{"id":"commercial-passenger-road-transport-private-hire-cars-regulations-1992","name":"COMMERCIAL PASSENGER (ROAD) TRANSPORT (PRIVATE HIRE CARS) REGULATIONS 1992","slug":"commercial-passenger-road-transport-private-hire-cars-regulations-1992","collection":"regulation","jurisdiction":"nt","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":174474,"registerId":"nt-commercial-passenger-road-transport-private-hire-cars-regulations-1992-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-05","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"COMMERCIAL PASSENGER (ROAD) TRANSPORT (PRIVATE HIRE CARS) REGULATIONS 1992","content":"NORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA\nCOMMERCIAL PASSENGER (ROAD) TRANSPORT (PRIVATE HIRE\nCARS) REGULATIONS 1992\nAs in force at 21 January 2026\nTable of provisions\nPart 1 Preliminary\n1 Citation ............................................................................................ 1\n2 Commencement .............................................................................. 1\n3 Interpretation ................................................................................... 1\nPart 2 Operators and drivers\n4 Operator to maintain records ........................................................... 1\n5 Hiring to be pre-booked unless from a rank or approved................. 2\n6 Operator or driver not required to accept hiring except at a\nrank ................................................................................................. 2\n6A Agreement in relation to private hire car fares ................................. 3\n7 No touting ........................................................................................ 3\n9 Parking of private hire cars .............................................................. 3\n11 Purchase of intoxicating liquor ......................................................... 4\n11A Identity card or approved form of identificatioin ............................... 4\nPart 3 Miscellaneous\n12 Operator to supply information ........................................................ 4\n14 Fees ................................................................................................ 5\n15 Offences .......................................................................................... 5\nSchedule Fees\nENDNOTES\n\n\n\nNORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA\n____________________\nAs in force at 21 January 2026\n____________________\nCOMMERCIAL PASSENGER (ROAD) TRANSPORT (PRIVATE HIRE\nCARS) REGULATIONS 1992\nRegulations under the Commercial Passenger (Road) Transport\nAct 1991\nPart 1 Preliminary\n1 Citation\nThese regulations may be cited as the Commercial Passenger\n(Road) Transport (Private Hire Cars) Regulations 1992.\n2 Commencement\nThese regulations shall come into operation on the commencement\nof the Commercial Passenger (Road) Transport Act 1991.\n3 Interpretation\nIn these regulations unless the contrary intention appears:\ndriver means the person driving or in charge of a private hire car.\noperator means a person who operates a private hire car\notherwise than only as a driver.\npublic place includes any place to which the public are admitted on\npayment of a fee or charge.\nPart 2 Operators and drivers\n4 Operator to maintain records\n(1) The operator of a private hire car must make a written record of:\n(a) the dates and times during which the private hire car is\noperated for the carriage of passengers;\n\nPart 2 Operators and drivers\nCommercial Passenger (Road) Transport (Private Hire Cars) Regulations 1992 2\n(b) the full name and residential address of the driver of the\nprivate hire car during those periods and the number of the\ndriver's licence issued to him or her under the Motor Vehicles\nAct 1949;\n(c) every booking and hiring made by the private hire car; and\n(d) any other matter that the Director requires as a condition of\nthe operator's licence.\nMaximum penalty: 60 penalty units.\n(2) The operator of a private hire car must ensure that the record\nmentioned in subregulation (1):\n(a) is kept in a safe place at the principal place of business of the\noperator; and\n(b) is produced whenever required by an inspector.