# Rideshare and Delivery Driver Guide (Australia) **Category:** [Getting Started](https://community.mycartracks.com/c/gig-getting-started/17) **Created:** 2026-05-18 11:32 UTC **Views:** 12 **Replies:** 0 **URL:** https://community.mycartracks.com/t/rideshare-and-delivery-driver-guide-australia/426 --- ## Post #1 by @MyCarTracks_support For gig driving in Australia, start with the setup that can block you before the first shift: business registration, platform documents, vehicle approval, insurance, and tax records. This guide helps you compare those checks before you accept rides, deliveries, or courier work through an app. The Australian Taxation Office (ATO), the federal tax agency, treats ride-sourcing as passenger transport for tax purposes. Its [ride-sourcing guidance](https://www.ato.gov.au/businesses-and-organisations/income-deductions-and-concessions/sharing-economy-and-tax/ride-sourcing) says ride-sourcing income is subject to goods and services tax (GST), the 10% tax many Australian businesses collect from customers and report to the ATO, and income tax. Delivery-only work is different. The ATO's broader [sharing economy guidance](https://www.ato.gov.au/businesses-and-organisations/income-deductions-and-concessions/sharing-economy-and-tax) says platform service income, including food or parcel delivery, still needs to be reported, but the ride-sourcing GST rule should not be copied across without checking your exact activity. ## Quick answer Before you sign up for Uber, Uber Eats, DoorDash, or another app in Australia, check five things: - whether you need an Australian Business Number (ABN), the number that identifies your business or sole-trader activity - whether you must register for GST from day one or only after the normal GST turnover threshold applies - whether your licence, right-to-work check, background check, vehicle, registration, and insurance match the platform rules - whether your car, scooter, bike, or rental agreement allows the work you plan to do - whether you can keep income, expense, GST, business kilometres, odometer, and receipt records from the first week Ride-sourcing is stricter than delivery-only work because the ATO says ride-sourcing drivers must have an ABN and be registered for GST before the first trip. Delivery drivers still need to report income and may need an ABN for platform onboarding, but GST registration usually starts with the general GST rules unless you also carry passengers or another rule applies. ## If you're just starting Do not start with the car you wish you had. Start with the work you can legally do this month. For a passenger rideshare app, that usually means a full licence, age and licence-tenure rules, a background check, passenger-transport documents where your state or territory requires them, an eligible vehicle, compulsory third party (CTP) insurance, property-damage insurance, an Australian Business Number, and GST registration. For delivery, the entry path can be lighter. Uber Eats says Australian delivery people can use a car, bike, scooter, or motorbike where that mode is available, and DoorDash Australia says Dashers must be 18 or older and can use a car, scooter, or bicycle. You still need to handle documents, work rights, background checks, insurance, and business records. ## Gig driving in Australia: rideshare or delivery Passenger rideshare work puts customers in your vehicle. That usually brings tighter vehicle, inspection, insurance, driver accreditation, and GST obligations. You also need to think about passenger comfort, cleaning, late-night trips, airport or event traffic, and state passenger-transport rules. Delivery work is usually about pickup timing, parking, restaurant waits, apartment access, food safety, grocery substitutions, delivery bags, and keeping your route profitable. It may be easier to test part time, but short orders, unpaid waits, return driving, and poor parking can still turn gross pay into weak take-home pay. If you do both, keep them separate in your records. Separate tags for rideshare, food delivery, grocery delivery, and courier work make it easier to compare profit and to avoid mixing rideshare GST treatment with delivery-only work. ## Platform setup in Australia Use the platform's current Australian pages before you apply. Requirements can change by city, state, territory, vehicle mode, and service type. | Platform | Common work type | Australia setup checks | | --- | --- | --- | | [Uber](https://www.uber.com/au/en/drive/requirements/) | Passenger rideshare | Uber lists minimum driver-partner requirements including age rules, a full state or