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Your rights and responsibilities in a taxi or hire vehicle

What you need to know about travelling in taxis or hire vehicles in NSW.

Travelling in a taxi

As a taxi customer you:

  • have the right to decide on the route you’d like to take
  • must pay the correct fare, including tolls and charges that apply
  • must be able to see the fare calculation device and the driver's identity document
  • must wear a seat belt at all times
  • must not smoke in the taxi
  • must not soil or damage the vehicle
  • must not use offensive language or act in an offensive way, or intentionally interfere with the comfort or safety of others
  • may refuse multiple hiring
  • should not ask the driver to stop when it is illegal or unsafe to do so
  • may ask the driver to provide you with a copy of the taxi fare structure

Your taxi driver:

  • can refuse to take you if you are likely to cause a nuisance or annoyance, or you eat, drink or smoke or they are satisfied you are unable to pay the estimated fare
  • must not tout or solicit a fare
  • must be neat, clean, tidy, courteous and helpful
  • if you dirty the taxi, you may be charged a cleaning up fee up to $120
  • must know and obey all traffic laws
  • must not smoke in the vehicle
  • must not behave in an offensive manner or interfere with the safety of their passengers
  • must not permit any person to ride in the vehicle without the consent of the hirer
  • must not refuse to carry an assistance animal or an assistance animal in training
  • if driving a wheelchair accessible taxi that is available for hire, must accept hiring for a person using a wheelchair in preference to a hiring person not in a wheelchair

Travelling in a hire vehicle

As a hire vehicle customer you:

  • have the right to decide on the route you’d like to take
  • must be given a fare estimate from the service provider and accept the estimate before the commencement of the journey
  • must pay the final fare. 
  • must wear a seat belt at all times
  • must not smoke in the hire vehicle
  • must not soil or damage the vehicle
  • must not use offensive language, act in an offensive way or intentionally interfere with the comfort or safety of others
  • should not ask the driver to stop when it is illegal or unsafe to do so

Your hire vehicle driver:

  • can refuse to take you if you are likely to cause a nuisance or annoyance, or you eat, drink or smoke 
  • can direct you to leave the vehicle if there is a likely breach of the road rules
  • must not tout or solicit a fare
  • must know and obey all traffic laws
  • must not smoke in the vehicle
  • must not behave in an offensive manner or interfere with the safety of their passengers
  • must not permit any person to ride in the vehicle without the consent of the hirer
  • must not refuse to carry an assistance animal or an assistance animal in training
  • if driving a wheelchair accessible hire vehicle that is available for hire, must accept hiring for a person using a wheelchair in preference to a hiring person not in a wheelchair