\nMaximum penalty: 60 penalty units.\n5 Hiring to be pre-booked unless from a rank or approved\nA driver must not use a private hire car for a hiring unless:\n(a) the journey is pre-booked with the operator;\n(b) the journey is pre-booked with the driver or by a passenger in\nthe private hire car;\n(c) the private hire car is parked or standing in accordance with\nsection 37B(1) of the Act; or\n(d) the hiring is approved by the Director.\n6 Operator or driver not required to accept hiring except at a\nrank\n(1) An operator is not compelled to accept a hiring.\n(2) A driver is not compelled to accept a hiring over the driver's mobile\ntelephone or from a passenger in the private hire car.\n(3) A driver must accept a hiring if the private hire car is parked or\nstanding in accordance with section 37B(1) of the Act unless the\nprospective passenger:\n(a) appears to be suffering from an infectious disease;\n\nPart 2 Operators and drivers\nCommercial Passenger (Road) Transport (Private Hire Cars) Regulations 1992 3\n(b) appears to be under the influence of drugs or intoxicating\nliquor;\n(c) is likely to soil or damage the private hire car;\n(d) is likely to cause a nuisance in the private hire car;\n(e) is carrying something that is likely to cause inconvenience to\nthe driver or passengers;\n(f) is smoking;\n(g) is consuming intoxicating liquor; or\n(h) is using profane or objectionable language.\n6A Agreement in relation to private hire car fares\nBefore a journey by a private hire car is commenced, the owner or\ndriver of the private hire car must advise the hirer of the amount of\nthe fare for the hiring, including any charge for the conveyance of\nluggage or goods, and the fare for that hiring is to be that amount or\na lesser amount agreed between the hirer and the owner or driver.\n7 No touting\nA person shall not tout or solicit for passengers for a private hire\ncar.\n9 Parking of private hire cars\n(1) A driver shall not park or stand a private hire car on a road or a\npublic place or on a lot off a road or public place unless the parking\nor standing is for the purposes of:\n(a) picking up or setting down passengers;\n(b) waiting under the instructions of a passenger; or\n(c) by direction or with the consent of an inspector,\nbut only if the parking or standing of the private hire car is otherwise\nlawful.\n(2) Subregulation (1) does not apply if the private hire car is:\n(a) parked on a lot approved in relation to the private hire car by\nthe Director; or\n(b) parked or standing in accordance with section 37B(1) of the\nAct.\n\nPart 3 Miscellaneous\nCommercial Passenger (Road) Transport (Private Hire Cars) Regulations 1992 4\n11 Purchase of intoxicating liquor\n(1) An operator or a driver of a private hire car shall not accept a hiring\nunder which the driver of the hire car is required to purchase\nintoxicating liquor for or on behalf of another person whether or not\nthat other person is a passenger.\n(2) The driver of a private hire car shall not in the course of a hiring\npurchase intoxicating liquor for or on behalf of a passenger.\n11A Identity card or approved form of identificatioin\n(1) For section 74 of the Act, a private hire car is a prescribed class of\ncommercial passenger vehicle.\n(2) An identity card issued under section 74(1)(a) of the Act to a driver\nis to:\n(a) display the name of the driver;\n(b) display a recent photograph of the driver;\n(c) specify the expiry date of the card; and\n(d) indicate that the holder of the card is authorised to drive a\nprivate hire car.\n(3) A driver must display the driver's identity card mentioned in\nsubregulation (2) or other form of identification approved by the\nDirector under section 74(10) of the Act in a conspicuous place in a\nprivate hire car while driving the private hire car.\nMaximum penalty: 30 penalty units.\nPart 3 Miscellaneous\n12 Operator to supply information\n(1) The operator of a private hire car shall whenever requested by the\nDirector to do so furnish to the Director within the time specified by\nthe Director full and correct information of any details specified in\nthe request relating to journeys undertaken by the private hire car.