{"id":"motor-vehicle-hire-car-regulations-1985","name":"MOTOR VEHICLE (HIRE CAR) REGULATIONS 1985","slug":"motor-vehicle-hire-car-regulations-1985","collection":"regulation","jurisdiction":"nt","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":177023,"registerId":"nt-motor-vehicle-hire-car-regulations-1985-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-05","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"MOTOR VEHICLE (HIRE CAR) REGULATIONS 1985","content":"NORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA\nMOTOR VEHICLE (HIRE CAR) REGULATIONS 1985\nAs in force at 20 June 2018\nTable of provisions\nPart I Preliminary\n1 Citation ............................................................................................ 1\n2 Commencement .............................................................................. 1\n4 Definitions ........................................................................................ 1\nPart II Licensing of drivers\nDivision 2 Licensing of drivers\n6 Driver of hire car to be specially licensed ........................................ 2\n7 Registrar to be satisfied in relation to certain matters before\nissuing licence ................................................................................. 2\n8 Certificate in relation to fitness and competency ............................. 2\n9 Medical certificate in relation to hire car driver................................. 2\nPart III Conduct, &c., of drivers and passengers\nDivision 1 General\n10 Driver conduct ................................................................................. 3\n10A Driver to display identification card .................................................. 3\n32 Operation of taximeter ..................................................................... 3\nPart VIII Miscellaneous\n70 Driver of private hire car not to tout for passengers ......................... 3\n75 Regulatory offences......................................................................... 4\n76 Offences resulting from accident or other unavoidable causes ....... 4\n77 Transitional and savings .................................................................. 4\nENDNOTES\n\n\n\nNORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA\n____________________\nAs in force at 20 June 2018\n____________________\nMOTOR VEHICLE (HIRE CAR) REGULATIONS 1985\nRegulations under the Motor Vehicles Act 1949\nPart I Preliminary\n1 Citation\nThese Regulations may be cited as the Motor Vehicle (Hire Car)\nRegulations 1985.\n2 Commencement\nThese Regulations shall come into operation on a date to be fixed\nby the Administrator by notice in the Gazette.\n4 Definitions\nIn these Regulations:\nhire car means a private hire car, limousine or taxi.\nlicence means:\n(a) other than in respect of Division 2 of Part II and\nregulation 72 – a licence granted under section 26(1) or 27(1)\nof the Act; and\n(b) in respect of Division 2 of Part II and regulation 72 – a licence\ngranted under section 10(1) of the Act entitling the holder of\nthe licence to drive a hire car of the type specified in that\nlicence.\npassenger, in relation to a hire car, includes the hirer of the hire car\nbut does not include the driver of that hire car.\n\nPart II Licensing of drivers\nDivision 2 Licensing of drivers\nMotor Vehicle (Hire Car) Regulations 1985 2\nPart II Licensing of drivers\nDivision 2 Licensing of drivers\n6 Driver of hire car to be specially licensed\nA person shall not drive a hire car as a hire car unless he holds a\nlicence which specifies that he is licensed to drive a hire car of that\ntype.\nMaximum penalty: 15 penalty units.\n7 Registrar to be satisfied in relation to certain matters before\nissuing licence\nThe Registrar shall not grant a licence to an applicant for the\nlicence except where he is satisfied that the applicant is:\n(a) a person of good character; and\n(b) a fit and proper person to hold the licence.\n8 Certificate in relation to fitness and competency\nAn applicant for a licence shall answer in writing the questions\nspecified in an approved certificate of fitness and competency to\ndrive a hire car.\n9 Medical certificate in relation to hire car driver\nThe Registrar may, before granting or renewing a licence, require\nthe applicant for the licence to present a medical certificate given by\na medical testing officer to the effect that the medical testing officer:\n(a) has, on the date of the certificate, personally examined the\napplicant, knowing him to be an applicant for the grant or\nrenewal of that licence; and\n(b) is of the opinion that, having proper regard to the health and\nsafety of passengers and of the public generally, the applicant\nis a medically fit and proper person to be employed as the\ndriver of a hire car.