Transport

Driving and riding

You may travel by any vehicle including car, motorhome, truck, four-wheel drive or motorbike. 

There is no limit on the number of people you can travel with in a car or other private vehicle such as a mini bus.

Please continue to follow applicable road rules, always drive in a way that is safe for you and others. Find out more about how COVID-19 restrictions affect NSW road users.

Plan your trip and read about the latest border restrictions and requirements before you go.

You should also check Live Traffic NSW to help you decide if travelling at this time is the best option, and for ideas about the best potential route.

Learner drivers, riders and their instructors

Learner drivers may continue to take driving lessons – for example, with an instructor or a family member. This includes safer driver courses, rider training and heavy vehicle driver assessment.

Flights

Domestic flight services are operating from Sydney airport to nominated destinations.

Each airline and airport terminal has various measures in place to ensure the health and safety of passengers based on a protocol developed by the Australian aviation industry.

See your airline website for more details on what is required for travel on domestic flights.  

Public transport

When using public transport you should

• Wear a face mask.
• Plan ahead and avoid travelling in the busiest times if you can. If you are not already using public transport in the peak, please do not start now. Services are already close to capacity to allow for physical distancing at these times. Off peak times are between 10am and 3pm. 
• Check the capacity of services before you travel with the Trip Planner, transport apps or social media to see which services have space available to maintain physical distancing
• Practise good personal hygiene and maintain physical distancing. 
• Look for the green dots: these have been placed to show you the safest places to sit and stand.
• Observe capacity limits: physical distancing capacity limits on services means you may be asked to wait for the next service.

More information is available from Transport for NSW.

Walking and cycling

• Bicycle rider safety and rules
• Walking and cycling advice and updates

Taxis and rideshare

Passengers

When you use taxis and rideshares (also called 'point-to-point services'), you should practice physical distancing where possible. As a passenger in a taxi or rideshare you should;

• sit in the back seat
• use contactless payment
• avoid travelling if you are unwell
• handle your own luggage.

If you are using in a taxi or ridesharewithin the 14-day isolation period to travel to your place of isolation, you should also wear a mask.

Read the Safe travel tips for the point to point transport industry factsheet.

Operators

As the operator of a taxi or rideshare, you should follow advice from the Department of Transport. You can find out about the rules on cleaning, masks and eligibility for financial support by reading;

• Coronavirus (COVID-19) updates from the Point-to-Point Commissioner
• Coronavirus (COVID-19) fact sheet for the point to point transport industry.
• How to clean your vehicle.

Point-to-point transport businesses should complete a COVID-19 Safety Plan for Taxis, hire cars and ride share services to help minimise the risk of transmission when you are providing a point-to-point service.

Video - Coronavirus update: Safety and hygiene for point to point drivers

Boating

Recreational boating is permitted however restrictions apply.

• In Greater Sydney, you can have 25 people or one person per 4 square metres indoors, whichever is the greater.
• For the rest of NSW, the one person per 2 square metres rule applies.

Find more COVID-19 updates from Transport for NSW for boaters.

Freight

Transport and freight operators and businesses should develop a COVID-19 Safety plan.

There is no restriction on movement into or around NSW for heavy vehicles transporting freight, however hygiene and safety practices should be followed.

Stay up-to-date with the latest advice for freight operators. Find more information for the freight industry from Transport for NSW.

Find more information about border restrictions and service centres for the freight industry.

Buses

Community and private bus operators

Long distance bus travel such as inter-regional bus services or charter buses (which includes buses hired for group travel and tour buses) are not currently restricted under the COVID-19 Public Health Orders. However, bus companies need to provide a safe environment for their customers and staff.

COVID Safe recommendations for passengers and bus operators

• use physical distancing when travelling and seated on services
• anyone that is unwell or has COVID-19 symptoms should not travel
• take extra care around vulnerable people
• practise good hygiene.

Bus operators should also

• provide hand sanitiser
• clean surfaces thoroughly particularly all high contact areas such as doors, handles and toilets
• maintain a record of customers and their seating allocation using a QR app or similar measure
• have signage on board services to remind everyone of their responsibility to keep each other safe
• Encourage passengers, drivers and staff to wear a face mask, particularly if physical distancing cannot be maintained.

Bus companies like other businesses should have a COVID-19 Safety Plan that addresses how they will protect their staff and customers.

Party buses

A party bus is a vehicle being used on a commercial basis for the purposes of a party, whether or not the party takes place during transportation between locations.

Commercial party bus operators must

• develop and comply with a COVID-19 Safety Plan
• ensure the square metres rules apply for each person on the party bus.

Party buses should also follow the guidance for community and private bus services.

Travel for work

COVIDSafe Travel Choices can help employers and employees make the right decisions about how and when to travel for work, as restrictions begin to ease and you transition into your new normal. For many employees working from home will continue.

To travel safely it’s essential to plan your trip before deciding to make your journey for work, and to reconsider your need to travel if the transport network is busy. Estimated capacity information is now available in the Trip Planner and Opal Travel App for all metro and train, Opal-enabled bus, ferry and light rail services, to help you plan ahead. 

Transport for NSW is putting in place initiatives to help more people returning to their workplaces in a staged and considered way. Especially those employed in the retail, service and hospitality industries.

Ensure facilities for people walking or cycling to work are well stocked with hand soap and paper towels, and have posters with instructions on how to wash hands.

New ways of working in response to the Coronavirus outbreak can provide benefits to businesses and employees that may be desirable to keep in the longer term. Find out more about the benefits to your business of flexible working.

Service NSW transactions

Some Service NSW transactions have changed to manage COVID-19, including

• eyesight tests for online licence renewals
• Driver Knowledge Tests (DKTs)
• driver testing
• interstate and overseas driver licence holders
• learner rider licencing
• licence application and renewal fee waivers
• number plates.

Find out what has changed at Service NSW.

General guidance

It is important to

• follow the rules for NSW gatherings that apply to individuals and businesses
• follow physical distancing guidelines
• practise good hand hygiene
• take extra care if you're around vulnerable people
• get tested if you have any symptoms, even if they are only mild.