\n(2) A person who refuses or fails to comply with a request made under\nsubregulation (1) commits an offence.\nMaximum penalty: 60 penalty units.\n\nPart 3 Miscellaneous\nCommercial Passenger (Road) Transport (Private Hire Cars) Regulations 1992 5\n14 Fees\nThe fees set out in the Schedule are payable in relation to the\nmatters specified in that Schedule.\n15 Offences\nA person who contravenes or fails to comply with any of the\nprovisions of these regulations commits an offence.\nMaximum penalty: 25 penalty units.\n\nSchedule Fees\nCommercial Passenger (Road) Transport (Private Hire Cars) Regulations 1992 6\nSchedule Fees\nregulation 14\n$\nAnnual fee for a private hire car licence 300\n\nENDNOTES\nCommercial Passenger (Road) Transport (Private Hire Cars) Regulations 1992 7\nENDNOTES\n1 KEY Key to abbreviations\namd = amended od = order\napp = appendix om = omitted\nbl = by-law pt = Part\nch = Chapter r = regulation/rule\ncl = clause rem = remainder\ndiv = Division renum = renumbered\nexp = expires/expired rep = repealed\nf = forms s = section\nGaz = Gazette sch = Schedule\nhdg = heading sdiv = Subdivision\nins = inserted SL = Subordinate Legislation\nlt = long title sub = substituted\nnc = not commenced\n2 LIST OF LEGISLATION\nPrivate Hire Car Regulations (SL No. 57, 1992)\nNotified 21 October 1992\nCommenced 27 October 1992 (r 2, s 2 Commercial Passenger (Road)\nTransport Act 1991 (No. 34, 1991) and Gaz G42,\n21 October 1992, p 2)\nAmendments of Private Hire Car Regulations (SL No. 58, 1998)\nNotified 23 December 1998\nCommenced 1 January 1999 (r 1 and s 2 Commercial Passenger (Road)\nTransport Amendment Act 1998 (Act No. 83, 1998))\nAmendments of Private Hire Car Regulations (SL No. 40, 2003)\nNotified 1 August 2003\nCommenced 1 August 2003 (r 1, s 2 Commercial Passenger (Road)\nTransport Amendment Act (No. 2) 2003 (Act No. 40, 2003)\nand Gaz G30, 30 July 2003, p 13)\nFees and Charges (Transport) Amendment Regulations 2012 (SL No. 45, 2012)\nNotified 14 December 2012\nCommenced 1 January 2013 (r 2)\nPenalties Amendment (Miscellaneous) Act 2013 (Act No. 23, 2013)\nAssent date 12 July 2013\nCommenced 28 August 2013 (Gaz G35, 28 August 2013, p 2)\nCommercial Passenger Vehicle Legislation Amendment Regulations 2017\n(SL No. 34, 2017)\nNotified 29 November 2017\nCommenced 1 December 2017 (r 2)\n\nENDNOTES\nCommercial Passenger (Road) Transport (Private Hire Cars) Regulations 1992 8\nRidesharing Regulations (SL No. 35, 2017)\nNotified 29 November 2017\nCommenced pts 5 and 6: 1 February 2018; rem: 1 December 2017 (r 2)\nStatute Law Amendment (Territory Economic Reconstruction) Act 2022 (Act No. 5,\n2022)\nAssent date 14 April 2022\nCommenced pt 7: 25 May 2023 (Gaz G11, 25 May 2023, p 2);\nrem: 25 May 2022 (Gaz G21, 25 May 2022, p 1)\nTransport Legislation Amendment Act 2025 (Act No. 23, 2025)\nAssent date 12 September 2025\nCommenced pts 2, 4, 5 and 6: 21 January 2026 (Gaz S5,\n19 January 2026); rem: 18 November 2025 (Gaz S69,\n17 November 2025)\n3 GENERAL AMENDMENTS\nGeneral amendments of a formal nature (which are not referred to in the table\nof amendments to this reprint) are made by the Interpretation Legislation\nAmendment Act 2018 (Act No. 22 of 2018) to: rr 1, 2 and 4.\n4 LIST OF AMENDMENTS\nr 1 amd Act No. 23, 2025, s 66\nr 4 amd No. 58, 1998, r 2; No. 34, 2017, r 51\nr 4A ins No. 58, 1998, r 3\nrep No. 34, 2017, r 52\nr 5 sub No. 40, 2003, r 3\namd No. 34, 2017, r 53\nr 6 sub No. 40, 2003, r 3\nr 6A ins No. 34, 2017, r 54\nr 8 sub No. 40, 2003, r 4\nrep No. 34, 2017, r 55\nr 9 amd No. 40, 2003, r 5\nr 10 rep No. 34, 2017, r 55\nr 11A ins No. 40, 2003, r 6\namd No. 34, 2017, r 56; Act No. 5, 2022, s 73\nr 12 amd No. 34, 2017, r 57\nr 13 amd No. 34, 2017, r 58\nr 15 amd Act No. 23, 2013, s 4\nsch sub No. 58, 1998, r 4; No. 40, 2003, r 7; No. 45, 2012, r 12\namd No. 34, 2017, r 59; No. 35, 2017, r 32","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The regulations have been amended several times since 1992 and now cover additional operational details not present in the original 1992 instrument. Later inserts and amendments introduced: a mandatory upfront fare disclosure requirement (reg 6A), an explicit identity‑card/display regime and recognition of alternate approved ID (reg 11A), and strengthened recordkeeping and information‑request powers for the Director (regs 4 and 12). The instrument also cross-links to newer ridesharing and commercial passenger vehicle amendments in the Act and subordinate instruments (see endnotes listing 2017, 2022 and 2025 amendments), meaning regulatory coverage has broadened from a narrow 1992 private‑hire regime to include rules that interact with subsequent commercial passenger vehicle reforms."