NDIS Guide
NDIS transport funding helps participants with disability cover the extra cost of getting around — whether that’s getting to work, medical appointments, or community activities. This guide explains how NDIS transport funding works, how much you can receive, what it covers, and what it does not, so you can get the most out of your plan. If you are new to the NDIS, our plain-English introduction to the NDIS is a good place to start.
The three types of NDIS transport funding
NDIS transport funding is not a single category — there are three distinct types, and each works differently. Understanding which type applies to your situation matters because it affects who makes the claim, how the money flows, and what you need to keep track of in your plan.
01
Participant transport
Money allocated to you directly in your plan to cover your own travel costs. You spend it flexibly — on taxis, public transport, ridesharing, or fuel — without needing to submit invoices for each trip. This is the most common form of transport funding for participants.
02
Provider travel
When a support worker or allied health professional travels to reach you, they can claim for the time they spend travelling and for vehicle costs. The worker travels without you in the vehicle — this is different from accompanying you somewhere. Their travel costs come out of your Core Supports budget.
03
Activity-based transport
When a support worker or provider travels with you in a vehicle as part of delivering a support — for example, accompanying you to a community activity — this is activity-based transport. The provider can claim this alongside the cost of the support itself.
How the three participant transport levels work
If your NDIS plan includes participant transport funding, it will be set at one of three levels. The level is based on how much you work, study, or participate in structured activities. These amounts are set by the NDIA and are reviewed annually — the figures below reflect the current NDIS Pricing Arrangements. Check NDIS.gov.au for the most current rates.
Level 1
~$1,606 per year
For participants who are not working, studying, or attending formal day programmes but want support to access their community. If you have difficulty using public transport because of your disability and want to increase your independence and participation, this level is the starting point the NDIA considers.
Level 2
~$2,472 per year
For participants who are working or studying fewer than 15 hours per week, or who regularly attend a day programme. The higher allocation reflects the more frequent transport needs that come with structured weekly commitments.
Level 3
~$3,456 per year
For participants who work or study 15 or more hours per week. This level recognises that regular, sustained employment or study creates the most consistent transport costs, and provides correspondingly greater support to help participants maintain those commitments.
What NDIS transport funding can be used for
Participant transport funding is one of the most flexible parts of an NDIS plan. Once it is included in your Core Supports budget, you can generally use it without submitting receipts for every individual trip. Eligible uses include:
- Travel to and from work or study — including daily commutes if public transport is not accessible or suitable because of your disability
- Getting to NDIS-funded services and appointments — therapy sessions, medical appointments, and support worker visits
- Community participation activities — social outings, recreational activities, or events that form part of your plan goals
- Day programme attendance — regular travel to structured programmes your plan supports
- Taxis, ridesharing (Uber, DiDi), and private hire vehicles — where these represent a reasonable response to your transport barriers
- Fuel reimbursement — where a family member or carer drives you, subject to the rates in the NDIS Pricing Arrangements
For participants in rural or remote Australia, the NDIA applies the Modified Monash Model — a classification system that recognises the greater transport distances and limited public options in regional areas, and adjusts provider travel rates accordingly.
What NDIS transport funding does not cover
Transport funding is intended to address the extra costs created by your disability — not to cover general travel that anyone in your household would need to make regardless of disability. The NDIA applies a “reasonable and necessary” test to transport supports, and the following are generally not funded:
- Holidays and leisure travel — domestic or international travel for recreation that is not tied to your disability support goals
- Standard school drop-offs and pick-ups — where the travel is not beyond what a family without disability costs would face
- General shopping trips — unless these are part of a community access or daily living support being actively delivered by a provider
- Vehicle purchase or ongoing running costs — the NDIS funds vehicle modifications under Capital Supports, not the vehicle itself or day-to-day running costs like registration or insurance
- Transport that duplicates a government responsibility — school buses, accessible public transit, and state-funded transport subsidies are provided by state and territory governments and are not duplicated through the NDIS
State taxi subsidies and transport concessions
NDIS transport funding sits alongside — not instead of — a range of state and territory-run transport concession schemes. These schemes operate independently of the NDIS and provide additional support for people with disability who use taxis or rideshare services. Most require a separate application.