\n\nPart VIII Miscellaneous\nMotor Vehicle (Hire Car) Regulations 1985 3\nPart III Conduct, &c., of drivers and passengers\nDivision 1 General\n10 Driver conduct\nThe driver of a hire car must act in an orderly manner and with\ncivility and propriety towards a passenger or intending passenger.\nMaximum penalty: 15 penalty units.\n10A Driver to display identification card\nThe driver of a hire car shall, whilst so employed, display in that car\nan identification card:\n(a) of a type;\n(b) containing his photograph; and\n(c) displayed in a manner,\napproved by the Registrar.\nMaximum penalty: 15 penalty units.\n32 Operation of taximeter\nThe driver of a taxi to which a taximeter is fitted shall:\n(a) as soon as the car is hired, but not sooner, set the taximeter in\noperation; and\n(b) immediately upon the termination of a hiring, stop the\ntaximeter.\nMaximum penalty: 15 penalty units.\nPart VIII Miscellaneous\n70 Driver of private hire car not to tout for passengers\nThe driver of a private hire car shall not tout for passengers for, or\nimportune a person to use, the private hire car.\nMaximum penalty: 15 penalty units.\n\nPart VIII Miscellaneous\nMotor Vehicle (Hire Car) Regulations 1985 4\n75 Regulatory offences\nAn offence of contravening or failing to comply with these\nRegulations is a regulatory offence.\n76 Offences resulting from accident or other unavoidable causes\nIt is a defence to a prosecution for an offence against these\nRegulations if the person charged with the offence proves to the\nsatisfaction of the court hearing the case that the occurrence which\nis the subject of the case was the result of accident, or could not\nhave been avoided by any reasonable effort on his part.\n77 Transitional and savings\n(1) In this regulation, repealed Regulations means the Motor Vehicle\n(Hire Car) Regulations 1953 as in force at any time before the\ncommencement of these Regulations.\n(2) Where:\n(a) a notice under regulation 6;\n(b) an instrument under regulation 32K(2);\n(c) a conversion card issued under regulation 32L; or\n(d) a suspension under regulation 32N(2),\nof the repealed Regulations is:\n(e) in the case of the notice, instrument and suspension – in\nforce; and\n(f) in the case of the conversion card – in existence,\nimmediately before the commencement of these Regulations, the\nnotice, instrument, conversion card and suspension shall, on and\nfrom that commencement, continue in force or in existence, as the\ncase may be, as if made or issued, as the case may be, under\nthese Regulations but:\n(g) subject to the same terms and conditions (including conditions\nrelating to its duration), if any, to which it was subject\nimmediately before that commencement; and\n(h) may be varied or revoked by action taken under these\nRegulations.\n\nENDNOTES\nMotor Vehicle (Hire Car) Regulations 1985 5\nENDNOTES\n1 KEY\nKey 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\nMotor Vehicle (Hire Car) Regulations (SL No. 30, 1985)\nNotified 6 November 1985\nCommenced 18 November 1985 (Gaz S71, 18 November 1985)\nAmendment of Motor Vehicle (Hire Car) Regulations (SL No. 34, 1986)\nNotified 29 August 1986\nCommenced r 3: 1 September 1986; rem: 13 September 1986 (r 1)\nStatute Law Revision Act (No. 2) 1987 (Act No. 59, 1987)\nAssent date 31 December 1987\nCommenced 31 December 1987\nStatute Law Revision Act 1988 (Act No. 66, 1988)\nAssent date 22 December 1988\nCommenced 22 December 1988\nAmendment of the Motor Vehicle (Hire Car) Regulations (SL No. 25, 1989)\nNotified 2 October 1989\nCommenced 2 October 1989\nAmendment of Motor Vehicle (Hire Car) Regulations (SL No. 38, 1990)\nNotified 1 October 1990\nCommenced 1 October 1990\nAmendment of the Motor Vehicle (Hire Car) Regulations (SL No. 42, 1991)\nNotified 1 August 1991\nCommenced 1 August 1991\nStatute Law Revision Act 2003(Act No. 12, 2003)\nAssent date 18 March 2003\nCommenced 18 March 2003\n\nENDNOTES\nMotor Vehicle (Hire Car) Regulations 1985 6\nCommercial Passenger (Road) Transport (Consequential Amendments) Act 2003 (Act\nNo. 41, 2003)\nAssent date 7 July 2003\nCommenced 1 August 2003 (Gaz G30, 30 July 2003, p 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 2016\n(SL No. 33, 2016)\nNotified 6 July 2016\nCommenced 1 October 2016 (r 2)\nCommercial Passenger Vehicle Legislation Amendment Regulations 2017\n(SL No. 34, 2017)\nNotified 29 November 2017\nCommenced 1 December 2017 (r 2)\nStatute Law Revision Act 2018 (Act No. 10, 2018)\nAssent date 23 May 2018\nCommenced 20 June 2018 (Gaz S41, 20 June 2018)\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, 2018) to: rr 1 and 77.