},"complexity_factors":["Short instrument: 15 regulations plus a Schedule","Only a small number of defined terms in the interpretation (3 terms: driver, operator, public place) (reg 3)","Several cross-references to provisions of the primary Act (e.g. s 37B and s 74), creating dependence on the Act for full meaning (regs 5(c), 9(2)(b), 11A(1))","Some conditional rules with nested exceptions (e.g. reg 6(3) lists eight separate grounds for refusing a passenger)","Multiple offence provisions with different maximum penalty-unit levels (25, 30 and 60 penalty units) dispersed across regs","A single fee item in the Schedule (annual licence fee) — simple in content but financially relevant","Discretionary powers vested in the Director (approvals and information requests) increase practical complexity despite simple drafting"],"plain_english_summary":"**What these regulations do (short version)**\n\n- They set rules for people who operate and drive private hire cars (vehicles that carry fare-paying passengers but are not taxis).  The regulations cover record keeping by operators, how and when drivers may accept hires, fare disclosure, parking and stopping, ID to be shown to passengers, limits on buying alcohol for passengers, information requests by the regulator, and the annual licence fee. (See regs 4–12, 14 and Schedule.)\n\n**Who is affected**\n\n- Operators (people who run private hire cars, not solely as drivers) — must keep records, produce information on request, and pay the annual licence fee. (regs 3 definition; 4; 12; Schedule)\n- Drivers — must follow pre-booking and rank rules, display identity, quote fares before a trip, follow parking rules, and observe conduct rules that allow refusal of a passenger in specified circumstances. (regs 5, 6, 6A, 9, 11A)\n- Passengers — have a right to be told the fare before a journey starts and will generally need to pre-book a private hire car except where rank or other specific conditions apply. (reg 6A; reg 5)\n- The Director (the regulator under the primary Act) — has discretion to approve certain parking lots, forms of ID, and to request operator information; the Director may also approve exceptions to pre-booking. (regs 5(d), 9(2)(a), 11A(2)(d), 12)\n\n**How the rules work (mechanics and penalties)**\n\n- Operators must keep a written record of: dates/times a car is used for passengers, the full name and residential address of the driver and their licence number, every booking/hiring, and any other matters the Director requires. Records must be kept at the operator’s principal place of business and produced to an inspector on request. Failure attracts a penalty (up to 60 penalty units). (reg 4)\n- Drivers may only take hires that are pre-booked with the operator, pre-booked with the driver or a passenger in the car, made from an approved rank/parking spot, or expressly approved by the Director. (reg 5)\n- Drivers and operators are generally not compelled to accept a booking, but a driver must accept a hiring when the car is parked at a legal rank/spot unless the prospective passenger meets specified exclusion grounds (infectious disease, intoxicated, likely to damage or soil the car, smoking, offensive language, etc.). (reg 6)\n- Before a hiring starts, the owner or driver must advise the hirer of the fare (including luggage charges). The fare for that hiring is the amount stated or a lesser amount both parties agree to. (reg 6A)\n- Touting/soliciting for passengers is prohibited. (reg 7)\n- Parking/standing rules restrict drivers from waiting on roads/public places except to pick up/set down passengers, wait for a passenger’s direction, or under an inspector’s direction; there are exceptions for approved lots and other Act-specified conditions. (reg 9)\n- Operators and drivers