Uber Driver Requirements in Queensland – Australia

Uber arrived at the state of Queensland in 2014, together with several other States like the Victoria and New South Wales. In QLD, Uber was first introduced in Melbourne, which is the capital city of the state, home to more than 2 million Australians.

Being the first rideshare company in the state is a distinct advantage that makes Uber grow quickly in several big cities. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, it only took 18 months before they succeeded in delivering 2.5 million rides in the QLD.

The newest cities where Uber launched their ridesharing app are Bundaberg, Gladstone, Hervey Bay, Mackay and Rockhampton. With the addition of new regional cities, not only good for travellers, but also for locals who want to earn extra income by driving in their free time.

Where is Uber Available in Queensland?

Uber has a broad service area in the State of Queensland, apart from the capital city and other populated cities. In 2018 they have added several regional cities and suburbs to be included in the list of cities they serve.

Until now, in Queensland Uber can be ordered in Brisbane, Cairns, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba, Townsville, Bundaberg, Gladstone, Hervey Bay, Mackay and Rockhampton. As the city grows, of course, they also need enough additional driver-partners to serve the region.

If you currently intend to drive with Uber in one of these cities, you can still do it today. After you get approved in one city in QLD, you can drive throughout the city without the need to make changes to your driver account. However, you are still not allowed to drive outside of Queensland.

QLD Uber Driver Requirments List

Personal Documents

To drive with Uber around Queensland you must be at least 21 years old and have several other supporting personal documents as below.

1. Driver Licence
   In the state of Queensland, to register as a rideshare driver carrying passengers, you are required to hold a valid Open Driver Licence for at least 1 year. In other states, this type of licence is called Unrestricted or Full Driver License. If you still hold a provisional or even learner licence then you must upgrade your licence first.
2. Queensland Driver’s Authorisation
   Before you can provide Uber services, you must hold a valid Booked Hire / Taxi category of Driver Authorization (DA). If you previously have a Taxi or Limo category of DA, you can use it to register as a rideshare driver.

   To get a DA, you will be required to complete a medical assessment before you can submit your application at a TMR (Department of Transport and Main Roads) branch. Learn more about DA on TMR site.

Vehicle Requirements

In general, to be able to drive with Uber, your car is 4-door, in excellent condition, and can accommodate a minimum of 4 passengers. Additionally, you also need to prepare some additional requirements as follows.

1. Certificate of Inspection
   To check the roadworthiness of the car, it’s must undergo an annual inspection procedure to avoid problems when you driving alone or with passengers. To conduct inspections and get a Certificate of Inspection, Uber collaborates with Redbook Inspect which has several approved inspection stations around the state. Inspection is not required if your vehicle is registered in the Queensland within the last 12 months.
2. Vehicle Registration Certificate
   To find out the legality of your vehicle to be used in Queensland, your vehicle must be registered in QLD. To prove it, you need a Vihicle Registration Certificate.
3. Vehicle Insurance Certificate
   Your vehicle must be equipped with a Compulsory Third Party (CTP) insurance when you want to give ride-booking service. Unlike in other states, in Queensland, you must have a relevant insurance class. You can choose class 26 for a privately held vehicle or class 4 for rental or leased vehicle.
4. Booked Hire Service Licence
   In Queensland, every vehicle used to provide booked hire services other than licensed Taxi or Limousine requires a valid Booked Hire Service License (BHSL). You can apply for BHSL online.

Additional Requirements

In addition to the driver and vehicle requirements above, you still need some other additional requirements.

1. Proof of ID and VEVO
   Your identity can be your passport, birth or citizenship certificate. Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) check is required if you do not have Australian citizenship. These requirements are not requested separately because they will be reviewed during the Driver’s Authorization (DA) application.
2. Personalised Transport Driver Training
   In Queensland, every booked hire (rideshare) drivers are required to complete disability awareness and anti-discrimination which includes sexual harassment training before they provide a service. You can contact Uber support to see what training arrangements are being put in place.
3. Five Star ANCAP Safety Rating
   Uber introduces an ANCAP 5-star vehicle use policy for its Australian driver partners starting October 2019. Not only applies to QLD, but also applies across Australia. This is Uber’s step to improve safety on the road while increasing the confidence of riders to choose them over competitors.

Payment Information and Tax

Uber processes payments of its driver-partners every week. To be able to receive it as soon as possible on your bank account, make sure you provide the following information correctly.

1. Banking Information
   Some information related to your bank account is needed by Uber to make a direct deposit. You can use the Australian bank of your choice and make sure you know your BSB (Bank State Branch) bank code and your account number.
2. ABN and GST
   Uber requires every driver-partner that provides ridesharing services to register for GST and have an Australian Business Number (ABN). You can directly register for GST via the ATO website or through service like AirTax. You can input both information in the ‘Invoice Settings’ section of your Partner Dashboard.

Where to Register?

To become a Uber driver in Brisbane, Gold Coast and several other cities in the State of Queensland. You can directly apply for it online. If you need an overview on how to register, you can take a look at our step by step guide article.