territory licence, state or territory documents, access to an eligible vehicle, insurance listing, and local licence-tenure rules. | | [Uber Eats](https://www.uber.com/au/en/deliver/) | Food delivery | Uber Eats says delivery options can include car, bike, scooter, or motorbike depending on city; the Australian help page lists proof of ID, criminal background check, Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO), the government check used to confirm work rights, ABN, and vehicle documents where relevant. | | [DoorDash](https://dasher.doordash.com/en-au) | Food, grocery, retail, and convenience delivery | DoorDash Australia says Dashers must be 18 or older, can use a car, scooter, or bicycle, and need an ABN, consent to a background check, and rights to work in Australia. | These pages are application starting points, not a full legal checklist. A state or territory transport authority, insurer, accountant, or registered tax or business activity statement (BAS) agent may still be needed for your exact setup. A BAS is the form many GST-registered businesses use to report GST to the ATO. ## ABN, GST, and BAS basics Many platform drivers work as sole traders. A sole trader is one person carrying on a business, and the Australian Business Register (ABR), the government register for business details, says individuals carrying on an enterprise can be entitled to an ABN. The ABR's [ABN application guidance](https://www.abr.gov.au/business-super-funds-charities/applying-abn/what-you-need-your-abn-application) says you should decide your business structure before applying and have details such as your tax file number ready. For ride-sourcing, the ATO is direct: you need an ABN and GST registration from the day you start providing ride-sourcing services, regardless of how much you earn. The ATO's [registration page for ride-sourcing](https://www.ato.gov.au/businesses-and-organisations/income-deductions-and-concessions/sharing-economy-and-tax/ride-sourcing/registrations) also says ride-sourcing drivers report GST monthly or quarterly, not annually. For delivery-only or courier work, start with the ATO's general [GST registration rules](https://www.ato.gov.au/businesses-and-organisations/gst-excise-and-indirect-taxes/gst/registering-for-gst). The standard threshold is $75,000 GST turnover for most businesses, and registration is required within 21 days once you are required to register. If you voluntarily register while under the threshold, you take on GST reporting as well as possible GST credit claims. Do not treat the app's statement as your whole tax file. Keep your own income, fees, tips, GST, receipts, vehicle costs, and kilometre records. ## Vehicle, insurance, and rental checks For Uber rideshare, [Uber's Australian vehicle requirements](https://www.uber.com/au/en/drive/requirements/vehicle-requirements/) include an Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) 5-star rating or exemption, excellent working condition, the maximum vehicle age for the chosen option, four doors, no more than 12 seats including the driver, vehicle inspection, state registration, CTP insurance, no cosmetic damage, and no commercial branding. Uber also says vehicles need at least third-party property damage insurance, and UberX drivers must be listed on the car's property-damage insurance policy. Compulsory third party (CTP) insurance is the injury insurance attached to vehicle registration. The Australian Government's [Moneysmart car insurance guidance](https://moneysmart.gov.au/car-insurance/choosing-car-insurance) explains that CTP covers injuries caused by your car but does not cover damage to cars or property. Third-party property, fire and theft, and comprehensive insurance deal with property damage in different ways. If you rent a vehicle, check the agreement before you accept work. A standard rental or car-share booking may not allow rideshare or delivery. An approved rideshare rental may include servicing or insurance, but the weekly cost, kilometre limits, platform restrictions, excess, bond, and minimum term can absorb a lot of gross earnings. ## Tax records and car expenses Australian gig driving income is not just the weekly deposit. Track the gross amounts, platform fees, tips, incentives, tolls, parking, cleaning, bags, phone costs, fuel, charging, repairs, servicing, tyres, registration, insurance, and tax-agent costs that relate to the work. For car expenses, the ATO methods depend on the vehicle and business structure. The local [ATO Mileage Guide for Australia](https://community.mycartracks.com/t/ato-mileage-guide-for-australia/331) explains the