Apply for PTV authorisation: OD-RH (taxi)

A PTV authorisation can only be granted to a vehicle with a valid registration. Ensure any outstanding vehicle registration fees are paid prior to applying for a PTV authorisation.

OD-RH PTV equipment

To operate as an authorised PTV in the on-demand rank or hail (OD-RH) category, your vehicle must have:

• a working fare calculation device (meter) that has been installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions;
• roof light and roof sign that are clearly visible in daylight;
• external livery; 
• a camera surveillance unit and signage on the inside and outside of the vehicle advising passengers that a camera is installed, that meets the required standards; and
• taxi plates.

During the application process, you must also declare that you undertake to attach raised lettering upon receipt of the taxi plate.

The passenger transport vehicles: on-demand rank or hail fact sheet contains information about the equipment necessary to operate an OD-RH PTV.

Visit Passenger transport vehicle equipment and modifications for information about equipment for PTVs.

Have you modified you PTV?

Equipment installed in PTVs often requires a vehicle modification approval. 

You must seek approval for the modification before the vehicle undergoes its initial inspection, otherwise the vehicle will fail inspection.

If you modify a vehicle after the initial inspection you may be required to submit the vehicle for an additional inspection. 

The PTV equipment and modification requirements page provide details of what types of typical PTV modifications require approval and how to apply for approval.

Motor Injury Insurance (MII)

If you are applying for a PTV OD-RH authorisation on a vehicle that you own, you will be able to change the MII class during your application.

If you are applying for a PTV OD-RH authorisation on a vehicle that you do not own, you will need to:

• obtain the vehicle owner’s consent to use the vehicle for hire or reward; and
• make sure the vehicle owner changes the MII class on the vehicle to the appropriate type. This can be done by completing the E67: Declaration of Motor Injury Insurance Class form and submitting to On-demand Transport.

If the vehicle owner does not change the insurance class, you will not be able to complete the application.

More information is available on the Motor Injury Insurance page.

To apply for a PTV authorisation, your vehicle must either:

• have had a full inspection for PTV OD-RH (taxi) purposes in the three months prior to applying; or
• be a new vehicle registered in WA in the last 10 days.

If either of these conditions are not met, your vehicle must undergo an inspection at an Authorised Inspection Station (AIS) to ensure it meets vehicle and safety standards. If the vehicle has not passed an inspection, you will not be able to successfully apply for the PTV authorisation.

There is no maximum vehicle age for PTVs under the legislation. On-demand booking services (ODBSs) may have their own vehicle age and inspection requirements – please liaise directly with your ODBS for specific advice.

If you have installed any modifications in your PTV, you must seek approval for the modification before the vehicle undergoes its initial inspection, otherwise your vehicle will fail inspection.

Please note: driving instruction vehicles, such as those fitted with duplicate (dual) controls, cannot be authorised as a PTV.

Having your vehicle inspected

The vehicle inspection will check that your vehicle meets roadworthiness standards as well as confirm that any modifications to the vehicle to allow for the camera, fare calculation device or roof sign meet safety requirements.

You will need to make a booking with an AIS for a time to attend, and bring a completed, printed copy of the ODT119: Vehicle Examination Required form (below) to your inspection. 

Information on AISs, including metropolitan and regional locations, is available on the Get a vehicle inspected page.

After the inspection

Once the vehicle has passed its inspection, contact DoT to request that the “Certificate of Inspection” vehicle details are updated on your account.  You can then apply for your PTV authorisation on DoTDirect.

On-demand booking services (ODBS) may have their own maximum vehicle age and independent inspection requirements – it is recommended you liaise directly with the ODBS you intend to operate for, if applicable.

Once authorised, PTVs must also undertake an annual inspection. For further information about annual inspections, visit the Get a vehicle inspected page.

Applications for new PTV authorisations can only be made via DoTDirect. You can apply for more than one PTV authorisation at a time, however each vehicle added will be charged an application fee of $26.00.

To complete an application for a PTV authorisation in the OD-RH category via DoTDirect, you will be guided through a range of steps.

You can repeat this process to add multiple vehicles to your application (up to 100 vehicles at a time). Note that adding a large number of vehicles may exceed the $20,000 limit for online payments via DoTDirect; in this case payment will need to be made in person at a Licensing Centre.

A detailed PTV user guide is available below.

Note: you will not be able to save your application while in progress and complete it at a later time.  Please ensure you are prepared to complete the full application before starting the process. 

