Can I use NDIS funding for a wheelchair taxi in Melbourne?
Yes — if your NDIS plan is plan-managed or self-managed, you can book Roll & Ride and have the trip paid from your plan. We invoice your plan manager directly, so most participants pay nothing out of pocket. Transport funding sits in your plan as a set annual amount across three levels, and in Victoria you can also use your Multi Purpose Taxi Program (MPTP) card on the same trip to make the funding stretch further.
What NDIS transport funding covers
NDIS transport funding — sometimes called the transport allowance — is money in your plan for travel that your disability makes necessary. It is intended for participants who cannot use public transport without substantial difficulty because of their disability.
It typically pays for things like:
- Wheelchair accessible taxis and commercial passenger vehicles
- Trips to medical appointments, therapy and day programs
- Travel to work, study or job-seeking activities
- Getting to social, recreational and community activities
- Rideshare and community transport where appropriate
It does not cover travel unrelated to your disability, such as holidays, and it is separate from the travel costs a provider charges for getting to you.
The three levels of transport funding
The NDIA allocates transport funding at one of three standard annual levels. Which one applies depends on how much you work, study or take part in day programs.
| Level | Per year | Who it generally applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Up to $1,784 | Not working or studying, but needing help to get out into the community |
| Level 2 | Up to $2,676 | Working or studying part time (up to 15 hours a week), or attending day programs |
| Level 3 | Up to $3,456 | Working, looking for work or studying at least 15 hours a week, and unable to use public transport |
Amounts are the standard annual levels published by the NDIS and are correct as at September 2026. They are reviewed periodically — check ndis.gov.au or ask your plan manager for the current figures. In exceptional circumstances, usually tied to employment, the NDIA can approve funding above Level 3.
How your plan management affects booking
How your plan is managed decides how you pay us. This is the single most useful thing to know before you call.
Plan-managed
Your plan manager pays providers on your behalf. Give us their details and we invoice them directly — you pay nothing on the day.
Self-managed
You pay us and claim it back through the myplace portal, or we can invoice you. We provide an itemised invoice with everything the NDIA asks for.
Using the Victorian MPTP card with your NDIS funding
This is the part Melbourne participants most often miss. The Multi Purpose Taxi Program is a Victorian Government scheme run by Safe Transport Victoria. If you hold an MPTP card, it pays 50% of your fare, up to $60 per trip.
You can use your MPTP card and your NDIS transport funding on the same trip. The MPTP subsidy comes off the fare first, and your NDIS funding covers what's left — so your annual transport budget goes roughly twice as far.
To be eligible for MPTP you generally need to be a permanent Victorian resident with a severe or permanent disability that prevents you using public transport safely and independently. A doctor completes a medical assessment as part of the application. Apply through Safe Transport Victoria.
Tolls and airport fees are not covered by the subsidy. Wheelchair accessible vehicle drivers are also paid a lifting fee under the program, which is not charged to you.
What we provide for NDIS participants
- Hydraulic lift equipped vehicles with four-point restraints, so you travel in your own chair — manual, powered or scooter.
- Door-to-door assistance at both ends of the trip, not just kerb to kerb.
- Carers and support workers travel free — there is no extra seat charge.
- Accredited, police-checked drivers accredited with Safe Transport Victoria.
- Itemised invoicing your plan manager can process without chasing you for details.
- Regular travel for therapy, day programs or work, with your details kept on file so you don't repeat them each booking.
- Available 24 hours a day, including early-morning dialysis and late appointments.
How to book an NDIS trip
- Call 1300 12 05 05 or send the booking form. Tell us the pickup, destination, date and time.
- Tell us your mobility needs. Wheelchair type and size, whether a carer is travelling, and anything else that helps us send the right vehicle.
- Give us your plan details. How your plan is managed, your plan manager's contact, and your MPTP card number if you have one.
- We confirm and invoice. Your driver arrives on time and we invoice your plan manager directly.