cents-per-kilometre method, logbook method, actual costs, and the records each method needs. If you use a car as a sole trader, do not use a US mileage deduction or a Canadian kilometre allowance. Use the Australian ATO rules for the income year. At a minimum, keep: - trip date, route or destination, business purpose, and business kilometres - odometer records and total kilometres where you need a business-use percentage - app statements by platform - receipts and tax invoices for business expenses - notes for mixed-use costs such as phone, insurance, repairs, fuel, or charging - GST collected or collectible, GST credits, BAS lodgments, and payments if you are GST-registered ## How to test an app before committing Run a short test before you finance a car, sign a long rental, or depend on app income for bills. For each shift, record: - start and finish time - gross pay, tips, incentives, adjustments, and deposits - business kilometres and total kilometres - fuel or charging used - parking, tolls, waiting time, return driving, and support issues - cancellations, unsafe pickups, difficult drop-offs, and weather problems After two to four weeks, compare profit per hour and profit per kilometre. If an app only looks good before fuel, charging, insurance, and unpaid driving, change the hours, zone, vehicle strategy, or platform mix before adding more costs. ## How MyCarTracks fits Use [MyCarTracks automatic mileage tracking](https://www.mycartracks.com/products/automatic-mileage-tracking) before your first shift so your kilometre record starts while the trips are still fresh. Create tags for each platform and work type, then review personal stops, business kilometres, and reports before tax time or a BAS review. Mileage tracking does not decide whether GST applies or whether a deduction is allowed. It gives you the trip record you need before the tax or profit calculation starts.
## What to read next - [ATO Mileage Guide for Australia](https://community.mycartracks.com/t/ato-mileage-guide-for-australia/331) - [Car Expense Tax Deductions (Australia)](https://community.mycartracks.com/t/car-expense-tax-deductions-in-australia/336) - [Logbook Method (Australia)](https://community.mycartracks.com/t/logbook-method-australia/342) - [Current ATO Cents Per Kilometre Rate (Australia)](https://community.mycartracks.com/t/current-ato-cents-per-kilometre-rate-australia/334) - [How to Track Income and Expenses Across Multiple Gig Apps](https://community.mycartracks.com/t/how-to-track-income-and-expenses-across-multiple-gig-apps/158) ## Sources - [ATO: Ride-sourcing](https://www.ato.gov.au/businesses-and-organisations/income-deductions-and-concessions/sharing-economy-and-tax/ride-sourcing) - [ATO: Ride-sourcing registrations](https://www.ato.gov.au/businesses-and-organisations/income-deductions-and-concessions/sharing-economy-and-tax/ride-sourcing/registrations) - [ATO: Sharing economy and tax](https://www.ato.gov.au/businesses-and-organisations/income-deductions-and-concessions/sharing-economy-and-tax) - [ATO: Registering for GST](https://www.ato.gov.au/businesses-and-organisations/gst-excise-and-indirect-taxes/gst/registering-for-gst) - [ATO: Due dates for lodging and paying your BAS](https://www.ato.gov.au/businesses-and-organisations/preparing-lodging-and-paying/business-activity-statements-bas/due-dates-for-lodging-and-paying-your-bas) - [ABR: What you need for your ABN application](https://www.abr.gov.au/business-super-funds-charities/applying-abn/what-you-need-your-abn-application) - [ABR: Sole trader](https://www.abr.gov.au/business-super-funds-charities/applying-abn/abn-entitlement/sole-trader) - [Uber Australia driver-partner requirements](https://www.uber.com/au/en/drive/requirements/) - [Uber Australia vehicle requirements](https://www.uber.com/au/en/drive/requirements/vehicle-requirements/) - [Uber Eats Australia delivery page](https://www.uber.com/au/en/deliver/) - [Uber Help: Delivery person requirements](https://help.uber.com/en-AU/driving-and-delivering/article/delivery-person-requirements?nodeId=f3de4fe1-2eea-42f1-86cd-1ae936d2688c) - [DoorDash Australia Dasher page](https://dasher.doordash.com/en-au) - [DoorDash Help: How do I sign up to deliver with DoorDash?](https://help.doordash.com/en-au/dashers/article/how-do-i-sign-up-to-deliver-with-doordash) - [Moneysmart: Choosing car insurance](https://moneysmart.gov.au/car-insurance/choosing-car-insurance) --- **Canonical:** https://community.mycartracks.com/t/rideshare-and-delivery-driver-guide-australia/426 **Original content:** https://community.mycartracks.com/t/rideshare-and-delivery-driver-guide-australia/426