If you are using a mobile phone to apply for your PTV authorisation, upon logging into your DoTDirect account please scroll to the bottom of the page to view the desktop version of the site.

Application details

1. Choose which category or categories you wish to apply for authorisation (note that OD-RH and OD-C cannot be selected together; the rank or hail category affords the PTV authorisation holder the rights to operate as on-demand charter as well as rank or hail).
2. Choose the authorisation period for the PTV authorisation - either 1, 3, 6 or 12 months, or a common expiry date if you have existing PTV authorisations.  NOTE: One month authorisations are not renewable.

Vehicle selection

1. Search for your nominated vehicle by licence plate number or VIN/Chassis number. This will bring up details for the vehicle including year of manufacture, make, model and current insurance class. If you do not own the vehicle, you will not be able to view the complete VIN - only the last four digits will be visible.
2. Declare whether the nominated vehicle has wheelchair capacity that meets the relevant standards, and if so whether it has a hoist or ramp installed and how many wheelchairs it can carry.
3. If you do not own the vehicle(s) nominated in the application for the PTV authorisation, you will need to declare that you have the consent of the vehicle owner to do so.

Vehicle declaration

Declare that the nominated vehicle’s intended use is for on-demand rank or hail work and that it has been fitted with the following equipment (outlined in Step 2):

1. Working fare calculation device that has been installed in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions;
2. Roof light that is clearly visible in daylight;
3. Security camera and related signage that meets relevant standards (cameras are not required until July 2020 for vehicles primarily operating outside the metropolitan region);
4. Required livery; and
5. Raised lettering (applied to the vehicle, or you must declare that you undertake to attach raised lettering upon receipt of the taxi plate).

Declare the correct Motor Injury Insurance class:

1. 3C - any motor vehicle licensed under the Road Traffic (Vehicles) Regulations 2014 and used as a PTV in the OD-RH category, principally operating within a 40km radius of the GPO Perth.
2. 3D - any motor vehicle licensed under the Road Traffic (Vehicles) Regulations 2014 and used as a PTV in the OD-RH category, principally operating outside a 40km radius of the GPO Perth.

Review your application

Once you have added all the intended vehicles to your application for authorisations, you will be taken to a screen to review and confirm your application.

This will include:

• vehicle details;
• current and nominated insurance class;
• fee details;
• insurance class adjustment costs (if applicable); and
• a summary of declarations made by the applicant.

Pay for your PTV authorisation

After reviewing the application you will be directed to payment.

When paying for your PTV application you will have two options:

• online via DoTDirect; or
• in person at a Licensing Centre via cheque or EFTPOS by choosing ‘lodge and pay later’.

Payments can be made quickly and easily in DoTDirect via credit card (Mastercard or Visa).

If you choose to pay in person at a Licensing Centre, you will need to take note of the account number supplied, as you will need to provide this to DoT staff to process your payment. Alternatively you can access the account number via your DoTDirect account to present at the Licensing Centre. Payment must be made within 7 days of the application being submitted.

A 12 month PTV authorisation will cost $127.00 for each vehicle, with an application fee of $26.00 per vehicle. Motor Injury Insurance costs may be incurred too – these amounts will vary between vehicles.

Visit On-demand fees and charges for more information.

Once payment has been processed, applicants will be emailed an authorisation payment receipt summary, outlining application, authorisation, insurance class adjustment and plate change costs (as applicable).

PTV applications for the OD-RH category will also be emailed a plate collection letter if the vehicle does not already have taxi plates affixed (see Step 6 for further information).

If you have selected a PTV authorisation in the OD-RH category and do not already have TAXI or CT plates affixed to your nominated vehicle, plate collection notification e-mail and document which will allow you to collect and affix your new TAXI plates from any Driver and Vehicles Services centre, DoT office/agent. This letter must be presented when collecting your plates.

The PTV authorisation will not be granted until this formal plate change process has been completed.

Operating a vehicle as a PTV OD-RH (taxi) without the vehicle bearing taxi plates contravenes the regulations and will attract a penalty.

When payment has been processed and taxi plates have been affixed to the vehicle, authorisation will be granted.

A copy of the PTV authorisation document will be emailed to the authorisation holder and an email sent to the vehicle owner (if a third party) advising of its authorisation for hire or reward. The PTV authorisation document will also be available to the PTV holder at any time via DoTDirect.

The driver of a PTV is not required to carry a hard copy of the PTV authorisation document when operating the PTV.