The cost of a professional driving permit is not one fee. It is a prescribed application fee plus a medical examination plus, for two of the three categories, a police clearance — and the fees are set by the authorities rather than by the centre you visit.
This page sets out what you are actually paying for and how to avoid paying more than you should.
Driver or Vehicle Requirements at a Glance
What a professional driving permit application generally requires.
- A valid South African driving licence for the class of vehicle concerned
- Meeting the minimum age for the category applied for
- A medical examination by a registered medical practitioner on the prescribed form
- A police clearance, for the passenger and dangerous goods categories
- Applying in person at a registered driving licence testing centre
- Payment of the prescribed fee, which is set by regulation
- Fingerprints and a photograph taken at the centre
- Periodic renewal, with the fees payable again
Licence and Eligibility Requirements
The costs break down into separate items, and knowing which is which is what protects you from being overcharged:
- The prescribed PrDP application fee, set by the authorities and payable at the testing centre
- The medical examination fee, charged by the medical practitioner and not fixed by regulation — this one varies and is worth comparing
- The police clearance fee, where the category requires it, payable to the South African Police Service
- Any fee for the underlying driving licence, if you must first obtain or upgrade a licence class
- Renewal costs when the permit expires
- Costs of a learner or licence test, where a new licence class is needed first
Vehicle, Inspection and Safety Requirements
The prescribed fee is published. PrDP fees are set in regulation under the National Road Traffic Act 93 of 1996 and are revised. Ask the testing centre for the current fee and for a receipt — the receipt is the protection.
Only the medical is genuinely variable. The examination is performed by a registered medical practitioner on the prescribed form, and practices set their own charge. Phoning two or three is a real saving and takes minutes.
Never pay anyone outside the process. Fees are payable to the testing centre and, for the clearance, to the police. A person offering to arrange a permit, skip a queue or bypass the medical is not offering a service — they are selling a fraudulent permit that fails exactly when it is checked after an accident.
Do not pay for a booking. Booking systems vary by province and municipality, and where booking is offered it is part of the official process. Third parties charging for appointments are trading on scarcity, not providing anything.
Budget for the whole set at once. Applicants routinely pay for the medical, then discover they need the clearance, then that the underlying licence class must be upgraded first. Working the sequence out in advance prevents wasted trips and repeat fees.
Renewal costs recur. A PrDP is not issued for life, and letting it lapse means driving professionally without a valid permit, which is an offence.
Documents, PrDP or Supporting Evidence
What to bring to the testing centre.
- Your valid South African driving licence card
- Your South African ID or smart ID card
- The completed medical certificate on the prescribed form
- A police clearance certificate, where the category requires it
- Proof of residence in the form the centre accepts
- The completed application form in the current official version
- Payment for the prescribed fee, in the form the centre accepts
- Fingerprints and a photograph, taken at the centre
Registration or Application Process
Confirm the current fee and the accepted payment method with the testing centre before travelling. Some accept card, some do not, and a wasted trip costs more than the difference.
Get a receipt for everything and keep it. A receipt is the evidence that the fee was paid to the authority and not to a person.
Compare medical practitioners on price for the prescribed examination. It is the only genuinely negotiable cost in the process.
Have your eyes tested first. Vision is the most common reason a medical fails, it is usually correctable, and correcting it before the examination avoids paying for a second one.
Ask your employer. Many transport, logistics and passenger operators pay for a driver’s PrDP and renewals, because they need the driver to hold one. It is worth asking before paying yourself.
Where the police clearance is required, apply for it early — it is generally the slowest step, and no paid service can accelerate it.
Report anyone demanding a payment outside the official process to the testing centre’s authority and to the police.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a PrDP cost?
A prescribed application fee set in regulation, plus the medical practitioner’s own fee, plus a police clearance fee where the category requires one. Ask the testing centre for the current prescribed fee.
Which cost can I reduce?
The medical examination, because practices set their own charge. Phoning two or three is a genuine saving. The prescribed fees are fixed.
Can I pay someone to speed it up?
No. Fees are payable to the testing centre and to the police. Anyone offering to arrange a permit or bypass the medical is selling a fraudulent permit that fails when it is checked.
Will my employer pay?
Often, yes. Many transport and passenger operators pay for a driver’s PrDP and renewals because they need the driver to hold one. Ask before paying yourself.
PrDP fees, categories, medical requirements and renewal intervals are prescribed under the National Road Traffic Act 93 of 1996 and are revised. Confirm current fees and requirements with a registered driving licence testing centre.