The Passenger Transport Subsidy Scheme Guidelines (the Guidelines) outline the rules and obligations for:
- people who want to apply for PTSS
- people who use PTSS, and
- taxi drivers and on-demand booking services (ODBS).
The Guidelines sit under the Transport (Road Passenger Services) Regulations 2020 (the Regulations). The Guidelines must be complied with to be eligible to receive subsidies.
ODBSs are responsible for remaining aware of these guidelines, as well as the:
ODBS obligations
If you dispatch work to rank or hail (taxi) drivers, you agree to follow the terms and conditions outlined in the Guidelines, including the following.
- Be registered for PTSS.
- Comply with the Regulations and the Guidelines.
- Determine and communicate the method their drivers will use to submit PTSS journeys to the Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure (DTMI).
- Submit accurate and complete PTSS journey data in accordance with regulation 130J of the Regulations.
- Ensure subsidy payments are distributed correctly to the driver that completed the PTSS journey in a timely manner.
- Reconcile payments and report discrepancies to DTMI.
Register for PTSS
All authorised ODBSs who provide taxi services are required to register for the digital PTSS system, via DoTDirect.
Registering your ODBS for PTSS enables DTMI to make payments to your ODBS on behalf of your drivers. It also means that you will be included in the list of registered ODBSs in the PTSS mobile app.
During registration, you will need to nominate a bank account for DTMI to deposit PTSS payments on behalf of your ODBS's drivers.
Ensure you enter the correct name associated with your bank account, for example "J Citizen", "John Citizen" or "J Citizen Pty Ltd". Account names like "Savings" or "Personal" may be rejected and lead to payment delays.
Note: After registering, it may take up to 24 hours for your ODBS to show in the PTSS mobile app.
The PTSS mobile app will display your ODBS provider name. This may be different to your business name. You can find your ODBS provider name:
- on your ODBS authorisation document
- in your DoTDirect account profile, or
- by searching your ODBS authorisation number or business name in the list of authorised on-demand booking service providers.
If your drivers are using the PTSS mobile app, please ensure that they know your ODBS provider name. Refer to the user guide for detailed instructions about how to register your ODBS for PTSS.
ODBS authorisation applicants will also be required to register for PTSS if they intend to provide taxi services once authorised.
Once your ODBS has registered for PTSS, you will receive monthly emails requesting that you submit booking records for PTSS journeys that occurred in the previous month.
Visit PTSS journey data submissions for more information.
Choose how your drivers will use PTSS
All ODBSs who provide taxi services need to decide how their drivers will use the digital PTSS system:
- drivers install and use the PTSS mobile app on their mobile device, or
- integrate your own digital systems (like dispatch software) with the PTSS API.
Both ways of accessing the digital PTSS system will collect journey details and send this information to DTMI so that subsidies can be paid. You will need to communicate your chosen method with your drivers.
Note: Integrating your systems with the PTSS API may take time for you to develop. It is recommended to engage with DTMI early if you wish to do this. Drivers should use the PTSS mobile app in the interim.
If you’re interested in integrating your systems with the PTSS API or have any questions, please email ondemandtransport@transport.wa.gov.au for more technical information.
How does my ODBS make PTSS payments to drivers?
DTMI makes approved PTSS payments to your ODBS, for your distribution to relevant drivers. It is your responsibility as an ODBS to distribute accurate and timely payments to drivers who undertook PTSS journeys for your ODBS.
ODBSs are responsible for regularly:
- reconciling the financial payments provided by DTMI and the subsidies provided to passengers for the bookings the ODBS has taken or facilitated, and
- reporting any discrepancies or issues to DTMI as soon as possible.
Read more on the PTSS payments page.
FAQs
Rules for PTSS fares are the same as regular on-demand rank or hail (taxi) work. You can:
- charge up to or below the maximum regulated fare amounts, or
- agree to a contract fare with the passenger. Contract fares must not exceed the maximum regulated fare amounts.
You must ensure that Tariff 3 is not applied to any wheelchair accessible vehicle (WAV) journeys.
A maximum of 15 minutes detention time may be applied to the fare for a PTSS journey, during which time the taxi is hired and unavailable for hiring by another person. This may include:
- time spent assisting PTSS participants with entering or existing the taxi, and
- the loading, securing and unloading of mobility devices (for example, wheelchairs).
All fares and charges that are set by the ODBS must be reflected in the fare schedule, and accurately calculated by the meter. For this to occur, taxi drivers must always use their meter when operating for hire at taxi ranks, or when hailed on the street.
Visit On-demand rank or hail (taxi) fares for more information.
Yes. Eligible people under equivalent interstate schemes are entitled to access subsidised taxi travel in WA that reflects their entitlement in their home state or territory.
Visit PTSS responsibilities for drivers for more information about interstate vouchers.