Apply for a professional driving permit
If you drive people around as part of your job, or if you drive a certain kind of vehicle, you will need to have a professional driving permit (PDP) to operate the vehicle.
Professional driving permit criteria
The following vehicles need a PDP for operation:
- Any vehicle used for professional transport of people.
- Any vehicle which carries more than 12 people, including the driver – whether a car or minibus.
- All buses.
- Any goods vehicles weighing more than 3 500 kg.
- Any vehicle designed to carry dangerous or flammable material and is heavier than 3 500kg.
- All breakdown vehicles.
There are age restrictions in place for the motor vehicle categories, as follows:
- you should be 18 years or older to hold a PrDP for a goods vehicle
- you should be 21 years or older to hold a PrDP for a passenger vehicle
- you should be 25 years or older to hold a PrDP for a dangerous goods vehicle.
You can only get a PDP if:
- you have a valid driver’s licence for the vehicle you will be using;
- you are above the driving age;
- you are medically fit;
- you have never been convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs; and
- you have never been convicted of reckless driving or a violent offence.
If you meet the requirements above, you can proceed.
Please note
The owner/operator of a vehicle requiring a PDP may not let someone else drive that vehicle on a public road, unless they hold a PDP in the same vehicle category.
How to apply
Supporting documents you need:
- RSA ID book/card or valid RSA passport/Traffic Register Certificate/valid foreign ID
- 1 x ID sized photographs
- valid driver’s licence
- medical certificate
- police clearance - this can be done at the
DLTC
- training certificate (HASCOM) (if applicable)
- proof of address
- If you live in an informal settlement, you must bring a letter with an official date stamp from your
ward councillor confirming your postal and residential address
Step 1: Once you have gathered all the documents outlined above, download and complete a PDP Permit Application Form from the document downloads below. You can also get one from any
drivers licence testing centre.
Step 2: Submit the completed form, along with all the supporting documents, at a drivers licence testing centre.
Step 3: Once your application has been processed at the centre, your fingerprints will be taken and your PDP card will be ordered.
Please note
We will notify you when your PDP card is ready; you will need to collect it at the same testing centre you applied at. Cards not collected within 120 days are destroyed.
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