may not accept hires that require the driver to purchase alcohol for another person or buy alcohol for a passenger during a hire. (reg 11)\n- Drivers must display an identity card (showing name, photo, expiry date and authorisation to drive a private hire car) or an approved alternative form of ID in a conspicuous place while driving. (reg 11A)\n- The Director can require operators to supply specified journey information within a set time; failure to comply is an offence (up to 60 penalty units). (reg 12)\n- A small annual fee for a private hire car licence is set in the Schedule ($300 as listed). (reg 14; Schedule)\n- Many contraventions are offences with fixed maximum penalties (ranges include 25, 30 and 60 penalty units depending on the rule). (regs 4, 11A, 15; others)\n\n**Practical effects, incentives and trade-offs (source‑based)**\n\n- Compliance costs: Operators bear recordkeeping, data-production and licensing costs (reg 4; reg 12; Schedule). Producing records on demand and furnishing journey details to the Director create an ongoing administrative burden and require secure storage at the principal place of business. (reg 4(2))\n- Market behaviour: Requiring pre-booking (reg 5) and banning touting (reg 7) channels most business through operators or approved ranks rather than spontaneous street-hailing. That changes how customers access rides (more planning or use of operator booking systems) and how drivers find work (less reliance on cruising and soliciting).\n- Consumer transparency: Mandatory upfront fare disclosure before each journey (reg 6A) reduces surprise pricing for passengers and reduces post-trip disputes over price, while limiting drivers’ ability to vary fares after the trip starts.\n- Enforcement discretion and operational control: The Director has several discretionary powers — to approve parking lots and alternative ID, to exempt hires from pre-booking, and to require information — which centralises decision-making with the regulator and creates compliance uncertainty where conditions are not exhaustively prescribed in these regulations. (regs 5(d), 9(2)(a), 11A(2)(d), 12)\n- Behavioural exclusions: The list of grounds for refusing a passenger (reg 6(3)) focuses on health/safety, property risk and conduct; those are objective-ish categories but will require judgment by drivers and may produce disputes or uneven refusals.\n\n**Where the regulation links to other law**\n\n- Several provisions depend on or adopt terms from the primary Act (for example, parking/standing rules refer to section 37B of the Act; identity-card powers refer to section 74 of the Act). That means some operational detail is set by the Act and not repeated here. (regs 5(c); 9(2)(b); 11A(1))\n\n**Bottom line**\n\n- These regulations set a compliance framework for private hire car operators and drivers: recordkeeping and data provision obligations for operators; pre-booking, fare‑disclosure and ID/display rules for drivers; parking limits and conduct restrictions; and modest annual licensing fees. The Director holds approval and information‑request powers that determine some practical details of compliance. (regs 4–12; Schedule)"},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"},"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The original 1992 regulations were made in a pre-rideshare era when 'private hire cars' referred to a narrowly defined category of chauffeured or pre-booked vehicles. Over time, and with the rise of app-based ride services (e.g. Uber), the scope of what constitutes a 'private hire car' has likely been renegotiated through amendments. The existence of a Reprint 3 (REPC060R3) with a 2026 commencement date strongly suggests the regulations have been significantly revised from their original intent to address the modern transport landscape."