About applying for a professional driving permit
To drive on a public road transporting goods, dangerous goods or passengers for an income in South Africa, you must have a professional driving permit (PrDP).
The permit is issued in addition to an ordinary driving licence. A PrDP applies to the following motor vehicle categories:
- a goods vehicle with a gross vehicle mass exceeding 3 500 kg
- a breakdown vehicle or a bus
- a minibus weighing more than 3 500 kg or designed to carry 12 or more people (the driver included)
- light motor vehicles, indicated in the economic sector for carrying passengers for reward (taxi-cab)
- a motor vehicle designed to carry 12 or more people
- any vehicle for which an operating licence is issued
- dangerous goods vehicle (e.g. fuel tanker, etc).
Age restrictions for the motor vehicle categories are as follows:
- goods vehicle - you should be 18 years or older
- passenger vehicles - you should be 21 years or older
- dangerous goods vehicles – you should be 25 years or older.
You can only obtain a PrDP 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 category D (dangerous goods) vehicles)
- do not have any criminal record against your name for the past five years as follows:
- driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or a drug having a narcotic effect
- driving a motor vehicle while the concentration of alcohol in his or her blood or breath exceeded a statutory limitation
- in the case of an application for a category P and D permit, an offence of which violence was an element
- have never had your driving licence suspended
- have never been convicted of a criminal offence or paid an admission of guilt fine.
As the operator or owner of the motor vehicle for which a PrDP is required, you may not let another person drive the vehicle on a public road, unless they have a valid PrDP for the appropriate category.