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STARTRIP DRIVER POLICY

 

 

Papua New Guinea

Effective Date: 25/11/2025

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(This Driver Policy forms part of the StarTrip Independent Driver Agreement.)

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1. Purpose of This Driver Policy

 

 

This Driver Policy sets out the operational rules, payment rules, safety expectations, conduct standards and platform requirements for Drivers who use the StarTrip Platform. The Policy is designed to:

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  • Protect Riders and Drivers

  • Maintain safety and reliability

  • Ensure consistent standards of professionalism

  • Clarify how StarTrip’s financial and wallet systems operate

  • Protect StarTrip from misuse, fraud and operational risks

 

 

Failure to follow this Policy may result in suspension or permanent deactivation in accordance with the Driver Agreement.

 

 

 

2. Relationship Between StarTrip, Drivers and Khoco

 

 

 

2.1 StarTrip’s Role

 

 

StarTrip provides a digital Platform that connects Riders and Drivers.

StarTrip does not provide transportation services or employ Drivers.

 

 

2.2 Driver’s Role

 

 

Drivers operate as independent contractors, responsible for:

 

  • Their own business activity

  • Compliance with PNG laws

  • Vehicle registration, insurance and maintenance

  • Safe operation of their vehicle

  • Reporting income for tax purposes

 

 

 

2.3 Khoco Limited’s Role

 

 

Khoco is a local support provider only.

Khoco does not:

 

  • Employ Drivers

  • Control Driver schedules

  • Enter into contracts on behalf of StarTrip

  • Provide transportation services

  • Handle Driver cash income

 

 

Khoco may assist with wallet top-up support, documentation verification, customer support tasks, and withdrawals only under StarTrip’s instruction.

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3. Eligibility and Documentation Requirements

 

 

To drive with StarTrip, Drivers must:

 

  • Be at least 21 years old

  • Hold a valid PNG driver’s licence

  • Provide all required documents (licence, registration, insurance, roadworthiness)

  • Maintain clean, legally compliant vehicle conditions

  • Update documents before they expire

 

 

StarTrip may suspend Drivers with expired, missing or invalid documents.

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4. Standards of Professional Conduct

 

 

Drivers must:

 

  • Treat Riders with courtesy and respect

  • Maintain personal and vehicle hygiene

  • Drive safely and lawfully at all times

  • Follow navigation unless Rider requests otherwise

  • Not discriminate or refuse trips for inappropriate reasons

  • Not engage in harassment, intimidation or threatening behaviour

  • Not consume alcohol or drugs before or during trips

  • Not carry weapons except where lawful and declared

  • Not contact details to message them for personal reasons (including flirting, dating, or harassment) is strictly prohibited and is grounds for permanent deactivation.

 

 

Zero tolerance applies to violence, threats, intoxication, sexual misconduct, or credible allegations of criminal behaviour.

 

 

 

 

5. Trip Operations & Behaviour Expectations

 

 

 

5.1 Accepting and Cancelling Trips

 

 

Drivers may choose when to drive. However:

 

  • Excessive cancellations

  • Selective acceptance

  • Rejecting trips after seeing destination

 

 

may result in review or suspension.

 

 

5.2 Multiple Passengers

 

 

Drivers must not add riders or extra passengers without the Rider’s consent.

 

 

5.3 Rider Privacy

 

 

Drivers must keep Rider information confidential and use it only for completing the trip.

 

 

5.4 Disputes With Riders

 

 

Drivers must not argue with Riders.

Direct Riders to StarTrip support if needed.

 

 

5.5 No Side Payments

 

 

Drivers must never:

 

  • Ask Riders to pay extra

  • Offer off-platform trips

  • Negotiate rates privately

  • Provide private contact info for future trips

 

 

This is grounds for deactivation.

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6. Payment Rules and Wallet Policy

 

 

This section is critical. It must be followed strictly.

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6.1 Cash Trips

 

 

When a Rider pays in cash:

 

  • The Driver receives the cash directly

  • StarTrip does not handle or collect the cash

  • StarTrip collects its Service Fee by deducting from the Driver’s Wallet

  • Driver is responsible for PNG tax reporting of cash income

 

 

Drivers must not ask for cash on card trips or mixed payments.

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6.2 Card and Digital Payments

 

 

When a Rider pays using card or digital method:

 

  • The fare is processed by StarTrip through its payment partners

  • Payment is received by StarTrip Technologies FZ-LLC (UAE)

  • StarTrip credits the Driver’s Wallet with their share

 

 

Drivers must not request Riders to pay a card trip in cash.

