Road-based passenger transport vehicle types

Road-based passenger transport vehicles

A service requiring operator accreditation can only be provided using certain vehicle types. Vehicle age limits apply to vehicles with 10 or more seats, including the driver. Refer to Service classifications, age, design and life extension of buses on the Operator accreditation vehicle requirements webpage.

A person must not drive a road-based passenger transport vehicle installed with an interlock device to provide a public passenger service for which driver authorisation is required.

You cannot use a public passenger vehicle with left-hand drive to provide a public transport service on the road. This rule does not apply to automated vehicles.

Vehicle requirements

Accredited operators must provide their services using a passenger vehicle, classified as follows:

• Passenger car (MA): A standard passenger vehicle with up to 9 seating positions. This does not include forward-control or off-road passenger vehicles.
• Forward-control passenger vehicle (MB): A vehicle with up to 9 seating positions where the steering wheel is located in the forward quarter of the vehicle’s total length.
• Off-road passenger vehicle (MC): A vehicle with up to 9 seating positions, designed for off-road use and equipped with special features.
• Light omnibus (MD): A bus with a Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) of no more than 5.0 tonnes, designed to carry more than 9 passengers.
• Heavy omnibus (ME): A bus with a GVM exceeding 5.0 tonnes, also designed to carry more than 9 passengers.

Under passenger transport legislation, a bus is defined as a motor vehicle with seating for 9 or more passengers, excluding the driver.

Additional vehicle requirements for motorcycle tourist services

Accredited operators providing motorcycle tourist services may also use the following vehicles:

• Motorbike
• Motorbike with a sidecar
• Motor trike

How to determine your vehicle type

You can determine your vehicle type by:

• checking the vehicle category code on your vehicle compliance plate
• reading about vehicle categories in the Australian Design Rules.

References

Transport Operations (Passenger Transport) Regulation 2018

• Section 230: Particular public passenger service not to be provided using particular vehicles
• Section 269: Vehicle requirement for providing particular public passenger services
• Section 270: Requirement for road-based public passenger vehicle—right-hand drive
• Schedule 9 dictionary: For example, compliance plate, off-road passenger vehicle, passenger vehicle, tourist service.

Read the full PT Regulation on the Queensland Legislation website.