NDIS Travel Calculator 2025-26
Work out provider travel and participant transport using the current $0.97/km rate plus optional travel time at your support worker's hourly rate. Compare return trips, check line item codes, and spot-check invoices against the NDIS Price Guide.
Kilometre rate
$0.97/km
2025-26 Price Guide
Weekday support (ex.)
$70.88/hr
Standard travel time rate
Travel time
At support rate
Must be reasonable
Typical cap (guide)
30 min
Each way (many plans)
How to Use This Calculator
- 1. Choose provider travel or participant transport.
- 2. Enter travel time and one-way distance, round trip if needed (for provider travel).
- 3. Pick the hourly rate that matches your shift (weekday, weekend, or holiday).
- 4. Review kilometres, time, total charge, and NDIS codes for invoicing.
Quick reference
Provider travel: Worker travels to you; km at $0.97 + travel time at the applicable hourly rate when agreed.
Participant transport: You are transported in the worker's vehicle; km still uses $0.97; driver time is usually counted as support time.
Invoices: Itemise km and time so you can verify against your plan and service agreement.
Relevant NDIS codes
Travel time is often invoiced under the same line item as the support delivered—confirm with your plan manager or provider.
Disclaimer: Travel must be reasonable and necessary. Final claiming rules depend on your plan, provider, and current NDIS guidance. Check your service agreement.
Calculate travel costs
Enter distance and options to estimate NDIS travel charges.
Tip: estimate roughly 2 min/km in metro areas and 1 min/km in regional areas.
Total distance
30
kilometres
Total travel charge
$52.25
Incl. km and time where applicable
Cost breakdown
NDIS travel costs in plain English
The NDIS Price Guide sets a per-kilometre rate for vehicle costs. Separately, travel time may be charged at the same hourly rate as the support when that time is agreed and reasonable—often with expectations documented in your service agreement.
Provider travel covers the worker getting to and from your appointment. Participant transport covers you being driven as part of a support; billing may combine km, support hours, and line items differently—always match what your plan funds and what you signed up to.
How kilometres and travel time add up
Most invoices split distance (km × the approved rate) from time (minutes or hours × the support worker rate that applies to that shift). Return journeys double the one-way distance unless your agreement says otherwise.
If you only see a single lump sum, ask for an itemised breakdown. That makes it easier to check against this calculator and against the Price Guide for the relevant financial year.
How to use this estimate
Use the calculator to sanity-check invoices and plan travel-heavy supports (for example, rural distances or frequent sessions). If totals look high, discuss route efficiency, rostering, or alternative providers with your support coordinator or plan manager.
Plans, budgets, and “reasonable” travel
Travel must be reasonable and necessary for your goals and funded supports. What counts as reasonable can depend on where you live, how often supports occur, and what your service agreement says about caps, zones, or maximum travel time.
Your Core budget (including transport-related line items) still needs to cover the supports you book. If travel repeatedly consumes a large share of funding, it is worth reviewing provider choice, session length, or whether telehealth or local options are appropriate—without compromising safety or your plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
The NDIS travel rate is $0.97 per kilometre for the 2025-26 financial year. This rate applies to:
- Provider travel - when a support worker drives to your location
- Participant transport - when you're transported in the worker's vehicle
This rate is reviewed annually and is based on ATO reasonable travel allowances. It covers fuel, vehicle running costs, and depreciation.
Yes, NDIS providers can charge for travel time in addition to the per-kilometre rate. Key points:
- Travel time is charged at the applicable support worker hourly rate
- For standard weekday support, this is $70.88/hr (2025-26)
- Travel time must be reasonable - typically capped at 30 minutes each way
- Your service agreement should specify travel time arrangements
Not all providers charge travel time - some include it in their service delivery. Always clarify this when engaging a new provider.
NDIS travel is typically claimed as follows:
- Kilometre costs: Claimed as non-labour costs under
01_799_0104_1_1(Provider Travel - Non-Labour Costs) - Travel time: Claimed under the same code as the support being delivered
- Participant transport: May use
04_590_0125_6_1(Activity Based Transport)
Your invoice should itemise travel separately so you can see exactly what you're being charged.
To calculate NDIS transport/travel costs:
- Calculate kilometre cost: Distance (km) x $0.97
- Add travel time (if applicable): Time (hours) x hourly rate
- For return trips: Double the distance
Example: 20km round trip with 40 mins travel time at standard rate:
- Kilometres: 20 x $0.97 = $19.40
- Travel time: 0.67 hrs x $70.88 = $47.49
- Total: $66.89
Yes, NDIS travel claims must be 'reasonable and necessary'. General guidelines:
- Travel time shouldn't exceed the actual service time
- Most plans allow travel within 50km (metropolitan areas)
- Remote area participants may have different arrangements
- Your service agreement should specify travel limits
If you need services from a provider far away (e.g., specialist therapist), discuss this with your support coordinator or plan manager to ensure it's covered.
| Aspect | Provider Travel | Participant Transport |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Worker travels TO you | You travel IN worker's car |
| Km rate | $0.97/km | $0.97/km |
| Time charges | May charge travel time | Driver time = support time |
| Common use | Home visits | Appointments, activities |
| Budget | Core - Daily Activities | Core - Transport |
Need help planning provider travel?
Connect with NDIS-registered providers who deliver home visits, community access, and everyday supports — so you can line up services alongside travel and transport costs in your plan.
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