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Terms & Conditions

These terms apply to every charter, transfer and contracted service provided by Skylight Bus Lines Pty Ltd (ABN 14 260 073 430) (“we”, “us”, “Skylight Bus Lines”). Confirming a booking means the person or organisation making it (“you”, the “Hirer”) accepts them on behalf of every passenger travelling.

1. Quotes and pricing

  • Quotations are valid for 14 days from the date of issue and are not held beyond that.
  • All quoted prices include GST unless stated otherwise.
  • A quote covers the vehicle, driver and itinerary described in it. Tolls, parking, entry fees, ferry charges, driver accommodation on multi-day work and permits are excluded unless we have listed them.
  • We may adjust a quoted price where the passenger numbers, pick-up points, route, dates or duration change after quoting, or where information given to us at the time of quoting turns out to be materially different.
  • Prices are not held against increases in fuel, tolls, award wages or statutory charges that occur between quotation and travel. Where such an increase is material we will tell you before travel and you may cancel without penalty.

2. Bookings and payment

  • A booking is confirmed only when we have issued a written confirmation and received the deposit.
  • A 20% deposit is required to confirm a booking.
  • The balance is payable no later than 7 days before travel unless we have approved account terms in writing.
  • We may decline to commence a service where payment due before travel has not been received. Where we do commence, that is not a waiver of the amount owing.
  • Overdue amounts may attract interest at the rate prescribed under the Penalty Interest Rates Act 1983 (Vic), together with reasonable costs of recovery.

3. Changes you make

  • Tell us about any change to numbers, timing, pick-up points or itinerary as early as you can. We will accommodate changes where we reasonably can, and confirm any effect on price before proceeding.
  • Time beyond the booked hours, additional stops and additional distance are charged at our applicable hourly or per-kilometre rate.
  • Waiting time is charged at our standby rate once any included waiting period has elapsed. Airport pick-ups include 30 minutes’ waiting time after landing.

4. Cancellations and refunds

Cancellation charges are calculated on the total booking value:

  • 10% at any time after the booking is confirmed;
  • 25% within 7 days of departure;
  • 50% less than 3 days before departure;
  • 100% on the day of travel, or where the vehicle has been despatched.

These charges reflect the vehicle and driver we have committed to your booking and cannot resell at short notice. Nothing in this section limits any right you have to a remedy under the Australian Consumer Law.

5. Changes or cancellation by us

  • We may substitute a vehicle of equivalent or greater capacity and standard where operational circumstances require it.
  • We may vary or cancel a service where it cannot be performed safely or lawfully — including for road closures, extreme weather, alpine conditions, fire or flood, civil emergency, industrial action, mechanical failure, driver illness, or a direction from police or a government authority.
  • Where we cancel for a reason within our control, we will refund amounts paid for the cancelled service. Where a service is prevented by an event outside our reasonable control, we will refund amounts paid less costs already and unavoidably incurred, and will work with you to reschedule.

6. Timing, delays and driver fatigue law

  • Timings are estimates. We plan them carefully but cannot guarantee arrival times, and we are not liable for missed connections, flights, events or bookings arising from traffic, weather, road conditions or other circumstances outside our control.
  • Our drivers work under the Heavy Vehicle National Law. Maximum work hours and minimum rest breaks are set by law, not by us, and a driver will not exceed them. Where a delay caused by your group would put a driver outside those limits, the service may have to be shortened or a relief driver arranged at additional cost. This is not negotiable and is not a matter of goodwill — it is a safety law that applies to every operator.
  • If you know an itinerary is tight, tell us at the quoting stage and we will tell you honestly whether it is achievable.

7. Passenger conduct

  • Passengers must follow the driver’s reasonable directions at all times. The driver has authority over the vehicle.
  • Seatbelts must be worn where fitted. This is a legal requirement, not a preference.
  • Strictly no alcohol and no glass are permitted on board at any time. No smoking or vaping, and no illegal substances.
  • Food and drink are at the driver’s discretion and are not permitted on some vehicles.
  • The driver may refuse carriage to, or disembark, any passenger whose behaviour is unsafe, abusive, or places the vehicle, other passengers or the driver at risk. Where that happens, no refund is payable for the affected passenger and the Hirer remains responsible for their onward arrangements.
  • The Hirer is responsible for supervising their group. For school and youth groups, supervision remains the responsibility of the school or organising body and adequate supervisors must travel with the group.

8. Damage, soiling and cleaning

  • The Hirer is liable for the cost of repairing wilful or negligent damage caused by their passengers, and for specialist cleaning where a vehicle is soiled beyond normal use.
  • Where damage or soiling takes a vehicle out of service, the Hirer is also liable for the reasonable cost of the lost use of that vehicle.
  • We will provide evidence and an itemised account of any such charge.

9. Luggage and personal property

  • Luggage is carried subject to the vehicle’s capacity. Tell us in advance about skis, instruments, sporting equipment or anything bulky so we allocate a suitable vehicle.
  • Personal property is carried at the owner’s risk. We are not liable for loss, theft or damage to items left on a vehicle, except to the extent such loss is caused by our negligence or the Australian Consumer Law provides otherwise.
  • Items found on board are held for 30 days. Contact us on 03 9333 6564 as soon as you realise something is missing.

10. Accessibility requirements

We operate wheelchair accessible vehicles, but they are a specific part of the fleet and must be allocated in advance. Tell us at the time of booking about wheelchair access, mobility aids, or any assistance a passenger needs, so we send the right vehicle rather than the nearest one. We cannot guarantee accessible transport arranged at short notice or requested on the day.

11. Safety, accreditation and insurance

  • We are an accredited Commercial Passenger Vehicle operator and a Department of Education approved school transport operator.
  • Every driver who carries a student holds a current Working with Children Check.
  • We hold the insurances required of an accredited Victorian bus operator, including compulsory third party and public liability cover. Certificates of currency are available on request.
  • Our insurance covers our operations. It does not insure your event, your property, or your passengers’ personal effects, and you should arrange your own cover for those.

12. Liability

Our services come with guarantees that cannot be excluded under the Australian Consumer Law. Nothing in these terms excludes, restricts or modifies any right or remedy you have under that law, and any part of these terms that attempted to do so would have no effect.

Subject to that, and to the fullest extent the law permits:

  • where the services are not of a kind ordinarily acquired for personal, domestic or household use, our liability for a failure to comply with a consumer guarantee is limited to resupplying the services or paying the cost of having them resupplied;
  • we are not liable for indirect or consequential loss, loss of profit, loss of opportunity, loss of revenue or damage to reputation;
  • we are not liable for loss you suffer as a result of information you gave us being incomplete or inaccurate, or of a delay caused by your group;
  • our aggregate liability arising out of a booking, other than liability that cannot be limited by law, does not exceed the total amount paid for that booking.

Nothing in this section limits our liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence, or for fraud, where the law does not permit that liability to be limited.

13. Indemnity

The Hirer indemnifies us against claims, losses and reasonable costs arising from the Hirer’s breach of these terms, from the conduct of their passengers, or from damage caused by their passengers — except to the extent caused by our own negligence or breach.

14. Privacy

We handle personal information in accordance with our Privacy Policy and the Australian Privacy Principles.

15. Governing law

These terms are governed by the laws of Victoria, Australia. You and we submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Victoria.

16. Changes to these terms

We may update these terms from time to time. The terms that apply to your booking are those published when your booking was confirmed.

17. Contact

Questions about these terms, or about a booking, go to 03 9333 6564 or enquiries@skylightbuslines.com.au. Our office is open Monday to Friday, 8:00am – 5:00pm; the vehicles run 24 hours, 7 days a week.