Uber Driver and Vehicle Requirements (Australia)

MyCarTracks_support · May 18, 2026, 11:32am

Uber driver requirements in Australia are stricter than ordinary delivery sign-up because you are carrying passengers for fares. Check your licence, state documents, vehicle, insurance, Australian Business Number, goods and services tax registration, and inspection path before you spend money on a car or rental.

The Uber Australia driver-partner requirements page lists the national starting point, but it also tells drivers to check state and territory rules. The Australian Taxation Office (ATO), the federal tax agency, also treats ride-sourcing as taxable passenger transport, so tax setup is part of becoming an Uber driver, not something to leave until the first tax return.

Quick answer

To drive passengers with Uber in Australia, you generally need:

the minimum age for your state or territory
a valid full driver licence and the required licence tenure
proof of identity and right to work in Australia
any state or territory passenger-transport document Uber asks for
an Australian Business Number (ABN), the number that identifies your business or sole-trader activity
goods and services tax (GST) registration, the 10% tax many Australian businesses collect from customers and report to the ATO
access to an eligible, registered, insured, inspected vehicle
compulsory third party (CTP) insurance, the injury insurance attached to vehicle registration
at least third-party property damage insurance, with your name listed where Uber requires it

Do not assume a car is approved because it is new, expensive, or already used for delivery. Uber’s vehicle rules depend on city, service type, age, approved model lists, inspection, insurance, and state registration.

Uber driver requirements in Australia checklist

Uber’s current Australian requirements say driver-partners must be at least 20 years old, except New South Wales, Victoria, and Tasmania where Uber lists 21 years. You also need a valid full licence for the state or territory where you plan to drive.

Licence-tenure rules are not identical across Australia. Uber’s public page lists examples such as 12 months on an unrestricted Australian licence within the last 48 months in New South Wales until 1 April 2026 unless revoked earlier, and six months on an unrestricted or full Australian or New Zealand licence in Victoria.

Uber also lists 12 months on an Australian licence in Queensland, six months on an unrestricted or full Australian licence in South Australia, 12 months on a full Australian licence in Tasmania, and 12 months in the last three years for the Northern Territory.

Before you upload documents, prepare:

full driver licence
proof of identity
evidence of right to work in Australia where required
driver profile photo
vehicle registration
vehicle insurance documents
inspection certificate or report where required
state or territory passenger-transport documents
ABN and GST registration details

Uber’s document upload page says Australian drivers need to upload a driver’s licence, proof of identification, vehicle registration, profile photo, and jurisdiction-specific documents.

ABN, GST, and BAS requirements

The Australian Business Register (ABR), the government register for business details, says individuals carrying on an enterprise can be entitled to an ABN as a sole trader. The ABR’s ABN application guidance says to decide your business structure first and have details such as your tax file number ready.

For ride-sourcing, the ATO is stricter than the normal GST turnover threshold. The ATO’s ride-sourcing registrations page says ride-sourcing drivers must have an ABN and be registered for GST before the first trip, regardless of earnings.

Once you are GST-registered for ride-sourcing, you report GST through a business activity statement (BAS), the form many GST-registered businesses use to report GST to the ATO. The ATO says ride-sourcing drivers choose monthly or quarterly GST reporting, not annual reporting.

State and territory documents

Uber can ask for extra documents depending on where you drive. Use Uber’s state-specific flow and the government regulator page for your state or territory before paying for checks or inspections.

State or territory	What to verify before driving
New South Wales	Service NSW says a passenger transport licence code (PTLC) applies to NSW passenger transport services including rideshare, and eligibility includes medical standards plus unrestricted Australian licence history. The Point to Point Transport Commissioner also lists driver eligibility criteria for taxi and hire vehicle drivers, including rideshare.
Victoria	Safe Transport Victoria says commercial passenger vehicle drivers need driver accreditation, and its driver requirements page covers booked services such as rideshare and hire cars.
Western Australia	WA Transport says passenger transport driver (PTD) authorisation permits a person to drive passengers for hire or reward, and passenger transport vehicle (PTV) authorisation covers vehicles used for passenger transport services.
South Australia	SA Government says rideshare drivers need relevant accreditation, and if the driver is the registered owner of the vehicle they may need both driver and operator accreditation.

This table is not a substitute for your local application flow. Uber, state transport regulators, medical standards, background checks, accreditation, inspections, and booking-service rules can change independently.

