How to Become an Uber Eats Driver in South Africa
Uber Eats lists more licences and more identity documents than any other company here, including a learner's licence, an international permit, an asylum seeker permit and a refugee ID.
- Work
- Deliveries
- Vehicles
- Scooter, Motorbike, Car
- Own vehicle
- Not confirmed Uber Eats does not say whether the vehicle has to be yours, and lists no rental or fleet option for couriers.
- Minimum age
- 18
- Licence
- Motorbike: Code A or A1, a Code 1 learner's licence, a temporary licence, or an International Driving Permit. Car: Code B, C, EB or EC, a temporary licence, or an IDP. For a bike: Code A or A1, a Code 1 learner's licence, a temporary licence, or an International Driving Permit. For a car: Code B, C, EB or EC, a temporary licence, or an International Driving Permit. This is the widest list here.
- PrDP
- Not confirmed What is a PrDP? Uber Eats never mentions a PrDP, and has not said you do not need one either. The law asks for a goods PrDP only above 3,500kg, and a delivery bike or car is well under that.
- Foreign documents
- Published
- Applications
- Limited Sign-up is open, but Uber says activation can take a while where there is little demand for new couriers. Checked 6 September 2026
- Cities
- Cape Town, Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban, Gqeberha, Bloemfontein, East London, Polokwane, Mbombela, Pietermaritzburg, Kimberley, Rustenburg, Potchefstroom, Emalahleni, Secunda, George, Hermanus, Makhanda, Newcastle, Richards Bay, Margate, Phuthaditjhaba
- Apply at
- Uber Eats You sign up online, upload your documents, book a DEKRA inspection, then wait for Uber to activate your account and send you the link for a delivery bag.
- Last checked
- 6 September 2026
Overview
Uber Eats is delivery, not passenger transport. That changes the requirements. No professional driving permit appears anywhere in what Uber Eats asks of couriers.
It also says more than the others. It lists the exact licence codes and identity documents it accepts, and both lists are the longest here. A Code 1 learner's licence counts for a motorbike. An International Driving Permit counts for both. An asylum seeker or refugee permit counts as identification.
It also names 22 places in its courier sign-up, which is the widest city list here.
The wait is on Uber's side. Uber says activation can take time where there is little demand for new couriers.
Requirements
| Requirement | What it says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum age | Required 18 Uber Eats says “be at least 18 years old”. | Company page 6 Sep 2026 |
| Driving licence | Required Motorbike: Code A or A1, a Code 1 learner's licence, a temporary licence, or an International Driving Permit. Car: Code B, C, EB or EC, a temporary licence, or an IDP. For a bike: Code A or A1, a Code 1 learner's licence, a temporary licence, or an International Driving Permit. For a car: Code B, C, EB or EC, a temporary licence, or an International Driving Permit. This is the widest list here. | Company page 6 Sep 2026 |
| Professional Driving Permit (PrDP) | Not confirmed Uber Eats never mentions a PrDP, and has not said you do not need one either. The law asks for a goods PrDP only above 3,500kg, and a delivery bike or car is well under that. | Company page 6 Sep 2026 |
| Vehicle inspection | Required A DEKRA vehicle inspection report before your account is activated. Quote OT-123 for a motorcycle or OT-125 for a car. | Company page 6 Sep 2026 |
| Delivery bag or box | Required An insulated Uber Eats delivery bag Do not buy a bag before Uber sends you the link. Uber sends it once your account is ready. | Company page 6 Sep 2026 |
| Vehicle age limit | Not confirmed | No source |
| Other requirement | Required Motorbike riders need a top box of about 68cm by 53cm by 42cm. It must close, fit a large pizza box, hold the Uber Eats bag, and be fixed to the bike. | Company page 6 Sep 2026 |
| Roadworthy certificate | Not confirmed | No source |
| Criminal / background screening | Required Safety screening with a clear record | Company page 6 Sep 2026 |
| Vehicle insurance | Not confirmed | No source |
| Own vehicle | Not confirmed Uber Eats does not say whether the vehicle has to be yours, and lists no rental or fleet option for couriers. | Company page 6 Sep 2026 |
| Smartphone | Required A smartphone to run the Uber Driver app | Company page 6 Sep 2026 |
| Bank account | Not confirmed | No source |
| Training or onboarding session | Not confirmed | No source |
| Helmet / protective gear | Not confirmed | No source |
Documents
| Document | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| South African ID | Required | A South African identity book or card. |
| South African passport | Accepted | A South African passport. |
| Foreign passport | Accepted | Listed as “Non-South African Passport + Permit”. The passport is not accepted on its own: Uber Eats lists the two together. |
| Work permit or visa allowing work | Accepted | The permit half of “Non-South African Passport + Permit”. Uber Eats does not say which permit types count. |
| Asylum-seeker permit (section 22) | Accepted | Listed as “Asylum seeker/Refugee Permit”. That is Uber Eats' onboarding list. It is not a decision about your right to work. |
| Refugee status document (section 24) | Accepted | Listed twice: as part of “Asylum seeker/Refugee Permit” and separately as “Refugee ID”. |
| South African driving licence | Required | |
| International driving permit | Accepted | An International Driving Permit is listed for both motorbike and car. |
| Professional Driving Permit (PrDP) | Not confirmed | Not mentioned anywhere in the courier requirements. |
| Vehicle registration papers | Not confirmed | |
| Roadworthy certificate | Not confirmed | |
| Vehicle insurance | Not confirmed | Not on Uber's delivery page. Only a 2024 news report said scooter and motorbike couriers need it. The company does not say it. |
| Proof of address | Not confirmed | |
| Bank account details | Not confirmed | |
| Tax number | Not confirmed | |
| Police clearance / background check | Required | Safety screening with a clear record. |
| Smartphone | Required |
Application process
Sign up online, upload your documents, book a DEKRA inspection, then wait for Uber to activate your account.
