Taxi accessibility
The Victorian Taxi Directorate is responsible for ensuring transport services, including taxis, are accessible for all members of the community, including people with a disability. This page provides information on accessible taxi services in the State.
Information on this page
- Wheelchair Accessible Taxis
- Changes to the program
- Booking a Wheelchair Accessible Taxi
- Multi Purpose Taxi Program
- Course in Wheelchair Accessible Taxi Services
- Initiatives
Wheelchair Accessible Taxis
Wheelchair accessible taxis
Wheelchair accessible taxis (WATs) allow people who use wheelchairs to travel in their wheelchair provided that they and the wheelchair can be safely restrained in the vehicle. The service is popular, with 429 WATs in operation on Victorian roads. In the 2009-10 financial year, there were a total of 692,797 WAT trips made. WATs 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. A WAT is a vehicle designed to carry one, two or more people seated in wheelchairs (depending upon the vehicle type) and between four and eleven passengers when not configured to carry wheelchairs. When not carrying wheelchair passengers, WATs have the same operating rights and conditions as standard taxis, but charge a higher tariff when carrying 5 or more passengers.
Changes to the program
The VTD monitors usage of the WAT fleet to ensure taxi services are available to meet community needs. In 2008, a number of measures were introduced, as part of a broader reform package, to improve the Multi Purpose Taxi Program. To ensure people with a disability can get a taxi when they want one, an additional 330 wheelchair accessible licences will be released in the greater Melbourne area. Additionally, to provide a better customer experience, these licenses will allow the use of vehicles designed to carry a single wheelchair.
Booking a WAT
WATs are available in Melbourne and regional areas. Ask for a WAT when you book. In Melbourne, call 8413 7202 or 9277 3877. In regional areas, see the Yellow Pages telephone directory for contact numbers.
Multi Purpose Taxi Program
The Multi Purpose Taxi Program is available to assist with the travel needs of people with severe and permanent disabilities by offering discounted taxi fares to members of the program.
Provide Wheelchair Accessible Taxi-cab Services for Passengers with Disabilities - TLIC2040A
Taxi drivers must complete the unit Provide Wheelchair Accessible Taxi-cab Services for Passengers with Disabilities - TLIC2040A in order to be eligible to drive a wheelchair accessible taxi. Metropolitan drivers who wish to drive a WAT should contact Driver Education Centre of Victoria Pty Ltd (DECA), Silver Top Driver Training Centre or Taxi Industry Training Victoria (TITV) to enrol in this course. Country and urban drivers are advised to contact the Taxi Industry Training Victoria (TITV) for further information.
Initiatives
Initiatives to improve the availability and reliability of taxi services for people who use wheelchairs include:
- subsidising the Course in Wheelchair Accessible Training Services for taxi drivers, including additional out-of-pocket expenses for those who successfully complete the course
- subsidising the cost of replacement or new Wheelchair Accessible Taxis in country Victoria
- setting stringent wheelchair work service delivery benchmarks for taxi depots.
As at 30 June 2011, the Department of Transport has approved 76 grants to subsidise the purchase of WATs.