Rideshare driver safety and carjacking

Carjacking occurs when someone uses force or threatens to use force in order to steal your car while you are using it.

Follow these crime prevention and safety tips for rideshare drivers to keep yourself and your vehicle safe from carjacking.

Key crime prevention tips

Keep yourself and your car safe while working as a rideshare driver:

Keep safe as a rideshare driver

There are steps you can take to protect yourself and stop your car from being stolen while working as a rideshare driver.

Be aware of your surroundings

Know what is happening around you at all times and keep assessing your personal safety before and during the trip.

• Do not wear headphones while driving. If you do, keep one ear free.
• Look around and keep your head up.
• Pay attention to people around you.

Be aware of your trip details

Be familiar with the details of your trip and your passengers:

• confirm details of account holder to ensure they are correct
• be mindful of end of trip destinations
• be wary of unexpected detours and unplanned destinations.

Keep your vehicle and belongings safe

Ensure your car and your belongings are physically secure:

• keep your car locked while driving
• secure your car keys
• keep personal items out of sight
• install anti-theft devices such as an alarm, engine immobiliser, steering wheel brake lock, a wheel lock or a GPS tracker.

For more information on how to keep your car safe, visit Motor vehicle theft.

If someone is following you

If you believe that you are being followed, do not drive home. Drive to a police station or petrol station as these will usually have CCTV and staff present.

What to do if your car has been stolen

If your car has been stolen:

• Do not confront the thief. Your safety is more important than your possessions.
• Call Triple Zero (000).
• Do not touch anything. Isolate areas where the offender/s stood, touched, spat or bled.
• If there are witnesses, ask them to stay until police arrive.
• Write down everything you remember about the offender:
  • hair colour
  • weight
  • height
  • clothing/hats/facial coverings
  • accent
  • tattoos/piercings/scars
  • if the offender used or threaten to use weapons
  • if the offender left anything behind
• Call your insurance company.

For more details on reporting stolen vehicles visit Motor vehicle theft.

Report a carjacking

For emergencies, to report a crime in progress, or for immediate police attendance, call Triple Zero (000).

For non-emergencies, call the Police Assistance Line on 131 444 or report confidentially to Crime Stoppers online or call 1800 333 000.

We will ask you to provide as much information as possible, such as:

• registration number and state registered
• vehicle make, model, year, body type and transmission (automatic or manual)
• colour of body and upholstery
• engine and VIN number
• accessories fitted (for example, radio/speakers, anti-theft devices, LPG tank).