Display of operator accreditation number on vehicles

Requirement to display operator accreditation number

If your service requires operator accreditation, you must comply with the display requirements as detailed below.

Correctly displaying your operator accreditation number

Vehicle display guidelines (excluding motorbikes):

• The number must begin with the letter ‘Q’.
• It must be securely fixed to the bottom left-hand side of the vehicle’s rear or rear window.
• The number must be clearly legible from 4.5 metres.

If you operate motorbikes, motorbikes with sidecars, or motor trikes, you must display your operator accreditation number in the following way:

• The number must begin with the letter ‘Q’.Z
• It must be securely fixed to the vehicle.
• The number must be clearly legible from 4.5metres.

Exemption from displaying operator accreditation number

If operator accreditation is not required for the service you are providing in your taxi or booked hire vehicle (including limousines), the operator accreditation display requirements do not apply.

If operator accreditation is required for the service you are providing in your taxi or booked hire vehicle (Including limousines), the following requirements apply:

• Taxis licenced in Queensland - You must comply with the display requirements for public passenger vehicles.
• Limousines and NSW taxis - You must keep a copy of the current operator accreditation certificate in the vehicle while using the vehicle to provide a service that requires operator accreditation.
• Booked hire vehicles - You must comply with the signage requirements for ride-booking vehicles.

Displaying operator accreditation number on vehicles that are borrowed, leased or hired to another accredited operator

The OA number displayed on a vehicle must belong to the operator using the vehicle to provide a service.

However, a vehicle can display another operator’s OA number in certain situations. This is allowed if the vehicle is leased or hired from, or is usually operated by, someone who holds operator accreditation, and you are using the vehicle due to exceptional circumstances (such as a vehicle breakdown).

In these cases, the vehicle must not be used for more than 5 days (whether consecutive or not) within a 3-month period. The second operator must display their operator accreditation number on the vehicle if the vehicle is used for more than 5 days.

It is recommended that the vehicle’s owner keep a formal record, such as a lease or hire agreement, to avoid being held responsible for the actions of the second operator using the vehicle.

References

Transport Operations (Passenger Transport) Regulation 2018

• Section 221: Displaying accreditation numbers
• Section 226: Record to be kept about each use of vehicle used to provide public passenger service

Read the full Regulation on the Queensland Legislation website.