- You must be at least 18.
- Upload one accepted identity document and your driving licence.
- Pass safety screening with a clear record.
- Book a vehicle inspection at DEKRA. Quote OT-123 for a motorcycle or OT-125 for a car.
- Motorbike riders need a top box of about 68cm by 53cm by 42cm. It must close, fit a large pizza box, hold the Uber Eats bag, and be fixed to the bike.
Do not buy a delivery bag before Uber sends you the link. Uber says this itself. Anyone selling you an Uber Eats bag before you are activated is not selling you something you can use.
Vehicles
| Vehicle | Accepted | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| No vehicle | Depends | Uber Eats advertises delivery “or even shoes”, but lists requirements only for motorbike and car. |
| Bicycle | Depends | Uber Eats advertises delivery by bike, but the requirements it lists cover only motorbike and car, and both need a DEKRA vehicle inspection report. Ask before you count on it. |
| Scooter | Yes | Covered by the motorbike requirements. |
| Motorbike | Yes | Licence Code A or A1, a Code 1 learner's licence, a temporary licence or an International Driving Permit, plus a top box and a DEKRA report. |
| Car | Yes | A 2-door or 4-door car, with an insulated delivery bag and a DEKRA report. |
| Bakkie | Not confirmed | Not mentioned. |
| Van | Not confirmed | Not mentioned. |
| Truck | Not confirmed | Not mentioned. |
Foreign documents
| Document | What Uber Eats says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Foreign passport | Accepted Listed as “Non-South African Passport + Permit”. The passport is not accepted on its own: Uber Eats lists the two together. | Company page |
| Work permit or visa allowing work | Accepted The permit half of “Non-South African Passport + Permit”. Uber Eats does not say which permit types count. | Company page |
| Asylum-seeker permit (section 22) | Accepted Listed as “Asylum seeker/Refugee Permit”. That is Uber Eats' onboarding list. It is not a decision about your right to work. | Company page |
| Refugee status document (section 24) | Accepted Listed twice: as part of “Asylum seeker/Refugee Permit” and separately as “Refugee ID”. | Company page |
| International driving permit | Accepted An International Driving Permit is listed for both motorbike and car. | Company page |
Can foreign nationals apply?
Uber Eats names the identity documents it accepts. Almost no other company here does. The list is: a South African identity book or card, a South African passport, a non-South African passport with a permit, an asylum seeker or refugee permit, or a refugee ID.
Its licence list is also long. For a motorbike: a South African Code A or A1, a Code 1 learner's licence, a South African temporary licence, or an International Driving Permit. For a car: Code B, C, EB or EC, a temporary licence, or an International Driving Permit.
Being accepted by an app is not the same as being allowed to work. That depends on your permit and its endorsements. Ask the Department of Home Affairs, not Uber and not us.
What if I do not have a vehicle?
Uber Eats advertises delivery by car, bike, scooter “or even shoes”. But the requirements it lists cover only motorbike and car, and both need a DEKRA vehicle inspection report. A bicycle and a pair of shoes cannot have one. So we could not confirm a working route for delivery on foot or by bicycle.
Uber Eats also lists no rental or fleet option for couriers. If you have no vehicle, the clearest route is Pingo, which does Checkers Sixty60 deliveries and rents motorbikes to qualifying drivers. Picup names two outside vendors that supply a bike, Lularides and iThemba, and publishes what each of them deducts.
Questions people ask
Can I deliver for Uber Eats with a learner's licence?
Do I need a PrDP for Uber Eats?
Should I buy a delivery bag before I am approved?
Can I apply with an asylum seeker permit?
Sources
- Deliver with Uber Eats in South Africa Company page Uber. Read on 6 September 2026 . Carries the accepted identity documents, the accepted licence codes, the DEKRA quote codes, the top box measurements and a 22-entry city selector. Advertises delivery by “car, bike, scooter, or even shoes” but gives requirements only for motorbike and car. Does not mention a PrDP anywhere.
- Uber Eats official website Company page Uber Eats. Read date not recorded . Placeholder. Replace with the platform's own driver sign-up or requirements page, then record the date you checked it.
We last checked this page against its sources on 6 September 2026.