Uber Black in South Africa needs a mid-tier luxury four-door sedan that is 5 years old or newer, from BMW, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Lexus or Jaguar. It has a leather or vinyl interior with no cosmetic damage and seats four passengers besides the driver. Uber offers the product in Johannesburg, Pretoria and Cape Town.
Uber publishes the allowed makes but no model-by-model list. Uber may change eligibility criteria at any time without notice, so check its vehicle requirements page before you buy a car.
Driver or Vehicle Requirements at a Glance
- Vehicle: mid-tier luxury four-door sedan, 5 years old or newer, leather or vinyl interior, no cosmetic damage, working windows and air conditioning, seating for four passengers besides the driver.
- Allowed makes (the Uber Black car list): BMW, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Lexus and Jaguar. No specific models are published.
- Safety: ABS and driver and passenger airbags.
- Cities: Johannesburg, Pretoria and Cape Town.
- Driver: valid South African PrDP, safety screening results and a profile photo.
Uber’s own page gives the oldest eligible model year in 2026 inconsistently (2021 in one place, 2022 in another). Both say “5 years or newer”, so confirm your car’s year in the Uber app before buying.
Licence and Eligibility Requirements
E-hailing may only be provided where the platform provider is registered with the National Public Transport Regulator and an operating licence has been issued for the vehicle. This is regulation 13 of the Second National Land Transport Regulations, 2025, in force since 12 September 2025.
Uber does not publish a driver rating threshold or an exterior colour rule for Black, so do not rely on forum claims about either. Ask Uber support if you need certainty.
Vehicle, Inspection and Safety Requirements
Black vehicles need a comprehensive vehicle inspection report from Dekra. Only Dekra and Scans AI reports are considered, and Uber states that a Roadworthy Certificate is not required. Excluded vehicles include full-sized vans or trucks, taxi cabs, government or other marked vehicles, and salvaged or rebuilt vehicles.
Documents, PrDP or Supporting Evidence
Uber South Africa asks for a profile photo, safety screening results and a valid South African PrDP. A temporary PrDP certificate cannot be uploaded; complete a Driver Verification and upload the Driver Verification Report instead. A permanent PrDP card can be used directly. Full list: required documents page.
Before an operating licence is issued, the regulatory entity must be satisfied of matters including a SAPS criminal record report on the driver, a declaration of no pending investigations, a driving licence and PrDP, a panic button and vehicle marking (regulation 19 of the Second National Land Transport Regulations, 2025).
Registration or Application Process
Sign up and upload your documents through Uber (Uber South Africa’s driver requirements). The operating licence application goes to your provincial regulatory entity on Form 1B with the prescribed documents, the application fee and the platform agreement.
Frequently Asked Questions
What cars are on the Uber Black car list in South Africa?
Uber allows only BMW, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Lexus and Jaguar on Uber Black. It publishes no model list, so the car must be a luxury four-door sedan of one of those makes and 5 years old or newer.
Where is Uber Black available?
Johannesburg, Pretoria and Cape Town.
Do I need a roadworthy certificate for Uber Black?
No. Uber requires a Dekra comprehensive inspection report for Black instead.
Does a vehicle have to be black?
Uber’s page states no colour requirement for Uber Black.
Can a van or SUV be used?
Uber describes Black as a mid-tier luxury sedan, and full-sized vans or trucks are excluded from all products.
See rideshare driver requirements and browse all driving and transport requirements. Confirm current criteria with Uber South Africa and your provincial regulatory entity before you apply.