Can a provider charge me for travel time?

Yes, in some cases. Providers can bill your plan for the time a support worker spends travelling to deliver your supports, and sometimes related costs. This is only allowed within the limits set in the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits. Travel should be agreed in advance and written into your service agreement so you know what to expect.

Is there a limit on travel charges?

Yes. The NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits set limits on what a provider can claim for travel, so there is a ceiling on how much comes out of your plan. These limits can vary by location and change over time. Check the current Price Guide at ndis.gov.au, and ask your provider to explain how the limits apply to you.

What is shared travel?

Shared travel is when a worker visits several participants on one trip and the travel is split between them, rather than one person paying for the whole journey. This is fairer and keeps costs down. If your worker also sees others nearby, it is reasonable to ask how travel is shared and how it affects your plan.

Does travel come out of my NDIS budget?

Yes. Provider travel is claimed from your NDIS plan budget, like other supports, so it reduces the funds available for the rest of your supports. Because of this, it is worth understanding how much travel may be charged before services start, and making sure the terms are clear in your service agreement.

How do I find out what travel I will be charged?

Ask your provider before services start. Find out whether they charge for travel, how it is worked out, and whether it will be shared with other participants. Have the answers written into your service agreement. Providers should be able to explain how their travel charges fit within the current Price Guide limits for your area.

Can travel charges be different where I live?

Yes. Travel needs differ between metropolitan, regional and remote areas, so the limits that apply can vary by location. The rules can also change over time. Rather than relying on a figure you heard elsewhere, check the current Price Guide at ndis.gov.au and ask your provider how the travel rules apply in your area.

What if a travel charge seems too high?

Raise it with your provider first and ask them to explain how the charge fits the Price Guide limits and your service agreement. If you are not satisfied, you can contact the NDIA on 1800 800 110 about how funds are claimed, or the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission on 1800 035 544 if you have concerns about the provider's conduct.

Provider travel charges: what providers can and can’t bill

When a worker’s travel can be claimed from your plan, and the limits that apply.

When a support worker travels to deliver your supports, the time they spend travelling can sometimes be charged to your NDIS plan. This is known as provider travel, and it draws from your budget like any other support.

Travel charges are allowed only within limits set in the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits, often called the Price Guide. The rules can vary by location and change over time, so it helps to understand how travel works before you agree to services.

In this guide

Providers can bill your plan for the time a worker spends travelling to deliver your supports, and sometimes related costs.
Travel can only be charged within the limits set in the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits.
There are caps and the rules can vary by location and change over time, so check the current Price Guide.
Travel is often shared when a worker sees several participants on one trip.
Ask about travel when you agree services and have the terms written into your service agreement.

What provider travel is

Provider travel refers to the time a support worker spends travelling to reach you so they can deliver your supports. Because that time is part of providing the service, the pricing rules allow it to be charged in certain situations.

This is separate from the cost of the support itself. It covers the worker getting to you, and in some cases getting between participants or back again, depending on the rules that apply.

Travel is not automatically charged in every case. Whether it can be billed, and how much, depends on the arrangement you agree with your provider and the limits set in the Price Guide.

What can be claimed

The main thing a provider can claim is the worker's travel time, charged in line with the pricing rules. This reflects the time the worker spends getting to you to deliver the support.

In some situations, related travel costs may also be claimed, such as certain vehicle or transport costs connected to delivering your supports. What is allowed depends on the current rules and what you have agreed.

Any travel charge should be clear and agreed in advance. A provider cannot simply add unexpected travel costs, and everything must sit within the limits set in the Price Guide.

The limits that apply

Travel charges are not open-ended. The NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits set limits on what a provider can claim for travel, so there is a ceiling on how much can come out of your plan.

These limits can vary depending on where you live, since travel needs differ between metropolitan, regional and remote areas. The rules can also be updated over time.

Because the details change and depend on your location, it is best to check the current Price Guide at ndis.gov.au rather than relying on a figure you heard elsewhere. Your provider should be able to explain how the limits apply to you.

Shared travel

A worker often visits several participants on the same trip. When that happens, travel is usually shared between the people the worker sees rather than one person carrying the whole cost.

Sharing travel is fairer and keeps costs down for everyone involved. It means the travel time is split according to the rules, so you are not charged for a journey as if it were made only for you.

If you receive supports from a worker who also sees others nearby, it is reasonable to ask how travel is shared. Understanding this helps you see how travel charges are worked out on your plan.

Checking travel before you agree services

The best time to sort out travel is before services start. Ask your provider whether they will charge for travel, how it is worked out, and whether it is likely to be shared with other participants.

Have the travel terms written into your service agreement so there are no surprises. This should cover what can be charged and confirm it sits within the Price Guide limits.

If a travel charge appears that you did not expect, or it seems higher than the rules allow, raise it with your provider first. If you still have concerns, you can contact the NDIA on 1800 800 110, or the NDIS Commission on 1800 035 544 about provider conduct.

Frequently asked questions

Can a provider charge me for travel time?: Yes, in some cases. Providers can bill your plan for the time a support worker spends travelling to deliver your supports, and sometimes related costs. This is only allowed within the limits set in the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits. Travel should be agreed in advance and written into your service agreement so you know what to expect.
Is there a limit on travel charges?: Yes. The NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits set limits on what a provider can claim for travel, so there is a ceiling on how much comes out of your plan. These limits can vary by location and change over time. Check the current Price Guide at ndis.gov.au, and ask your provider to explain how the limits apply to you.
What is shared travel?: Shared travel is when a worker visits several participants on one trip and the travel is split between them, rather than one person paying for the whole journey. This is fairer and keeps costs down. If your worker also sees others nearby, it is reasonable to ask how travel is shared and how it affects your plan.
Does travel come out of my NDIS budget?: Yes. Provider travel is claimed from your NDIS plan budget, like other supports, so it reduces the funds available for the rest of your supports. Because of this, it is worth understanding how much travel may be charged before services start, and making sure the terms are clear in your service agreement.
How do I find out what travel I will be charged?: Ask your provider before services start. Find out whether they charge for travel, how it is worked out, and whether it will be shared with other participants. Have the answers written into your service agreement. Providers should be able to explain how their travel charges fit within the current Price Guide limits for your area.
Can travel charges be different where I live?: Yes. Travel needs differ between metropolitan, regional and remote areas, so the limits that apply can vary by location. The rules can also change over time. Rather than relying on a figure you heard elsewhere, check the current Price Guide at ndis.gov.au and ask your provider how the travel rules apply in your area.
What if a travel charge seems too high?: Raise it with your provider first and ask them to explain how the charge fits the Price Guide limits and your service agreement. If you are not satisfied, you can contact the NDIA on 1800 800 110 about how funds are claimed, or the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission on 1800 035 544 if you have concerns about the provider's conduct.

Explore more NDIS resources

Official NDIS sources

Novida is an independent directory, not the NDIA. We explain each form in plain English and link you to the official copy — always download and submit the current version from the official website, as forms are updated from time to time.