Uber Driver Requirements in South Africa

Overview

Uber's driver requirements come down to one document, the professional driving permit, and one process, the vehicle inspection.

Detail

Professional driving permit

A valid South African PrDP. Uber accepts the permanent PrDP card, or a Driver Verification Report if yours is temporary. A licensing centre issues it against a current driving licence, a medical certificate and a police criminal record check.

Safety screening

A criminal background check from PostNet.

Vehicle age

Uber lists 2014 or later for Go, 2019 or later for UberX, Van and XL, 2022 or later for Comfort, and 2021 or later for Black. Check the model list for your city as well as the year.

Inspection

A DEKRA comprehensive inspection for Black, Comfort, XL and Van, or a Scans AI virtual inspection for Go and Mini. Uber says a roadworthy certificate is not required.

Operating licence

E-hailing is now regulated public transport under the amended National Land Transport Act, and vehicles need an operating licence.

What the company says

Sources

• Apply for a professional driving permit, South African Government Government South African Government. Read on 6 September 2026 . Says you need a PrDP to drive goods, dangerous goods or passengers for an income, and that it covers any vehicle that needs an operating licence. Minimum ages: 18 for goods, 21 for passengers, 25 for dangerous goods. Goods vehicles are covered above 3,500kg. You apply at a driving licence testing centre, or online in Gauteng, and the permit may take up to 12 weeks.
• Drive with Uber in South Africa Company page Uber. Read on 6 September 2026 . Names five cities: Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and Durban. Uber still uses the name Port Elizabeth for Gqeberha. Says you can sign up without a car that meets the vehicle requirements and points at a Vehicle Marketplace of partners. States no minimum age.
• Transport gazettes National Land Transport Amendment Act and e-hailing regulations Government Department of Transport. Published or updated 12 September 2025. Read on 6 September 2026 . Says the amended Act and the e-hailing regulations were gazetted on 12 September 2025 for implementation. E-hailing operators pay a standard operating licence application fee, each vehicle must be branded or carry an e-hailing sign, panic buttons must be fitted, and all apps must be registered with the regulators. An app developer who lets a driver work without an operating licence risks a fine of up to R100,000 or up to two years in jail. The statement gives no commencement date and no transition period.
• Uber official website Company page Uber. Read date not recorded . Placeholder. Replace with the platform's own driver sign-up or requirements page, then record the date you checked it.
• Uber requirements for drivers in South Africa Company page Uber. Read on 6 September 2026 . Lists a valid South African PrDP and safety screening. States no minimum age, no licence code, no identity documents and no city list.
• Uber vehicle requirements in South Africa Company page Uber. Read on 6 September 2026 . States a maximum vehicle age in years per product, with a worked example for 2026. States outright that a roadworthy certificate is not required. Lists accepted body types per product.
• Uber: required documents for drivers Company page Uber. Read on 6 September 2026 . Lists a driver profile photo, safety screening results available at any PostNet or Jetline, and a valid South African PrDP. Says a temporary PrDP certificate cannot be uploaded and needs a Driver Verification Report instead. Names Scans AI for Go, Go Electric and Mini and DEKRA for Black, Comfort, XL and Van. Lists no identity documents and no minimum age.