Driver guide · Victoria
Uber car requirements in Victoria, in plain English.
What car you can use, how old it can be, and the five steps between you and your first Uber trip in Melbourne.
Quick check
Is my car too old for Uber?
Pick the year your car was made. Uber measures age by the year of manufacture, not the year it was first registered.
- UberXUp to 15 years old
- UberXLUp to 15 years old
- AssistUp to 15 years old
- Uber TaxiMade in the last 10 years
- ComfortMade in the last 7 years
- BlackMade in the last 7 years
Age only. Your car also has to meet every rule below, and Uber makes the final call. Comfort and Black also need a 4.85 rating or higher.
The car
What every car needs, whichever Uber option you drive.
- Safety
- ANCAP 5-star rated, or covered by Uber’s exemption policy
- Doors
- 4 doors (a car or a passenger van)
- Seats
- No more than 12, including the driver’s seat
- Registration
- Registered in Victoria, and registered as a commercial passenger vehicle
- Condition
- Excellent working order, with no scratches, scuffs or hail dents
- Branding
- No commercial graphics or wraps bigger than 20cm by 20cm
- Insurance
- CTP, plus at least third-party property damage insurance
- Inspection
- Passed by an Accredited Vehicle Inspector, valid for 12 months
| Uber option | Car age | Passengers | Also needs |
|---|---|---|---|
| UberX | No more than 15 years old | 4 | Not an ex-taxi, ex-driving school, government, branded or rebuilt car |
| UberXL | 15 years old or newer | 6 to 7 | A 4-door SUV or large passenger van |
| Comfort | Made in the last 7 years | 4 | Driver rating 4.85+, cancellation rate 15% or lower |
| Comfort Electric | Made in the last 7 years | 4 | Fully electric |
| Black | Made in the last 7 years | 4 | Driver rating 4.85+, cancellation rate 15% or lower |
| Assist | No more than 15 years old | 4 | Room for folding wheelchairs and walkers; 20+ trips and a 4.85 rating |
| Uber Taxi | Made in the last 10 years | 4 to 10 | Inspected by a Licensed Vehicle Tester |
Source: Uber, vehicle requirements in Melbourne, checked 25 September 2026. Uber changes these from time to time, so check its page before you buy a car.
Getting started
Five steps to your first trip.
Do them in this order. The accreditation takes the longest, so start it first.
-
Check you qualify
You need to be 21 or older and have held a full Australian or New Zealand licence for at least 6 months. You’ll also need proof you have the right to work in Australia.
-
Get driver accreditation
Apply to Safe Transport Victoria through its online portal. It runs police and background checks and asks for a medical self-assessment. Allow at least 20 business days once your documents are complete. It can’t be fast-tracked.
-
Register your car as a commercial passenger vehicle
Register the car with Safe Transport Victoria for booked (rideshare) trips. You need to own the car. A rental from Uber’s marketplace is registered by the rental company instead.
-
Pass the inspection
Take the car to an Accredited Vehicle Inspector, such as a VicRoads Licensed Vehicle Tester. The inspection is valid for 12 months, so book the next one before it runs out.
-
Sign up with Uber
Create your driver account, upload your licence, ID and profile photo, and pass Uber’s background check. Before your first trip, put Uber’s identification sticker on the passenger-side windscreen and display the official Safe Transport Victoria QR code.
The insurance rule
Uber’s minimum won’t fix your car.
Uber asks for CTP and at least third-party property damage insurance, with you listed as a driver. That pays for damage you do to other people’s cars. If your own car is damaged, it pays nothing, and every day it’s off the road is a day without fares.
Check your policy covers paid trips. Many personal car policies don’t. Rideshare insurance explained.
How Stallion members handle it
- Vehicle cover for your own car
- Repairs through Nationwide Collisions, our repair partner
- A replacement vehicle when the crash isn’t your fault
- From $110 a month, no lock-in on Standard
Stallion is a members’ association, not a licensed insurer. Check with Uber what it accepts for its insurance requirement.
Ruled out
Cars Uber won’t take for UberX.
- Ex-taxis
- Ex-driving school cars
- Ex-government cars
- Rebuilt cars
- Branded or wrapped cars
- Cars with visible damage
Q.01What’s the oldest car I can use for Uber in Melbourne?
For UberX, UberXL and Assist, the car can be no more than 15 years old, measured by the year it was made. In 2026 that means a car made in 2011 or later. Comfort and Black need a car made in the last 7 years.
Q.02Do I need commercial registration to drive Uber in Victoria?
Yes. Every car used for Uber in Victoria must be registered with Safe Transport Victoria as a commercial passenger vehicle, as well as having normal Victorian registration.
Q.03How long does driver accreditation take?
Safe Transport Victoria says to allow at least 20 business days from when your application and documents are complete. It includes police and medical checks, so it can’t be fast-tracked.
Q.04How often does my car need an inspection?
Every 12 months. The inspection is done by an Accredited Vehicle Inspector, including VicRoads Licensed Vehicle Testers, and is valid for 12 months from the date it’s issued.
Q.05What insurance do I need to drive for Uber?
Uber asks for CTP and at least third-party property damage insurance, with you listed as a driver. That doesn’t cover damage to your own car, so many drivers add cover for their car too.
Q.06Can I drive Uber in a rental car?
Yes, through a rental from Uber’s vehicle marketplace. In that case the rental company registers the car as a commercial passenger vehicle, not you.
Car ready for Uber? Get it covered.
Rideshare and taxi cover from $110 a month. Two minutes to get a quote, no payment taken.
Sources
- Uber: vehicle requirements, Melbourne
- Uber: regulatory requirements for ridesharing in Victoria
- Uber: how to drive with Uber in Melbourne
- Safe Transport Victoria: driver accreditation
- Safe Transport Victoria: CPV registration
All checked 25 September 2026. This guide is general information. Uber and Safe Transport Victoria have the final say. Stallion isn’t connected to Uber.