Uber vehicle requirements in Australia

Uber’s Australian vehicle requirements say all cars driving with Uber must be:

Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) 5-star rated or covered by Uber’s vehicle exemption policy
in excellent working condition
no older than the maximum age for the chosen Uber vehicle option
a four-door car or passenger van
no more than 12 seats including the driver’s seat
able to pass a vehicle inspection
registered and CTP-insured in the relevant state
free from cosmetic damage
free from commercial branding larger than Uber’s limit

For UberX, Uber lists a 15-year-or-less vehicle age rule, four doors, 4-7 passenger seats plus the driver, working windows and air conditioning, inspection ability, and exclusions for taxis, ex-taxis, government, ex-driving-school, branded, or rebuilt vehicles. Check the page with your city selected because Uber says local and service-specific requirements can differ.

Insurance requirements

CTP insurance is mandatory for vehicle registration, but it is injury cover. It does not cover damage to your vehicle or someone else’s property. The Australian Government’s Moneysmart car insurance guidance separates CTP from third-party property damage, third-party fire and theft, and comprehensive cover.

Uber says Australian vehicles driving with Uber need CTP insurance and at least third-party property damage insurance. To drive UberX, Uber says you need to be listed on the car’s property damage insurance policy even if you are not the main policyholder.

Ask your insurer whether the policy covers rideshare use before you accept trips. A personal policy that works for commuting may not cover paid passenger transport, and platform injury support is not the same thing as property damage or comprehensive vehicle cover.

Uber’s partner support insurance page describes personal injury support for eligible drivers and delivery people for certain on-trip accidents, subject to policy terms. Read the policy wording rather than assuming it replaces your own vehicle insurance.

Vehicle inspections

Uber’s vehicle inspections in Australia page says all driver-partners need to pass a vehicle inspection before their first Uber trip. Uber also says the certificate of inspection is valid for 12 months from issue and needs to be renewed each year to keep using the app.

Inspection details can vary by city. Uber’s NSW inspection page says vehicles need an annual e-Safety Check, commonly called a pink slip, and that drivers can use Redbook Inspect or an authorised mechanic where allowed. In South Australia, Uber says Redbook Inspect is authorised by the Department for Infrastructure and Transport to inspect commercial passenger vehicles.

Passing an inspection does not guarantee account access. Uber can still reject a vehicle or account if another eligibility, document, insurance, state, or platform rule is not met.

Uber service types and vehicle options

Most new drivers start by checking UberX because it is the base passenger rideshare option. Other products add requirements.

Uber option	Extra checks before relying on it
UberX	Use the city-specific vehicle page for age, seats, approved models, inspection, insurance, and excluded vehicle types.
UberXL or Max	Check seating, passenger capacity, luggage space, doors, vehicle age, and approved model lists.
Uber Assist	Check accessible-entry requirements, assistive-device space, training, rating, and trip-count rules for the city.
Uber Comfort	Uber’s Comfort page says eligible vehicles must be manufactured within the last seven years, be on the eligible model list, meet UberX requirements, and the driver must have at least 20 trips and a 4.85 rating.
Uber Premier or premium products	Current Uber Help says Premier-style products are test products in certain cities and can require premium vehicles, approved lists, leather interior, no more than five years old, at least 250 trips, and a 4.85 rating. Verify in your city before buying or leasing a premium car.
Uber Electric or Comfort Electric	Check whether the electric product is available in your city, whether the vehicle is on the eligible list, and whether other UberX or Comfort requirements still apply.

Do not buy a car just because an old article listed the model. Use Uber’s eligible-vehicle tool with the correct city selected, then compare insurance, finance, depreciation, fuel or charging, servicing, tyres, cleaning, and inspection costs.

Costs and records to keep from day one

Uber approval is only the start. Keep records that prove both eligibility and profit:

licence, accreditation, PTD/PTV, PTLC, CPV, or other passenger-transport documents
ABN, GST registration, BAS lodgment, and GST payment records
vehicle registration, CTP, property insurance, and policy endorsements
inspection reports and repair invoices
Uber weekly statements, monthly or annual tax summaries, fees, tolls, tips, and incentives
fuel, charging, servicing, tyres, cleaning, phone, parking, and toll receipts
business kilometres, odometer records, and private-use notes

For car expenses, use Australian ATO rules rather than a foreign mileage rate. The local ATO Mileage Guide for Australia explains cents-per-kilometre, logbook, actual costs, and recordkeeping choices.

How MyCarTracks fits

Set up MyCarTracks automatic mileage tracking before your first Uber inspection or shift. Tag Uber trips separately from delivery, personal driving, and other apps, then review business kilometres while the route and purpose are still fresh.

Mileage tracking will not approve your Uber account or decide your GST registration. It gives you the kilometre record you need when you compare profit, prepare car expense records, or review BAS and tax files.