Apply for the School Drive Subsidy

The School Drive Subsidy is available in areas with limited or no public transport. The subsidy partly offsets the cost of using a private vehicle to drive the eligible student all or part of the way to school.

This page is only for new applications. If you have already applied for the School Drive Subsidy, log in to the School Drive Subsidy Parent Portal for all queries and change requests.

Before you apply

You only need to apply if you're applying for the School Drive Subsidy for the first time.

The student must:

be a resident of NSW, or an overseas student eligible for free government education.
be aged 4 years 6 months or older and enrolled full-time in school or TAFE (pre-school children are not eligible).
live in an area where there is limited or no public transport.
live more than the minimum distance to school (the minimum distance varies according to the year or grade the child is enrolled in).

Where public transport is available at the prescribed minimum distance from home, eligible students may be entitled to a free school travel pass.

Who can get a School Drive Subsidy

Completing the form

You need to complete the form in one session, as you cannot save a partly completed form.
Make sure you have any additional documents ready or scanned before starting the application.
You need to provide details of your school journey (driving all your eligible students) on the application form.
You will need a valid email address as we will notify you by email.
You will need your bank account details.
Applications must be made by a parent or legal guardian (even if the student is 16 years or over).

Please also note:

If your residential street address does not appear in our system, you will be prompted to enter your Lot number, Deposited Plan (DP) number and Section number (if applicable).
Subsidy payments can only be made into the parent/guardian's own bank account. Payment cannot go into an account held by a third party, such as a bus operator hired by parents from pooled resources or a school.

Applications must be submitted by:

the last day of Term 2 for semester one payments, or
the last day of Term 4 for semester two payments.

Apply for School Drive Subsidy

Paper forms

If you don't have internet access, ask the school to download and print a paper application form (PDF, 214.7KB). When complete, submit the form with both pages stapled together, or printed double-sided to your School or TAFE for validation.

After you apply

Terms and Conditions apply to Transport for NSW's School Drive Subsidy.

Apply for the School Drive Subsidy

Before you apply

Who can get a School Drive Subsidy

Kindergarten to Year 6plus-icon

Year 7 to Year 12plus-icon

TAFE studentsplus-icon

Boarding school studentsplus-icon

Distance education students attending mini schoolsplus-icon