Perth Wheelchair Taxi for Group Bookings: 2026 Guide

Table of Contents

• Why Group Bookings Need an Accessible Maxi Taxi, Not Two Cabs
• Wheelchair Accessible Maxi Taxi Capacity: What Actually Fits
  • Seating Configurations and Mobility Aid Storage
  • Ramp, Hoist and Securement Options
• How to Book a Wheelchair Taxi for Events, Step by Step
  • What to Confirm When You Call
• The Multi-Purpose Taxi Program WA: Who Qualifies and How It Applies
• What Group Accessible Transport Costs and How to Budget
  • How the Multi-Purpose Taxi Program Affects Your Group Budget
  • Building a Group Budget That Holds Up
• Airport Transfers and Medical Appointments for Groups
  • Airport Transfers for Groups
  • Medical Appointments and Hospital Transfers
  • Organising Group Outings and Events: A Step-by-Step Checklist
• Conclusion: Booking Accessible Group Transport Without the Guesswork
• Frequently Asked Questions

Last Updated: September 18, 2026

Why Group Bookings Need an Accessible Maxi Taxi, Not Two Cabs

Booking a perth wheelchair taxi for a group is not simply a matter of doubling up on standard cabs. When two or more passengers use wheelchairs, or a group includes mobility aids alongside seated travellers, splitting the party across separate vehicles creates coordination problems a single accessible maxi taxi avoids. (Source: Australian Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics (BITRE) data)

Wheelchair Accessible Maxi Taxi Capacity: What Actually Fits

An accessible maxi taxi typically carries six to eleven passengers depending on the vehicle, but the real limit is not seat count. It is how many wheelchairs the vehicle can secure and how much seat space is lost when a chair is tied down.

Seating Configurations and Mobility Aid Storage

A common mistake is assuming a maxi cab seats eleven regardless of wheelchairs. Each secured wheelchair usually takes the space of two or three seats, and folding seats must be stowed to make room.

• One wheelchair plus seated passengers: usually leaves five to seven seats free
• Two wheelchairs: typically halves the remaining seated capacity
• Walkers, folding frames and prams: stored in the rear or beside the ramp, using floor space but not securement points

Ramp, Hoist and Securement Options

Most accessible taxis in Perth use a rear ramp, which suits manual and powered chairs that can roll up a gentle incline; a hoist suits heavier powered chairs that cannot. Securement uses four-point tie-down straps plus a lap-and-shoulder belt anchored to the vehicle, not the wheelchair.

How to Book a Wheelchair Taxi for Events, Step by Step

Booking a wheelchair taxi for events works best treated like any logistics task: lock in details early, confirm in writing, and build in a buffer.

1. Count your group precisely. Wheelchair users, walking passengers, children needing capsules, and mobility aids.
2. Call or book online at least several days ahead for events, and earlier for large groups.
3. State the pickup address, the destination, and the exact time you need to arrive, not just depart.
4. Confirm the vehicle type: how many wheelchairs it secures and how many seated passengers remain.
5. Ask whether the driver will assist with boarding and securement, and whether an escort is travelling.
6. Get a written confirmation of the booking, the fare basis and a contact number.
7. Reconfirm 24 hours before the event in case numbers have changed.

What to Confirm When You Call

Ask four things directly. How many wheelchairs the vehicle secures. How many seated seats remain. Whether the fare is fixed or metered. And whether the driver is trained in wheelchair securement and passenger assistance.

The Multi-Purpose Taxi Program WA: Who Qualifies and How It Applies

The Multi-Purpose Taxi Program is a Western Australian subsidy that reduces taxi travel costs for people with a permanent disability who cannot use public transport without substantial assistance. Administered through the state’s transport authority, it gives members a card that applies the subsidy to eligible fares.

What Group Accessible Transport Costs and How to Budget

Most accessible transport pages stop at “contact us for a quote”, which is unhelpful when working out whether a group booking fits your budget. Fares depend on distance, time of day, vehicle size and wheelchair count, but you can still build a realistic estimate before you call.

Cost factor	What changes it	How to plan for it
Distance	Longer trips cost more; airport runs are typically the longest	Estimate your route in advance and ask for a fixed quote
Vehicle size	Accessible maxi taxis cost more to run than sedans or standard maxis	Match the vehicle to your group, not to habit
Time of day	Some operators apply night, weekend or public holiday rates	Ask whether rates change after hours or on public holidays
Wheelchair count	Each secured chair takes space and adds loading time	Confirm capacity and any per-chair loading allowance
Waiting time	Extended waits at appointments or events may be charged	Build a buffer into your schedule and agree wait terms upfront
Booking lead time	Late or same-day bookings may attract a premium	Book several days ahead for events

How the Multi-Purpose Taxi Program Affects Your Group Budget

The Multi-Purpose Taxi Program (MPTP) is the biggest lever on cost for eligible passengers, and the detail most group-booking guides leave out. The scheme subsidises taxi travel for people with a permanent disability who cannot use public transport without substantial assistance, and members hold a card that applies the subsidy to eligible fares.