},"complexity_factors":["Minimal legislative text provided — only metadata is available, limiting full analysis","Regulations (subordinate legislation) are generally more technical than plain Acts but narrower in scope","Sector-specific focus (private hire cars only) reduces breadth of complexity","Long history since 1992 with multiple reprints suggests accumulated amendments that may create inconsistencies or layered obligations","The gap between the 1992 origin and a 2026 commencement date on the reprint raises questions about which provisions are current vs. historical"],"plain_english_summary":"These regulations set the rules for private hire car services in the Northern Territory — who may operate, how vehicles and drivers must be licensed and maintained, and required conduct to protect passengers and the public. They affect private hire operators, drivers, passengers and related NT businesses, and are administered by the Department of Logistics and Infrastructure. Note: this reprinted version commences 21 January 2026."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The regulations remain focused on their original purpose of governing private hire car operations. While amendments have modernised specific aspects (adding mobile phone references, identity card requirements, and updating fees), the scope has not expanded beyond regulating pre-booked passenger transport services. The 2017 amendments related to ridesharing were handled through separate regulations (Ridesharing Regulations 2017) rather than expanding these regulations, indicating deliberate containment of scope."},"complexity_factors":["Short length (6 pages of substantive content)","Only 3 defined terms in the interpretation section (driver, operator, public place)","Minimal cross-referencing (only references to the parent Act and one other Act)","Straightforward conditional logic (simple 'unless' and 'if' statements without deep nesting)","Clear structure with only 3 Parts and 15 regulations (with some gaps in numbering)","No exceptions to exceptions—most provisions have single-level exemptions","Amendment history shows incremental updates but core structure remains simple"],"plain_english_summary":"These regulations set the rules for how private hire cars (like pre-booked taxis or chauffeur services) operate in the Northern Territory. They cover who can drive them, how bookings must work, what records operators must keep, and basic conduct rules.\n\n**Key things the rules do:**\n\n- **Booking requirements**: Private hire cars generally cannot be hailed on the street like regular taxis. They must be pre-booked, unless they are waiting at an approved taxi rank or the transport director has given special approval.\n\n- **Record keeping**: Operators must keep written records of when cars are used, who drove them, and all bookings. These records must be stored safely and shown to inspectors when requested.\n\n- **Driver conduct**: Drivers must display an identity card with their photo in the car. They cannot tout or solicit for passengers on the street. They must agree on fares before starting a journey.\n\n- **When drivers can refuse passengers**: If a car is at a rank, drivers must accept hires unless the passenger appears drunk, drug-affected, infectious, likely to damage the car, smoking, drinking, or using offensive language.\n\n- **Parking rules**: Drivers can only park or wait in specific circumstances—mainly to pick up or drop off passengers, or at approved locations.\n\n- **No buying alcohol**: Drivers cannot accept jobs that require them to buy alcohol for passengers, nor can they buy alcohol during a hire.\n\n- **Fees and penalties**: The regulations set out licence fees ($300 per year) and penalties for breaking the rules (up to 60 penalty units for serious breaches).\n\n**Who it affects**: Anyone operating or driving a private hire car in the NT, plus passengers using these services."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/commercial-passenger-road-transport-private-hire-cars-regulations-1992","history":"/api/acts/commercial-passenger-road-transport-private-hire-cars-regulations-1992/history","analysis":"/api/acts/commercial-passenger-road-transport-private-hire-cars-regulations-1992/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/commercial-passenger-road-transport-private-hire-cars-regulations-1992/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/commercial-passenger-road-transport-private-hire-cars-regulations-1992/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/commercial-passenger-road-transport-private-hire-cars-regulations-1992/documents"}}