\n4 LIST OF AMENDMENTS\nr 3 amd No. 34, 2017, r 33\npt 2 hdg amd Act No. 10, 2018, s 9\npt 2\ndiv 1 hdg rep Act No. 10, 2018, s 6\nr 4 amd Act No. 41, 2003, s 6; No. 33, 2016, r 14; No. 34, 2017, r 34\nr 5 rep Act No. 41, 2003, s 6\nr 6 amd No. 34, 2017, r 35\nr 10 sub No. 34, 2017, r 36\nr 10A ins No. 34, 1986, r 2\nrr 11 – 27 rep No. 34, 2017, r 37\nr 28 sub No. 33, 2016, r 15\nrep No. 34, 2017, r 37\nr 29 rep No. 34, 2017, r 37\nr 30 amd Act No. 59, 1987, s 6\nrep No. 34, 2017, r 37\nr 31 rep No. 34, 2017, r 37\nr 32 amd No. 34, 2017, r 39\nr 33 rep No. 34, 2017, r 40\npt IV hdg rep No. 34, 2017, r 40\npt IV\ndiv 1 hdg rep No. 34, 2017, r 40\nr 34 rep No. 34, 2017, r 40\npt IV\ndiv 2 hdg rep No. 34, 2017, r 40\nrr 34 – 38 rep No. 34, 2017, r 40\n\nENDNOTES\nMotor Vehicle (Hire Car) Regulations 1985 7\nr 39 amd No. 33, 2016, r 16\nrep No. 34, 2017, r 40\nr 40 rep Act No. 66, 1988, s 6(2)\nrep No. 34, 2017, r 40\nr 41 amd No. 33, 2016, r 17\nrep No. 34, 2017, r 40\nrr 42 – 43 rep No. 34, 2017, r 40\nr 44 rep No. 33, 2016, r 18\nr 45 rep No. 34, 2017, r 40\npt V hdg rep No. 34, 2017, r 40\nrr 46 – 50 rep No. 34, 2017, r 40\nr 51 amd No. 34, 1986, r 3; No. 25, 1989; No. 38, 1990; No. 42, 1991; Act No. 12,\n2003, s 19\nrep No. 34, 2017, r 40\npt VI hdg rep No. 34, 2017, r 40\nrr 52 – 53 rep No. 34, 2017, r 40\npt VII hdg rep No. 34, 2017, r 40\nrr 54 – 69 rep No. 34, 2017, r 40\nr 70 rep No. 34, 2017, r 41\nr 71 rep Act No. 41, 2003, s 6\nrr 72 – 73 rep No. 34, 2017, r 42\nr 74 amd Act No. 23, 2013, s 4\nrep No. 34, 2017, r 42\nr 75 amd No. 34, 2017, r 43\nsch 1 rep No. 34, 2017, r 44\nsch 2 rep Act No. 66, 1988, s 6(2)\nsch 3 rep No. 34, 2017, r 44","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The legislation has been significantly reduced in scope compared to its original 1985 form. The 2017 amendments (Commercial Passenger Vehicle Legislation Amendment Regulations) repealed entire Parts covering vehicle standards, insurance requirements, fare structures, booking services, and operator licensing. What remains is a narrow framework focused solely on driver licensing and basic conduct rules. The original regulations likely covered the full operational framework for hire car services, but most of this has been moved to other legislation or removed entirely, leaving these regulations as a residual shadow of their former scope."},"complexity_factors":["Short length (only 8 substantive regulations remain in force)","Minimal cross-referencing (only references to the parent Motor Vehicles Act 1949)","Simple conditional logic (primarily straightforward prohibitions and requirements)","Only 3 defined terms in the interpretation section ('hire car', 'licence', 'passenger')","Single nested structure in regulation 4 (dual definition of 'licence' depending on context)","Heavy repeals have stripped away most original content — the 2017 amendments removed Parts IV, V, VI, VII and most of Parts II and III, leaving a skeletal framework"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this legislation does:**\n\nThese regulations set the rules for driving hire cars (taxis, private hire cars, and limousines) in the Northern Territory. They cover who can drive these vehicles and how they must behave.\n\n**Key requirements:**\n\n*   **Special licences:** Drivers need a specific licence to drive a hire car — a regular driver's licence isn't enough. The Registrar (the government official in charge) must be satisfied the driver is of \"good character\" and a \"fit and proper person\" before granting a licence.\n*   **Health checks:** Drivers may need to pass a medical exam to prove they're medically fit to transport passengers safely.\n*   **Behaviour rules:** Drivers must act politely and professionally toward passengers. They must also display an official ID card with their photo while working.\n*   **Taxi-specific rules:** Taxi drivers must start the taximeter (the fare-calculating device) as soon as a trip begins and stop it immediately when the trip ends.\n*   **No touting:** Private hire car drivers cannot approach people on the street to solicit business (touting).\n\n**Who it affects:**\n\nAnyone driving a taxi, limousine, or private hire car for hire in the Northern Territory, plus the passengers who use these services.\n\n**Why it matters:**\n\nThese rules exist to keep passengers safe and ensure a basic standard of service. The medical checks help prevent accidents caused by health issues, the character checks help protect passengers from drivers with concerning backgrounds, and the conduct rules ensure passengers are treated respectfully. The regulations also create a defence for drivers who break rules due to genuine accidents or circumstances beyond their control."