For a group booking, the practical points are:

• The subsidy generally applies per eligible member and per trip, so each passenger needs their own card.
• Not every fare component is covered. Flagfall, booking fees, waiting time and some surcharges may sit outside the subsidy.
• The operator must process each card separately, which takes time at pickup. Tell them in advance how many MPTP cards are travelling.
• Eligibility, subsidy amounts and caps are set by the scheme, not by operators, and they change from time to time. Check the current rules directly with the WA Department of Transport’s Multi-Purpose Taxi Program page before you book.

Building a Group Budget That Holds Up

A workable budget has four lines: the base fare or fixed quote, any after-hours or public holiday loading, waiting time, and the net cost after MPTP subsidies. Estimate the first three, subtract the fourth, and you have a realistic figure rather than a guess.

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Airport Transfers and Medical Appointments for Groups

Airport transfers and medical appointments are the two group trips where timing matters most, and both benefit from an accessible vehicle booked in advance, but their logistics differ enough to treat separately.

Airport Transfers for Groups

For airport runs, Universal Cabs uses flight-tracking, so a delayed arrival does not leave the driver waiting at the wrong time or leaving before you land. For a group, that means one vehicle meeting everyone rather than scattered pickups.

• Confirm the terminal. Domestic and international pickups are at different points, and a maxi taxi needs a loading zone that can accommodate a ramp.
• Give the operator every flight number in the group, not just the lead passenger’s, so delays are tracked accurately.
• Allow extra time for boarding. Securing two wheelchairs takes longer than one, and the buffer should be built into the pickup time, not the arrival time.
• Confirm luggage capacity. A group with mobility aids plus suitcases can exceed a standard maxi taxi’s boot space, so state how many bags are travelling.

Medical Appointments and Hospital Transfers

Medical appointments need different planning. Hospital discharge and clinic visits often run late, so build in a buffer and give the operator a contact number for the ward or clinic; a driver who knows the situation can adjust if the appointment overruns.

For group medical transport, the details that matter are:

• Whether the destination has an accessible drop-off point close to the entrance.
• Whether an escort or carer is travelling and needs a seat.
• Whether the return trip is booked at the same time, or left open until the appointment finishes.
• Whether the driver is trained in wheelchair securement and passenger assistance.

Organising Group Outings and Events: A Step-by-Step Checklist

This is where most accessible transport pages stop, and where group bookings get complicated. A group outing, a family celebration, community event or day trip, needs the same logistics discipline as any group travel. Here is a checklist covering the gaps.

1. Count the group precisely. Wheelchair users, walking passengers, children needing capsules, and mobility aids. Write it down before you call.
2. Match the vehicle to the mix. One wheelchair plus seated passengers usually leaves five to seven seats free. Two wheelchairs typically halves the remaining seated capacity. Confirm the exact configuration.
3. Book early. Several days ahead for small groups, earlier for large groups or peak dates. Accessible maxi taxis are a limited resource.
4. State the arrival time, not just the departure time. For events, the time you need to be there matters more than the time you leave.
5. Confirm boarding assistance. Ask whether the driver will assist with boarding and securement, and whether an escort is travelling.
6. Get written confirmation. The booking, the fare basis and a contact number, in writing.
7. Reconfirm 24 hours before. Numbers change, and a quick call avoids a vehicle arriving with the wrong capacity.
8. Plan the return. Book it at the same time, or agree a pickup window and a contact number for the day.

Conclusion: Booking Accessible Group Transport Without the Guesswork

Coordinating accessible transport for a group is where most people get caught out: the vehicle arrives but cannot take two wheelchairs, or the seats were counted wrong. Getting the details right at booking removes that risk.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can taxis charge more for wheelchair users in Western Australia?

No. Under Western Australian taxi regulations, operators cannot charge a higher fare simply because a passenger uses a wheelchair or requires an accessible vehicle. The metered fare or agreed price should be the same as for any other passenger on the same journey. If you are registered with the Multi-Purpose Taxi Program, the subsidy is applied to reduce your out-of-pocket cost rather than adding a surcharge. Always confirm the fare structure when booking a wheelchair taxi for group bookings.

How many passengers can fit in a wheelchair-accessible maxi taxi?

Most accessible maxi taxis seat between 7 and 11 passengers, but the exact number depends on how many wheelchairs are travelling. Each wheelchair position typically replaces two or three standard seats. If you have two wheelchair users and four ambulatory passengers, a single maxi cab usually handles that comfortably. For larger groups, you may need two vehicles or a larger accessible van. Confirm your passenger-to-wheelchair ratio when you book so the operator assigns the right vehicle.

How far in advance should I book a wheelchair taxi for a group?

For group bookings, aim to book at least 48 to 72 hours ahead, and longer for weekends, public holidays or major events. Accessible maxi taxis are a smaller portion of the fleet, so same-day group requests can be difficult to fill. If your group includes multiple wheelchair users, give the operator as much notice as possible. Booking online or by phone with your pickup time, address, passenger count and mobility aid details helps the operator allocate the correct accessible vehicle.

Are there government subsidies for wheelchair-accessible taxi travel?

Yes. The Multi-Purpose Taxi Program in Western Australia provides a subsidy on taxi fares for eligible people with permanent disabilities who need accessible transport. Eligibility, the subsidy amount and how it is applied are set by the scheme and can change, so check the official source or ask your taxi operator for current details. The subsidy applies to the passenger’s fare, not to the whole group, so other passengers in the same vehicle pay their own share.