Description

A professional driver’s permit is intended for individuals who are required to drive certain types of vehicles. The permit is issued in addition to an ordinary driver’s licence. A professional driving permit applies to the following motor vehicle categories:

• a goods vehicle, breakdown vehicle or a bus
• vehicles weighing more than 3 500 kg and designed to carry 12 or more people (the driver included).

Age restrictions for the motor vehicle categories are as follows:

• goods vehicle – you should be 18 years old
• passenger vehicles – you should be 21 years old
• dangerous goods vehicles – you should be 25 years old.

You can only obtain a professional driving permit if you

• have a valid driving licence for the type of vehicle in question
• have been certified as medically fit by a doctor
• have been certified by an approved training body (only required for certain types of vehicle)
• have not been convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol, reckless or negligent driving, or a violent offence and
• have never had your driver’s licence suspended.

Only certain convictions within the last five years may disqualify you from obtaining a professional driving permit. Convictions older than five years will not be taken into account.

The operator or owner of the motor vehicle for which a professional driving permit is required, may not let another person drive the vehicle on a public road, unless they have a professional driving permit for the appropriate category. 

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Steps to follow

• Complete form PD1, Application for professional driving permit at the testing centre.
• You will do an eye test at the testing centre.
• Produce the following documents:
• • identity Document (ID), driver’s licence card, valid South African passport)
  • two black-and-white ID photographs
  • a valid driver’s licence
  • training certificate (if applicable)
  • medical certificate (only valid if not older than two months)
  • other professional driving permit or public driving permit that you hold.
• Pay the required fee.
• After payment, you will be referred to the nearest police station to request a conviction report.
• You will be informed once the professional driving permit card is ready for collection. You must be able to identify yourself when you collect the card. Any cards not collected within 120 days will be destroyed. 

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Legal framework

(Documents are provided in PDF format. To open PDF documents, you need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader 4 or higher installed on your computer.)

National Road Traffic Act, 1996 (Act 93 of 1996) 

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Service standard

The permit may be ready within eight to twelve weeks. 

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Cost 

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Forms to complete

Application for professional driving permit, PD1. The form is available at any driver's licence testing centre. 

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Contact details