},"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"},"summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The original 1985 regulations have clearly evolved over time, evidenced by at least three reprints and a commencement date of 2018 — over 30 years after the original making. The hire car industry has changed dramatically since 1985 (including the rise of rideshare services), suggesting the scope and content of the regulations have been updated, though the exact nature of changes cannot be fully determined from the metadata alone."},"complexity_factors":["Split administration between two government departments (Department of Logistics and Infrastructure and Department of Treasury and Finance), which can create confusion about which agency is responsible for which obligations","Long legislative history since 1985 with multiple reprints, meaning the current version may differ significantly from the original and readers must check reprint history","Regulations (subordinate legislation) operate under a parent Act, so understanding full obligations requires reading both the regulations and the enabling Act","Limited metadata provided means key details (specific regulation numbers, gazette information) are not available for full analysis","Likely contains technical vehicle and licensing standards that require industry-specific knowledge to interpret"],"plain_english_summary":"These regulations set the operating, licensing and compliance framework for hire-car businesses and the people who rent vehicles, covering vehicle standards, licence conditions and financial obligations. They matter because two government bodies administer them — the Department of Logistics and Infrastructure for most rules and the Department of Treasury and Finance for financial matters — and the current consolidated version (Reprint No. 3) commenced 20 June 2018."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The Regulations continue to govern licensing and conduct of hire‑car drivers (definition of \"hire car\" at r 4). Regulation 77 preserves existing notices, conversion cards and suspensions from the repealed 1953 Regulations so prior licences and instruments continue under the new Regulations rather than expanding scope; amendments and repeals noted in the endnotes alter form and detail but do not, on the face of the instrument, broaden the core subject‑matter."},"complexity_factors":["Cross-references to the Motor Vehicles Act for types of licences (definition of \"licence\" refers to s 26(1), s 27(1) and s 10(1)) (r 4).","Registrar discretion to be satisfied about applicant character and fitness before issuing licences (r 7) and power to require medical certificates (r 9).","Multiple, straightforward driver obligations (licensing requirement (r 6); conduct (r 10); ID display (r 10A); taximeter operation (r 32); prohibition on touting (r 70)).","Uniform penalty framing and regulatory offence classification create administrative enforcement simplicity but require penalty‑unit calculations (penalty maxima stated in r 6, r 10, r 10A, r 32, r 70; regulatory offence classification r 75).","Transitional and savings provision preserves earlier notices/instruments from the repealed 1953 Regulations, adding interactional complexity between old and new instruments (r 77).","Extensive amendment and repeal history recorded in endnotes means users must check current text against listed changes to ensure nothing material was omitted (Endnotes / List of amendments)."],"plain_english_summary":"These regulations set rules for drivers of private hire cars, limousines and taxis. They require a specific hire‑car licence, written fitness declarations and (where asked) a medical certificate, an approved photo ID to be displayed, orderly conduct, correct taximeter use and a ban on touting. The Registrar decides who is fit and approves ID; breaches are regulatory offences with maximum penalties of 15 penalty units."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/motor-vehicle-hire-car-regulations-1985","history":"/api/acts/motor-vehicle-hire-car-regulations-1985/history","analysis":"/api/acts/motor-vehicle-hire-car-regulations-1985/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/motor-vehicle-hire-car-regulations-1985/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/motor-vehicle-hire-car-regulations-1985/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/motor-vehicle-hire-car-regulations-1985/documents"}}