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6.3 Wallet Requirements

 

 

The Wallet:

 

  • Records earnings from card trips

  • Records Service Fees deducted from cash trips

  • Tracks adjustments, promotions and penalties

  • Must remain positive while operating

  • Is not a bank account and earns no interest

 

 

StarTrip may pause Drivers with insufficient wallet balance.

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6.4 Wallet Top-Ups

 

 

Drivers may top up the Wallet using:

 

  • Visa card

  • Mobile money or bank transfer (if enabled)

  • Cash paid to authorised StarTrip facilitators such as Khoco (where offered)

 

 

Any cash accepted by Khoco is not fare collection.

It is treated as prepayment of Service Fees or Wallet credit.

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6.5 Withdrawals

 

 

Drivers may withdraw available Wallet balances:

 

  • Through the Driver App

  • Subject to minimum withdrawal amounts and verification

  • Withdrawals are processed by StarTrip UAE

  • Withdrawal fees may apply

 

 

Local teams do not handle driver payouts directly.

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6.6 Service Fees

 

 

StarTrip charges a Service Fee (normally 30%) which may vary based on promotions or trip categories.

Service Fees are deducted automatically from the Wallet.

 

Drivers agree that StarTrip may deduct:

 

  • Service Fees

  • Chargebacks

  • Penalties or adjustments

  • Negative balances

 

 

from the Wallet at any time.

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6.7 Failed Rider Payments

 

 

If a Rider’s card or digital payment fails:

 

  • The outstanding balance is owed to StarTrip UAE, not the Driver

  • StarTrip may restrict the Rider until they pay

  • Drivers must not attempt to collect money from Riders

  • Drivers must not argue with Riders or demand payment

 

 

StarTrip may choose to credit the Driver’s wallet even if Rider payment is still pending.

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7. Fraud, Misuse and Prohibited Conduct

 

 

Drivers must not engage in:

 

  • GPS spoofing

  • Fake trips or trip manipulation

  • Collusion with Riders

  • Creating fraudulent accounts

  • Payment fraud

  • Using unauthorised apps or devices to influence pricing

  • Accepting private payments outside the Platform

  • Manipulating wallet transactions

 

 

Any suspected misconduct may result in:

 

  • Suspension

  • Permanent deactivation

  • Recovery of funds

  • Reporting to authorities

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8. Safety, Incidents and Reporting

 

 

Drivers must report immediately when:

 

  • There is an accident or injury

  • A Rider engages in threatening, abusive or unsafe behaviour

  • There is property damage

  • There is a serious complaint or allegation (e.g. assault, harassment)

  • There is concern about Rider intoxication or safety

 

 

Reports must be submitted through:

 

  • Driver App support

  • StarTrip hotline

  • Khoco support channels (where applicable)

 

 

Failure to report serious incidents may result in deactivation.

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9. Ratings and Quality Standards

 

 

Drivers must maintain a rating above the minimum threshold set by StarTrip.

 

Low ratings may lead to:

 

  • Temporary pause for retraining

  • Permanent deactivation if ratings do not improve

 

 

Repeated Rider complaints may result in review even if the rating is acceptable.

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10. Suspension and Deactivation

 

 

StarTrip may suspend or permanently deactivate Drivers for:

 

  • Policy breaches

  • Unsafe operation

  • Harassment, violence, intimidation or misconduct

  • Fraud or fare manipulation

  • Unresolved negative wallet balances

  • Repeated low ratings

  • Expired or invalid documentation

  • Legal, regulatory or reputational risk

  • Violations of payment or wallet rules

 

 

Urgent situations may result in immediate suspension.

 

Drivers may appeal deactivation through StarTrip support, but StarTrip is not obligated to reinstate accounts.

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11. Taxes and Legal Obligations

 

 

Drivers are responsible for:

 

  • Reporting income to PNG tax authorities

  • Keeping their own financial records

  • Paying taxes associated with their earnings

  • Ensuring vehicle compliance

 

 

StarTrip and Khoco do not withhold or remit taxes on behalf of Drivers except where required by PNG law.

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12. Amendments to Driver Policy

 

 

StarTrip may update this Driver Policy at any time.

Changes take effect upon posting in the Driver App and on the website.

Continuing to use the Platform constitutes acceptance of the updated Policy.

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13. Contact Information

 

 

For Driver support or policy questions:

 

StarTrip Technologies FZ-LLC

RAKEZ Business Zone, Al Nakheel Area

P.O. Box 10055, Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates

Email: admin@startriptechnologies.com

 

Local PNG Support (Khoco Limited):

Assists only with operational support (not legal, financial, or contractual matters).

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