Uber Driver Requirements in Victoria – Australia

Uber is not a new player in Victoria, because the ride-sharing giant has arrived in 2014 in its capital city. Melbourne was chosen because it is the most populous city across Australia, after Sydney.

Not stopping only in the capital city, Uber has also expanded its services in several other cities such as Geelong, Mornington Peninsula, Bendigo, Ballarat, Horsham, Shepparton, The Surf Coast and Warrnambool.

Besides offering ride-hailing service, in several cities in Victoria, they also open Uber Eats, which can deliver food from your favourite restaurant right on your doorstep.

The growing number of users and a wider service area must be supported by the availability of drivers. For this reason, Uber still opens opportunities for those of you who want to join their driver-partners around Victoria.

By joining as a driver-partner, you can choose when you want to drive and how much extra income you want to get.

Where is Uber Available in Victoria?

In the state of Victoria, Uber can be found in its Capital City – Melbourne, and several regional cities and suburbs such as Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat, Horsham, Shepparton, Warrnambool, Surf Coast and Mornington Peninsula.

You are welcome to apply to be an Uber driver-partner in one of these cities. If you’re interested in driving in several cities other than you are currently signed up to drive in, you will be able to do so without the need to make changes to your driver account, as long as you are still driving in the Victoria region.

In case you are interested in driving outside Victoria, you will need to fulfil the requirements of that state or territory since every state or territory could have their own list of ridesharing requirements.

Requirements on Registration Page

Personal Requirements

These are requirements that relate to your personal information. Before registering, make sure you’re at least 21 years old. The following are some personal documents that you need:

1. Driver Licence
   You must hold an Unrestricted or Full Driver Licence to drive with Uber, for at least 6 months. Provisional or Learner License are not accepted. Another state license is also unacceptable, you will need to transfer your licence to Victoria.

   Uber requires you to take a photo of the front and back of your Driver Licence.

2. Proof of ID
   Uber needs your personal identity to know your citizenship. It can be a passport or birth certificate. However, if you upload an international passport you are required to complete additional requirements to check your work right in Australia.

Vehicle Requirements

The requirements relate to the vehicle that you will use for rideshare. In 2019, your car must be 2009 or newer, have at least 4 doors with 4 adult passengers seat at minimum.

1. Vehicle Registration
   To be used for ridesharing activities in Victoria, your vehicle must be registered in the state. This can be proven by a photo of your vehicle registration document. Make sure it clearly shows your plate number, VIN, vehicle build year and expiry date.
2. Vehicle Insurance
   Your vehicle must be equipped with insurance, it needs to be covered with Compulsory Third Party (CTP) insurance, and have at least third-party property damage insurance.

Additional Requirements

In addition to the previously mentioned common personal and vehicle documents, you also need to provide additional requirements based on Victorian State Regulations.

1. Background Check
   Every driver-partners are required to pass a criminal history check. The online background check will be done through the National Crime Check website.

   As part of the background check process, you have to provide personal details and documentation to verify your identity. The crime check result might take between 1-12 business days, however, around 70% of the result will be delivered in 1-2 business days. When the results have come out, it will be added to your Uber driver profile.

2. Right to Work Check
   Everyone who wants to be a rideshare driver-partners in Australia are required to have citizenship, residency or visa status that allows them to work.

   However, if you do not have an Australian passport, Uber will check your work right in Australia during the signup process using a VEVO (Visa Entitlement Verification Online) Check.

3. Driver Accreditation
   State regulations requires every rideshare driver-partners to hold a valid Driver Accreditation (DA), issued by Commercial Passenger Vehicles Victoria (CPVV). You can apply online for accreditation thru Driver Accreditation page in CPVV website.

   During the application process, you are required to undergo a medical assessment. You can do a medical assessment with your own general practitioner (GP). Alternatively, you can complete it at Uber Greenlight Hub in your city.

4. Vehicle Inspection
   As a driver-partner, you are required to regularly check your vehicle’s safety. When registering you will be required to inspect your car at an authorized CPVV inspection partner. In Victoria Uber has partnered with Redbook Inspect to make inspections simple for you.
5. Commercial Passenger Vehicle Registration
   Victorian Regulation requires every vehicle used for ridesharing register their vehicle as a commercial passenger vehicle. This can be done online through vehicle registration page in CPVV website.

   In case you are not the owner of the vehicle, you must ask the actual car owner to register it since registration cannot be represented.

6. Vehicle Identification Sticker
   Under Victoria Regulation, every rideshare driver including Uber is required to display a vehicle identification sticker while online on the Uber driver app. You will be given a sticker when making a vehicle inspection, but you can also order one online.
7. 5-star ANCAP Safety Rating
   Starting October 2019, every vehicle that will be registered on the Uber rideshare platform in Australia must have a 5-star ANCAP (Australasian New Car Assessment Program) safety rating. You can check your vehicle’s rating on the official ANCAP website.

Payment Information and Tax

In order to process your payment as a driver-partner, Uber needs the following information:

1. Bank Account
   To process your weekly payments as driver partners, Uber requires your banking information including BSB (Bank State Branch) code and Bank Account Number.
2. ABN and GST
   Every rideshare driver-partners in Australia are required to apply for ABN and register for GST. You can apply the Australian Business Number (ABN) online through the Registrar of the Australian Business Register official website and register for the GST online at the Australian Taxation Office website. Alternatively, you can get it done by utilizing a service like AirTax.

Where to signup to drive?

Uber makes the signup process easy for those who would like to become rideshare driver-partner. You can even get it done at your home with your smartphone. Find out more in our writing about the step by step uber registration process (with screenshots).