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Commercial passenger vehicle identification

All commercial passenger vehicles are required to display at least one form of identification when they’re in service, so they can be easily identified. Displaying commercial passenger vehicle identification is a legal requirement. Failure to do so may result in a penalty or fine. Refer to the list of penalties below for more information:

Commercial passenger vehicle penalties PDF, 184.9 KB PDF, 131.7 KB

Examples of how to identify a commercial passenger vehicle

Identification may include:

  • taxi number plates (i.e. unbooked services) issued by VicRoads bearing the words ‘taxi’

example taxi registration plate

  • VHA, VHB and VHC series number plates previously issued by VicRoads

VHA example registration plate

  • VH number plates (VHD 004 - VHZ 999) available from VicRoads bearing the words ‘Commercial Passenger Vehicle’

exampple VHD registration plate

  • signs, symbols, notices or labels identifying the motor vehicle as a commercial passenger vehicle, this may include company branding of a registered Booking Service Provider (BSP) or logos that clearly identify the vehicle as a commercial passenger vehicle.

CPV in-service sign

If you display signage, it must be placed in a spot where it can’t be removed by a person sitting in the driver’s seat of the vehicle. For example, the rear passenger window on the opposite side of the vehicle to the driver’s seat. We don’t specify a size, format or number of signs to be displayed, but we have produced a sample sign as an option/guide for vehicle owners offering booked services.

Commercial passenger vehicle identifier decal PDF, 29.5 KB

You can print this off and use it, or you may wish to have it reproduced in an electrostatic, magnetic or other format to allow it to be affixed or removed as required.

Ordering number plates

To find out how you can replace lost, stolen and damaged unbooked (taxi) number plates see Replacing unbooked (taxi) plates.

To find out about the new VHD-Z plates, please visit the VicRoads website.