Hire car and hire motorcycle accreditation

To operate a hire car or hire motorcycle service in the ACT you need hire car accreditation and vehicle licencing.

Hire cars and motorcycles are appropriately registered, licenced and insured vehicles driven by employees of the accredited operator.

They don’t include vehicles rented to members of the public.

To drive a hire car or motorcycle in the ACT you need a public vehicle driver licence.

Read about public vehicle driver licences.

If you are a hire car service operator in another state or territory, you may be eligible to work in the ACT under the Automatic Mutual Recognition Scheme.

Read about automatic mutual recognition.

Eligibility

Only applicants considered a ‘suitable person’ are eligible for accreditation.

The suitable person requirement applies to each:

• director, partner or office holder
• operations manager
• person responsible for the day-to-day management of the service.

What you’ll need

As well as meeting the requirements for a suitable person, you will need to:

• provide your proof of your identity
• provide results of a national police check or an ACT Working with Vulnerable People check
• register, insure and licence your vehicles.

The Hire Car Accreditation Package [PDF 231 KB] [DOCX 3.51 MB] includes:

• a checklist to see whether you are a suitable person
• authorisation for Access Canberra (the Road Transport Authority) to release records
• the minimum service standards for operating a hire car service. The minimum service standards are what you’ll be audited against as part of Access Canberra's Audit and compliance programs
• information about record keeping
• information about accreditation approval and refusal
• the application forms.

Minimum standards

You will need to meet the minimum service standards set out under the Road Transport (Public Passenger Services) Regulation 2002.

Police checks

In addition to meeting the requirements of a suitable person. You also need to provide:

• a police check results report or National Police Certificate
• a clear copy of photo identification.

Apply for a National Police Check.

Alternatively, you can provide one of the following:

• a current Working With Vulnerable People card (non-restricted)
• a National Police Certificate or police check results report which is less than 6 months old from the date of your application.

Registration

Call Public Transport Regulation on 02 6207 0050 to reserve a hire car registration numberplate for you.

You will need the registration number for your licence application, and for your public vehicle insurance policy.

Hire cars need yearly roadworthy inspections and are registered as 'H' plated vehicles.

Read about vehicle registration.

Read about roadworthy inspections.

Insurance

You need to maintain a current public vehicle licence policy at a minimum value of $5 million at all times when operating your hire car service.

Your insurance policy needs to be in the name of the accredited hire car operator and should detail the registration number of the vehicles you operate.

If you add further hire cars to your accreditation you’ll need to update and provide a copy of your updated insurance certificate.

Vehicle licencing

To get accredited you also need to apply for a hire car/motorcycle licence for each vehicle you intend to operate

This is not the same as getting a public vehicle endorsement condition 'H' on a driver licence, although your drivers/riders will need this on their licences.

Complete an Application for hire car licence (including motorbikes) [PDF 205 KB] [DOCX 2.62 MB] form for each vehicle.

Driver licensing

Whomever operates the vehicles will need an ‘H’ endorsement on their ACT driver licence, and in the case of motorcycle riders, an ‘R’ as well.

Read about public vehicle driver licences.

Apply for accreditation

The accreditation package includes the application forms and a checklist to help you put together your application.

1. Complete the Application form and the Authorisation form in the Hire Car Accreditation Package [PDF 231 KB] [DOCX 3.51 MB]
2. Include all relevant documents listed in the Applicant checklist. If you’re applying as a business entity you also need to provide:
   • a certificate of registration of corporation
   • an extract of Australian Securities and Investment Commission documentation listing details of partners and directors
   • if using a 'trading as' name, a copy of the certificate of registration of business name.
3. Submit your application by:
   • email to hirecarservices@act.gov.au
   • post to Public Transport Regulation, Access Canberra, PO Box 582, Dickson ACT 2602.
4. Pay the fee. You can do this online.

If approved, your accreditation is valid for up to 6 years and can be renewed using the same forms.

Stand-by hire car permits

If your vehicle breaks down you can apply for a stand-by hire car permit.

A stand-by hire car permit lets you use a privately registered vehicle as a substitute while you wait for repairs or servicing.

You can only use the permit for this reason. The permit is valid for 60 days.

The permit is temporary and you need to return the ‘H’ numberplates to an Access Canberra Service Centre.

1. Complete the Application for a stand-by hire car permit [PDF 12 KB] [DOCX 115 KB]
2. Email it to hirecarservices@act.gov.au
3. Pay the fee. You can do this online.

Whomever drives the vehicles will need an ‘H’ endorsement on their ACT driver licence, and in the case of motorcycle riders, an ‘R’ as well.

Read about public vehicle driver licences.

Authorised vehicle permits

If you’ve accepted a job for a special event and at short notice you need additional vehicles, you can apply for an authorised vehicle permit.

An authorised vehicle permit lets you add vehicles to your accreditation for the event only.

Email hirecarservices@act.gov.au as soon as possible and provide:

• details of the event
• the dates and times of the event
• the places passengers will be transported to and from.

If approved, Access Canberra will prepare an exemption under the Road Transport (Public Passenger Services) Regulation 2002 and a notification on the ACT Legislation Register. This will allow you to legally operate the additional vehicles as hire cars for the event.

Fees

• Application for hire car accreditation: $50.00
• Application for hire car licence (including motorbikes): $100.00 per licence per year
• Application for stand-by hire car permit: $25.00

Pay an accreditation or licence fee

Accredited ACT operators

These are accredited operators in the ACT.

Restricted hire car accreditation

Restricted hire cars are vehicles to take passengers to school formals and weddings only.

Read about restricted hire car accreditation.