Changes to the point to point industry

Access taxi services

Access Taxi drivers can claim a $25 lifting fee for South Australian Transport Subsidy Scheme (SATSS) trips booked through the Access Taxi Centralised Booking Service (Access Taxi CBS) to improve the service delivery in the Access Taxi industry.

This replaces the on-time bonus previously payable to the driver and the $10 lifting fee that previously applied to 75% SATSS trips to streamline the fees paid by the State Government for provision of this essential service.

The lifting fee applies to each booked trip, regardless of whether the SATSS member is claiming the trip as a subsidised trip or paying for it in full.

The State Government has extended the application of the $25 lifting fee to Access Taxi customers who use a wheelchair, scooter or large (ride-on) mobility aide and are not currently a SATSS member.

A new non-SATSS Access Taxi Card will support drivers in providing the lifting service for all eligible non-SATSS Access Taxi trips to ensure customers receive a consistent service. Customers who do not hold a non-SATSS Access Taxi Card can still book an Access Taxi.

Customers and drivers will be contacted soon with more information about the new non-SATSS Access Taxi Card and conditions to claim the lifting fee.

As some time is needed to distribute the non-SATSS Access Taxi Cards to customers, drivers can claim a $25 lifting fee for all eligible trips booked through the Access Taxi CBS from Friday, 1 December 2023 to Sunday, 30 June 2024, even if a customer does not present a non-SATSS Access Taxi Card.

The lifting fee is not applicable for non-SATSS trips that are covered under contracted arrangements with facilities such as schools. The lifting fee will apply to access trips booked by hospital staff in an individual capacity and where the metered fare is applied.

Inappropriate use of SATSS vouchers, a SATSS Member ID Card or a non-SATSS Access Taxi Card may result in penalties and/or referral to the Passenger Transport Standards Committee for breaches of the Passenger Transport Regulations 2009.

Learn more about how the lifting fee works.

Conditions of Accreditation

From February 2022, new conditions apply to access drivers, operators and licence holders. These replace and clarify the 'Taxi Licences with Special Conditions (Wheelchair Accessible Taxis)' that previously applied. There are separate conditions for: licence holders, operators and drivers.

The conditions reflect the following longstanding principles:

an Access Taxi vehicle should be available at all times during Access Taxi Hours to perform Access Taxi work, and
during Access taxi hours, priority must be given to Access taxi work assigned or allocated by the contracted Access Centralised Booking Service (CBS).

Conditions can be accessed below:

To support the recent changes to the Lifting Fee, and to clarify drivers’ responsibilities, a new clause 25 was introduced in the above Driver Conditions of Accreditation. The conditions are otherwise unchanged.

Compulsory Third Party (CTP) Rebate for Taxis

Eligible registered taxi owners or operators will receive a $3092.41 rebate for Compulsory Third Party (CTP) insurance premiums paid between 1 July 2021 and 30 June 2022. Those registered taxi owners whose vehicle has been registered with them for the full 12 months 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2022 will be processed first.

A similar payment will be made to eligible registered taxi owners to rebate CTP insurance premiums paid for taxis registered between 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2023.

More information is available in the Compulsory Third Party Rebate fact sheet.

Taxi Vehicle Age Limit Changes

From 25 January 2024, Access Taxis now have a maximum age limit of 12 years.

From 24 August 2023, stretch limousines have a maximum age limit of 20 years. This will apply automatically, without the need to complete a structural assessment.

The metropolitan Adelaide boundary

The South Australian Government has expanded the metropolitan Adelaide boundary under the Passenger Transport Act 1994 to include the Adelaide Hills and Mount Barker Council areas.

Metropolitan taxis, chauffeur, and ridesource (rideshare) services can now operate in the Adelaide Hills and Mount Barker Council areas. These changes are being implemented with the aim of increasing service availability for tourists and locals in low travel density zones.

Country-based taxi and chauffeur operators are able to continue to operate in the Adelaide Hills and Mount Barker Council areas in the same way that they do currently, including by providing point to point services in the new area.

More information is available in the fact sheets below for metropolitan and non-metropolitan service providers:

A map of the new boundary is also available below: