hold accreditation.

Read about fit and proper assessment and disqualifying offences.

To apply for or renew operator accreditation, you must:

  • complete an application for commercial passenger vehicle operator accreditation
  • pay the $100 accreditation fee
  • provide a national police certificate - supplied by SAFE NT dated within 3 months
  • provide an insolvency check - from the Australian Financial Security Authority (AFSA) dated within 3 months.

You must provide either original or certified copies of your national police certificate and insolvency report.

Company or body corporate accreditation

In the case of a company, body corporate, or an incorporated association, an operator must provide a current company extract from the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC). The extract must identify all partners, directors, and managers.

An operator will not get accreditation if an individual or office bearer of a body corporate is any of the following:

  • bankrupt or in the process of bankruptcy
  • has been convicted of a disqualifying offence
  • considered not fit and proper to hold accreditation.

How to apply

Fill in the application for commercial passenger vehicle operator accreditation PDF (229.1 KB).

Mail

You can send your application, supporting documents and money order to:

Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics
CPV Operator Accreditation 
GPO Box 530
Darwin NT 0801

Call 1300 654 628 once the MVR has received your application form. You can pay the fee by Visa or Mastercard.

In person

You can apply in person at an MVR office. You can pay the fee by Mastercard, Visa, EFTPOS or cash.


Commercial vehicle licence (CVL): apply or renew

To operate a commercial passenger vehicle (CPV), you must hold a commercial vehicle licence (CVL).

Before you can get a CVL, you must have accreditation in the NT.

How to apply

You can apply for a new CVL in person or by mail.

Step 1. Fill in the commercial vehicle licence form PDF (616.0 KB).

Step 2. Submit your form in person at an MVR office or by mail to the following postal address.

Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics
GPO Box 530
Darwin NT 0801

After you submit your application, you will get a letter about the outcome within 15 days.

If approved, you must pay the fee in person at an MVR office or over the phone via 1300 654 628.

You can pay using Visa, Mastercard or cash in person or Visa or Mastercard over the phone.

How to renew

You can renew your CVL online, in person or by mail.

Step 1. Fill in the commercial vehicle licence form PDF (616.0 KB).

Step 2. Submit your form in person at an MVR office or by mail to the following postal address.

Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics
GPO Box 530
Darwin NT 0801

Contact

To find out more, call 1300 654 628 or email mvr@nt.gov.au.


Registration of a CPV

To be registered as a commercial passenger vehicle (CPV) your vehicle must:

  • be registered in the Northern Territory (NT)
  • meet routine inspection and registration requirements of the MVR
  • be registered under the same name for the owner and commercial vehicle licence holder - for taxis, minibuses, private hire cars, limousines and special function vehicles.

A factory standard or unmodified production vehicle that is fitted with an Australian compliance plate may be approved as a CPV provided the vehicle:

  • complies with the CPV vehicle maintenance standards and guides for that type of vehicle - for more information read about types of CPV
  • passes the CPV standards inspection.

Modified or imported vehicles are assessed on a case-by-case basis.


Complaints and codes of conduct

Any person may make a complaint to the Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics. The department may also forward a complaint to other organisations, for example, the police.

To make a complaint, complete the complaint report commercial passenger vehicles PDF (58.9 KB) and email it to cpv.compliance@nt.gov.au.

Under Northern Territory (NT) law, the department regulates the commercial passenger vehicle (CPV) industry including taxis, minibuses, private hire cars, limousines, buses, tourist vehicles and ridesharing vehicles.

The department's CPV compliance unit investigates incidents to identify potential breaches of the Commercial Passenger (Road) Transport Act 1991.

Potential offences may involve issues with driver conduct, vehicle safety or unlawful operation.

It does not generally include service delivery standards. Issues involving poor customer service should be taken up with the service provider in the first instance.

If you are not satisfied with the response from the service provider, the department may assist through a conciliation process.

If you consider the conduct of a person to be criminal in nature, you should report the matter directly to NT Police.

Codes of conduct

Codes of conduct are designed to advise drivers of their responsibilities and obligations to comply with legislation.

Codes of conduct are also available to the public to inform them of the minimum standard of service they can expect from the taxi, minibus, private hire car and ridesharing industries.

For more information read the Codes of conduct information bulletin PDF (281.0 KB).


Multiple hire

Taxis may be hired by more than one passenger or hirer.

Multiple hiring is when two or more parties hire the same taxi and are travelling in the same direction.

When on multiple hire, the taxi driver can collect separate fares for a journey that may have more than one destination.

The taxi driver must select the taxi meter's multiple hire function and the fare will automatically be calculated based on 75% of the normal fare. It is an offence to collect multiple fares when the multiple hire function has not been used.

Multiple hiring is allowed when:

  • the first hirer and each subsequent hirer have agreed
  • all hirers begin their journey at the same point and are travelling in the same general direction
  • the total number of passengers in the taxi does not exceed the licensed passenger capacity of the taxi.

When each hirer reaches their destination, they must pay the fare shown on the taxi meter plus an agreed portion of an airport toll if that is part of the journey.


Number plates

Number plates for commercial passenger vehicles (CPV) identify the category of vehicle and operation.

Some categories of CPV can display personalised plates. The options available to you depend on your type of vehicle.

Personalised plates are available for any of the following:

  • minibuses
  • private hire cars
  • special passenger vehicles
  • limousines
  • motor omnibuses
  • special function vehicles
  • tourist vehicles
  • rideshare vehicles.

Apply for personalised plates.

Apply to replace or remake your number plates if they are lost, stolen or damaged.


Put your CVL on hold

You can apply to place an existing commercial vehicle licence (CVL) on hold for a maximum period of three months each year.

To place your taxi, minibus, limousine or private hire car on hold, you need to complete an application to place an existing CVL on hold PDF (601.6 KB).

Submit your application in person at a MVR office.

When submitting your application, your CPV registration plates must be surrendered. You may choose to re-register the vehicle under private registration so you can drive it on the road while your CVL is on hold.

If your CVL is not reactivated within the maximum period, it will be considered cancelled.