E-hailing in South Africa has two sets of requirements: the platform’s, and the law’s. The platform’s are published and change often; the law’s are set in the National Land Transport Act 5 of 2009 and they are the ones that get vehicles impounded.
This page covers both, with the legal requirements first, because a vehicle that satisfies a platform and not the law is the expensive mistake in this field.
Driver or Vehicle Requirements at a Glance
What a vehicle used for e-hailing generally requires.
- A valid operating licence or the authorisation the National Land Transport Act requires for the service being provided
- A current roadworthy certificate and valid vehicle licence
- Registration in the name of the operator, or documented authority to use it
- Comprehensive insurance covering commercial e-hailing use — a personal policy generally excludes it
- A driver holding a valid driver’s licence and a professional driving permit (PrDP)
- A vehicle meeting the platform’s year model, condition and specification requirements
- Passing the platform’s vehicle inspection
- Four doors and the seating configuration the service class requires
Licence and Eligibility Requirements
The operating licence is the legal requirement people skip. Under the National Land Transport Act, operating a public transport service requires the applicable operating licence or authorisation, issued through the provincial regulatory entity. Operating without it exposes the vehicle to impoundment and the operator to penalties, and platform registration is not a substitute. Confirm the current requirements and application process with your provincial regulatory entity or the municipal transport authority.
The application takes time. Operating licence applications go through a process that can take months, and demand exceeds the routes and numbers available in some areas. Start it before buying a vehicle, not after.
A professional driving permit is required for driving a vehicle carrying passengers for reward. Confirm the category and requirements with your licensing authority.
Insurance is where most drivers are exposed. A personal motor policy generally excludes commercial use, which means an accident while carrying a passenger is likely to be rejected. Declare e-hailing use and obtain a policy that covers it, and confirm what cover applies to passengers.
Confirm the platform’s current vehicle requirements with the platform. Year models, permitted vehicle types, condition standards and service class specifications are set by the platform and change — often more than once a year.
Vehicle, Inspection and Safety Requirements
The roadworthy certificate is a legal requirement, not a formality. A vehicle used for public transport is subject to periodic roadworthy testing, and an unroadworthy vehicle carrying passengers is both an offence and a liability.
Platform inspections check condition — tyres, brakes, lights, panels, glass, interior condition and cleanliness — and they are typically repeated at intervals. A vehicle that passes once still has to pass again.
Maintain proactively. Tyres, brakes and suspension wear far faster on a vehicle doing e-hailing mileage than on a private car, and a failed inspection means no earnings while it is fixed. Budget maintenance as a running cost rather than an event.
The economics turn on running cost. Fuel, tyres, servicing, insurance, licensing, the platform’s commission and depreciation all come out of the fare. Calculate cost per kilometre honestly before committing, because a vehicle chosen on purchase price alone can be unprofitable to run.
Fitting a tracker and a dashcam is worth doing. Both help with insurance, disputes and safety.
Driver safety is a real issue. Attacks on e-hailing drivers occur, and there are areas and times where risk is elevated. Use the platform’s safety features, share trip details, and do not accept off-platform trips — those carry no record, no insurance position and no support.
Documents, PrDP or Supporting Evidence
What is needed to register a vehicle.
- A valid operating licence or authorisation
- The vehicle registration certificate and a current vehicle licence disc
- A current roadworthy certificate
- Comprehensive insurance covering e-hailing use, with the schedule
- A valid driver’s licence and professional driving permit
- A police clearance certificate, where the platform requires it
- A letter of authority from the owner, where the driver is not the owner
- Proof of the driver’s identity and right to work in South Africa
- Banking details in the operator’s own name
Registration or Application Process
Start with the operating licence application at the provincial regulatory entity, because it is the longest lead item and the one that determines whether the venture is lawful at all.
Then obtain the professional driving permit, arrange insurance that covers commercial use, and only then approach the platform for vehicle inspection and activation.
Rental and rent-to-own arrangements are common in this sector and vary enormously. Ask who holds the operating licence, who is responsible for maintenance and insurance, what the weekly payment is regardless of earnings, and what happens if the vehicle is damaged or off the road. Get it in writing.
Never pay anyone to be activated on a platform. Registration is free and done directly. People selling activations, accounts or operating licences are committing fraud, and buying an account in someone else’s name leaves you with no recourse and no lawful position.
Never drive on someone else’s account. It breaches the platform’s terms, voids the insurance position and leaves you unidentified in an incident.
- Apply for the operating licence first — it is the longest lead item
- Confirm the requirements with your provincial regulatory entity
- Obtain a professional driving permit before driving for reward
- Declare e-hailing use to your insurer — a personal policy excludes it
- Confirm the platform’s current vehicle requirements with the platform
- Keep the roadworthy certificate and vehicle licence current
- Budget maintenance as a running cost, not an event
- Calculate cost per kilometre before choosing a vehicle
- Get any rental or rent-to-own terms in writing
- Never buy an account or drive on someone else’s
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need an operating licence?
Yes. The National Land Transport Act requires the applicable operating licence or authorisation for a public transport service. Platform registration is not a substitute, and operating without it risks impoundment.
Will my normal car insurance cover me?
Generally no. Personal motor policies exclude commercial use, so an accident while carrying a passenger is likely to be rejected. Declare e-hailing use and get a policy that covers it.
Where do I find the vehicle requirements?
From the platform directly. Year models, permitted vehicle types and condition standards are set by the platform and change, often more than once a year.
Can I drive on someone else’s account?
No. It breaches the platform’s terms, voids the insurance position and leaves you unidentified in an incident. Buying an account is fraud and gives you no lawful position.
Operating licence requirements, permit categories, roadworthy rules and platform vehicle standards are set by the provincial regulatory entities, the licensing authorities and the platforms, and are revised. Confirm current requirements with each before committing to a vehicle.