How to Start as an NDIS Transport Provider
Start as an NDIS transport provider in Australia: registration, vehicle and insurance rules, what you can charge, plus 2026-27 pricing and reform changes.
What "NDIS transport" actually funds
Do you have to register?
Vehicles, insurance and the licence trap
How you actually get paid
Worked example: the margin on a typical run
The recurrent transport allowance: what participants can pay you
2026-27 pricing and reform changes that hit transport
Mistakes that sink new transport providers
Pricing and service agreements done right
Get discovered by participants and coordinators
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to be a registered NDIS provider to offer transport?
Not to serve plan-managed and self-managed participants, who can choose unregistered providers. You do need registration to work with agency-managed participants. Watch the 2027 mandatory registration expansion and the second-half-2026 differentiated pricing consultation, because both could change the value of staying unregistered — confirm the current position on ndiscommission.gov.au.
How much can I charge for transport under the NDIS?
You claim the support delivery time at the relevant PAPL hourly rate, plus non-labour vehicle costs at up to roughly $0.99 per kilometre, plus capped provider travel time where it applies. All limits sit in the NDIA Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits — the 2026-27 version was published 23 June 2026 and applies from 1 July 2026, so confirm each line item before quoting. You cannot charge above the PAPL limit.
Is NDIS transport profitable on its own?
Rarely. The kilometres you claim largely reimburse your driver's SCHADS vehicle allowance, so standalone driving carries almost no margin. The business works when transport wraps around a billable support such as community participation or personal care, where the labour gap between the PAPL rate and the SCHADS wage funds your overheads and margin.
What insurance and licences do I need to drive NDIS participants?
A comprehensive motor policy that covers paid passenger (hire and reward) use — a private policy usually will not — plus public liability and, if you employ drivers, workers' compensation. You may also need state point-to-point or commercial passenger vehicle accreditation depending on your state. Drivers need a valid licence and NDIS Worker Screening clearance; confirm requirements with your state transport regulator.
What is changing for transport providers in 2026?
From 1 July 2026, real-time "prove and pay" claiming means capturing trip evidence on every claim, the 2026-27 PAPL applies, super rises to 12% and payday super begins. Bill-dependent changes include a 90-day claim window from 1 December 2026 and a proposed 7-year record-retention duty. Verify these against health.gov.au and the NDIA before relying on them.