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Travelling with a disability

We facilitate an industry that ensures transport services, (taxis and hire cars, including rideshare) are accessible for all members of the community, including people with a disability.

This page provides information on accessible commercial passenger vehicle (CPV) services across the state.

Information on this page

Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles

Wheelchair accessible vehicles (WAVs) allow people who use wheelchairs to travel in their wheelchair if they and the wheelchair can be safely restrained in the vehicle.

Driver and passenger of wheelchair accessible vehicle

WAVs are vehicles designed or modified to carry one or more people seated in wheelchairs (depending upon the vehicle type) and between 4 and 11 passengers when not configured to carry wheelchairs.

Scooters, Princess, and other 'high-care' chairs must not be transported in wheelchair accessible taxis if the passenger is seated in them, as it is not safe.

However, they can be carried in a WAV if both:

  • the driver can safely restrain the chair to stop it moving, and
  • the passenger can move into a fixed seat in the vehicle and use the seat belt.

Read more about mobility aids in Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles.

WAVs are required to give priority to bookings by people who use wheelchairs but may be used to carry other passengers when not engaged with wheelchair bookings.

When not carrying wheelchair passengers, WAVs have the same operating rights and conditions as standard commercial passenger vehicles, but charge a higher high occupancy fee (metropolitan) and higher occupancy fare (Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, Country and Regional) when carrying five or more passengers.

Booking a WAV

WAVs are available in Melbourne and regional areas. Ask your booking service provider for a WAV when you book.

Multi Purpose Taxi Program

The Multi Purpose Taxi Program (MPTP) is available to assist with the travel needs of people with severe and permanent disabilities by offering discounted commercial passenger vehicle fares to members of the program.

CPV services available to Victorian MPTP members and interstate transport subsidy scheme members

 

In Victoria, you can use:

In another State /Territory, you can use:

Victorian MPTP member commencing a trip in:

  • Any taxi – using your MPTP card
  • Uber – by creating an Uber account and registering your MPTP card

Any taxi - using an interstate voucher issued by CPVV. Contact us to get the number of interstate vouchers you require. Try to contact us at least seven business days before you travel interstate to ensure you receive your vouchers in time.

Interstate transport subsidy scheme member commencing a trip in:

Any taxi - using an interstate voucher issued by the commercial passenger vehicle regulator in the member’s home state (you cannot use these in rideshare or hire cars).

Please check the website of the commercial passenger vehicle regulator in the State/Territory you’re travelling to for service options using your taxi subsidy scheme membership.

Multi Purpose Taxi Program Expansion Project

Our aim is to introduce more transport options for MPTP passengers, so that soon you can choose to take a taxi or hire car, including rideshare service.

Commercial Passenger Vehicles Victoria is currently partnering with both taxi and hire car (including rideshare) booking service providers to trial technology that may enable them to carry MPTP passengers, subject to strict controls.

We are working with industry to ensure their technology is compatible with ours, that they can offer you a safe service and that your entitlements don’t change (you receive the full subsidy and don’t have to pay a lifting fee).

We will notify our MPTP members the results of the trial, and any new transport options available to them at the conclusion and evaluation of all trials.

Lifting fee

Commercial Passenger Vehicles Victoria (CPVV) pays a lifting fee when a driver loads and unloads an MPTP passenger travelling in a wheelchair or scooter into a wheelchair accessible vehicle.

Initiatives

Initiatives to improve the availability and reliability of services for people who use wheelchairs include:

  • subsidising the cost of replacement or new wheelchair accessible vehicles in country Victoria
  • the MPTP Expansion Project.

Assistance animals

Assistance animals, such as guide dogs must be accepted by the driver for carriage within the vehicles.

You can find more information about your rights when travelling with an assistance by visiting the Carrying assistance animals page.

CPV services in Victoria’s border communities

Many people living in Victoria’s border communities have economic and social networks that extend into New South Wales and South Australia.

CPVV wants to make sure that regulatory and practice differences between states don’t discourage people from taking trips across the border.

CPVV allows NSW-based vehicles to operate as CPVs in Victoria as long as they are registered. This allows us to make sure they meet our stringent safety requirements. However, these vehicles do not always have equipment that is approved by us to offer services to MPTP members.

Check with the booking service provider when you book whether the vehicle has the right equipment to offer MPTP services. If you find yourself in a vehicle that cannot process MPTP transactions, you will need to pay in full for the trip and send your receipt to CPVV. We will reimburse you directly. Details about how to email or post your receipt to us can be found in Contact us.

If you take a trip that commences in NSW, you will need an interstate paper voucher instead of your MPTP card. Contact us to get the number of interstate vouchers you require. Try to contact us at least five working days before you travel interstate to ensure you receive your vouchers in time.

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