E-hailing drivers face real personal risk. Attacks, hijackings and robberies happen, and some of the protection is in the platform’s features while most of it is in how a driver works.
This page covers the requirements and then driver safety in practical detail, because it is the part of this work that is discussed least and matters most.
Driver or Vehicle Requirements at a Glance
What driving for a platform generally requires.
- A valid South African driver’s licence, held for the period the platform requires
- A valid professional driving permit (PrDP) for carrying passengers for reward
- A vehicle with a valid operating licence or authorisation under the National Land Transport Act 5 of 2009
- A current roadworthy certificate and valid vehicle licence
- Comprehensive insurance covering commercial e-hailing use
- A vehicle meeting the platform’s year model, type and condition requirements
- A police clearance certificate, where the platform requires it
- Proof of identity and the right to work in South Africa
Licence and Eligibility Requirements
Confirm the platform’s driver requirements directly — minimum licence period, documents, background checks and vehicle standards are set by the platform and revised.
Use the in-app safety features and know them before you need them. Emergency assistance, trip sharing with a contact, and passenger identity verification exist on most platforms, and a driver who has not set them up cannot use them in the moment.
Share every trip with someone. A live trip shared with a family member or a fellow driver means somebody knows where you are, which changes what happens after an incident.
Keep every trip on the platform. An off-app trip has no record, no insurance position, no support and no trace afterwards. Passengers who ask to arrange a trip off the app should be declined, always — and that request is itself a warning.
Verify the passenger before starting. Confirm the name and the destination, and be cautious where the person waiting does not match the booking. It is your vehicle.
Vehicle, Inspection and Safety Requirements
You may decline any trip. Areas, times, group size, passenger behaviour and anything that simply does not feel right are all legitimate grounds. No fare is worth an incident, and declining costs a fraction of what an incident costs. Where a platform penalises declining, factor that into which platforms you work for.
Be deliberate about areas and times. Some areas and hours carry markedly higher risk, and local knowledge is the best guide. Talk to other drivers in your city about where and when they do not go.
Take care at pickup and drop-off points. Driveways, complexes, dead ends and unlit streets are where drivers are most exposed. Do not enter an enclosed space you cannot leave, keep the vehicle facing out, and stay in the vehicle with doors locked while waiting.
Carry minimal cash and use cashless payment where the platform allows it. Cash is what makes a driver worth robbing.
Fit a dashcam and a tracker. Both help after an incident, and a visible dashcam deters some behaviour.
Never resist a hijacking or robbery. The vehicle and the phone are replaceable. Comply, get out of the situation, then report.
Report incidents to the platform and the police, and keep the case number. A reported incident is what supports an insurance claim and what gets a passenger removed from the platform.
Fatigue is a safety issue. Long hours to reach an earnings target reduce judgement and reaction time, for you and your passengers.
Documents, PrDP or Supporting Evidence
What is needed to register.
- A valid operating licence or authorisation
- The vehicle registration certificate and current licence disc
- A current roadworthy certificate
- Comprehensive insurance schedule showing e-hailing cover
- A valid driver’s licence and professional driving permit
- A police clearance certificate, where required
- A letter of authority from the owner, where the driver is not the owner
- Proof of identity and the right to work in South Africa
- Banking details in your own name
Registration or Application Process
The operating licence is the legal requirement, not the platform’s. The National Land Transport Act requires the applicable operating licence or authorisation for a public transport service, issued through the provincial regulatory entity. Platform registration is not a substitute, and operating without it exposes the vehicle to impoundment. Confirm the current requirements with your provincial regulatory entity.
Register directly with the platform. Registration is free and nobody legitimate charges to activate an account.
Set up the safety features on day one — emergency contact, trip sharing, and whatever emergency assistance the platform provides. Ten minutes at registration.
Insurance must cover commercial use. A personal policy generally excludes e-hailing, and a claim after an incident while carrying a passenger is likely to be rejected.
Keep records of trips, earnings and expenses. Income from this work is taxable and must be declared to SARS, and expenses actually incurred in producing it are deductible — but only with records. Registering as a provisional taxpayer may apply; confirm with SARS.
- Set up in-app safety features before your first trip
- Share every trip with a family member or fellow driver
- Keep every trip on the platform — decline off-app requests
- Verify the passenger and destination before starting
- Decline any trip that does not feel right — it is always available
- Learn from local drivers which areas and times to avoid
- Stay in the vehicle with doors locked while waiting, facing out
- Carry minimal cash and use cashless payment where possible
- Never resist a hijacking or robbery
- Report every incident to the platform and the police, and keep the case number
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I refuse a trip?
Yes, always. Areas, times, group size and anything that does not feel right are legitimate grounds. Where a platform penalises declining, weigh that when choosing platforms.
Why keep trips on the platform?
An off-app trip has no record, no insurance position, no support and no trace afterwards. A request to arrange a trip off the app is itself a warning sign.
Where are drivers most exposed?
At pickup and drop-off — driveways, complexes, dead ends and unlit streets. Do not enter an enclosed space you cannot leave, and keep the vehicle facing out.
What should I do in a hijacking?
Do not resist. The vehicle and phone are replaceable. Comply, get out of the situation, then report to the police and the platform and keep the case number.
Platform requirements, safety features, operating licence rules and insurance terms are set by the platforms, the provincial regulatory entities and insurers and are revised. Confirm current requirements with each.