The Taxi and Rideshare Subsidy provides eligible people with disability a subsidy on taxi and rideshare trips — this replaced the former Multi Purpose Taxi Program. Apply through the Victorian Department of Transport.
The Taxi Transport Subsidy Scheme (TTSS) provides a 50% subsidy on taxi fares, up to $30 saving per trip, for eligible residents with severe disability. The NDIS does not duplicate this scheme — use both where eligible.
The Taxi Subsidy Scheme (TSS) provides a 50% discount on taxi fares for eligible residents. South Australia, Western Australia, and Tasmania operate similar schemes with different eligibility criteria and subsidy levels.
How plan management makes transport funding easier to use
Participant transport funding is designed to be used flexibly — you do not need to submit invoices for every taxi trip. But provider travel and activity-based transport claims require invoices, and those invoices need to be processed correctly against the right budget line in your plan. This is where a plan manager adds direct value.
When you have NDIS plan management in your plan, your plan manager receives and processes provider invoices on your behalf. For transport, this means:
- Providers are paid promptly — your support workers and allied health professionals submit their travel claims to your plan manager, who verifies and pays them without you needing to chase payment or manage the paperwork
- Budget tracking stays accurate — your plan manager tracks what has been claimed from your Core Supports budget in real time, so you can see how much transport funding remains without having to calculate it yourself
- Underspend is spotted early — if your transport budget is being underused (for example, because you have not realised you can claim for certain trips), a good plan manager will flag this before your plan review so you can use what you are entitled to
- Provider disputes are handled — if a provider claims for travel that does not match the NDIS Pricing Arrangements, your plan manager is positioned to identify the discrepancy and resolve it
Plan management is funded by the NDIA from a separate Improved Life Choices budget — it costs you nothing from your Core Supports or transport funding. More than 66% of NDIS participants choose plan management for exactly this reason: the service pays for itself through better access to, and oversight of, plan funding. If you are not yet plan managed and want to understand your options, our independent comparison of NDIS plan managers covers every major provider with verified data.
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Find my plan manager — submit a free inquiryFrequently Asked Questions About NDIS Transport Funding
Is NDIS transport funding automatic or do I need to request it?
Transport funding is not automatically included in every NDIS plan. You need to demonstrate that your disability creates a genuine barrier to using public transport, and that your transport costs are directly related to disability. If transport is not currently in your plan, you can raise it at your next plan review — or request a mid-plan review through your Local Area Coordinator (LAC) or the NDIA if your circumstances have changed significantly.
Can I use NDIS transport funding for Uber, DiDi, or other rideshare apps?
Yes. Ridesharing services are considered eligible transport for participant transport funding, provided the use is reasonable and necessary given your disability-related transport barriers. Keep records of rideshare trips in case they are queried at your next plan review. Note that some state taxi subsidy schemes only apply to licensed taxis — check your state scheme’s eligibility rules before assuming a rideshare trip will qualify for both subsidies.
What is the difference between participant transport and provider travel in an NDIS plan?
Participant transport is money allocated to you in your plan to cover your own travel costs — you spend it without needing to submit invoices for each trip. Provider travel is a cost your support worker or allied health professional claims when they travel to reach you for a service delivery — the worker is in the vehicle without you. Both come from your Core Supports budget, but they work differently and require different documentation.
Can I use NDIS transport funding if I drive my own car?
Yes, in some circumstances. If driving yourself is the most appropriate and reasonable transport option given your disability, you can claim a fuel reimbursement at the rate set in the NDIS Pricing Arrangements (subject to limits). You cannot claim vehicle purchase, registration, insurance, or general running costs through participant transport funding — these are not considered disability-related extra costs in the same way that the transport subsidy is designed to cover.
What can I do if my NDIS plan doesn’t include transport funding but I believe I should have it?
You have two options. If your plan is close to review date, raise transport at your next review meeting with supporting evidence — a letter from your GP, allied health practitioner, or support coordinator explaining the transport barriers your disability creates. If your review is more than six months away and your circumstances have changed, you can request a mid-plan change of circumstances review by calling the NDIA on 1800 800 110 or contacting your LAC. See the NDIS participant funding guide for the formal process.
For more on how your NDIS plan is structured and what different budget categories cover, see our guide to NDIS plan management fees and our comparison of Australia’s leading NDIS plan managers.