Suitability Inspection Requirement: Vehicle Ownership
Regulations 13, 14 and 16 of the Taxi Regulation (Small Public Service Vehicle) Regulations 2015 require that either evidence of vehicle ownership or evidence of legal entitlement to use of the vehicle for a period of not less than 12 months is provided to NTA for licensing.
Licence holders must bring the original Vehicle Registration Certificates (VRC – still commonly referred to as the log book) to all SPSV suitability inspections. Alternatively, where a vehicle is held under a hire purchase or lease agreement, NTA will accept written confirmation on letter headed paper from the registered owner of the vehicle, stating the SPSV licence holder is legally entitled to the use and possession of the vehicle for a period of not less than 12 months.
Since September 2021, failure to present this required documentation at an SPSV suitability inspection has been recorded as an Advisory Fail. This procedure is now changing. From 1 March 2023, failure to present the required documentation relating to vehicle ownership or entitlement will be introduced as a fail item at the SPSV suitability inspection. Licence holders are encouraged to ensure this documentation is provided as, if neither of these documents are presented, the inspection will result in a fail and your vehicle will not be licensed that day.