Requirements for a PrDP in South Africa

To drive a vehicle transporting goods, dangerous goods or people on a public road in South Africa for an income you must have a professional driving permit (PrDP).

How to apply for a “PrDP / PDP” professional driving permit

This permit is issued separately from an ordinary driving licence. A PrDP applies to the following types of motor vehicles:

• a goods vehicle with a gross vehicle mass exceeding 3 500kg
• a breakdown vehicle or a bus
• a minibus weighing more than 3 500kg 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).

Age restrictions for the motor vehicle categories are 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 obtain a PrDP if you:

• have a valid driving licence for the type of vehicle you are applying for
• doctor a has certified you as medically fit
• you have received training and have been certified by an approved training body (only applicable for transporting dangerous goods)
• do not have a criminal record in the past five years or for:
  • 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 your 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.
• your driving licence has never been suspended
• you have never been convicted of a criminal offence or paid an admission-of-guilt fine.

Only the operator of the motor vehicle who has been granted a PrDP may drive the vehicle on a public road.

What you should do

1. Go to your nearest driving licence testing centre (DLTC) and complete the Application for professional driving permit form (PD1).
2. All Gauteng residents should apply online for a professional driving permit: https://online.natis.gov.za/#/
3. Complete the notification of change of address or particulars of person or organisation (NCP) form.
4. Take the following with you:
   • Identity document (ID), driving licence card, or valid South African passport
   • Four identical black-and-white photographs. You must first confirm with the DLTC how many photos they require before you have photos taken.
   • A valid driving licence (same code of vehicle for which you are applying)
   • 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
     Proof of postal and residential address e.g. utility account. If the utility bill is not in your name, the of owner of the bill must make an affidavit declaring that you live at the address and the utility bill must be attached to the affidavit.
   • If you stay at an informal settlement, you must bring a letter with an official date stamp from the ward councillor confirming your postal and residential address
   • The prescribed fee.
5. You will do an eye test at the testing centre. Alternatively, you may have an eye test performed by a qualified optometrist and submit the form.
6. After payment, you will be referred to the nearest police station to request a conviction report. If the DLTC has a live capturing unit (LCU), the report will be sent electronically to the police station.
7. You must deposit the application fee in the account below before the application is processed.
   Bank details for depositing application fee:
   Account name: Ideco AFISwitch (Pty) Ltd
   Bank: ABSA
   Branch: Business Banking Johannesburg North
   Account Type: Cheque
   Account number: 4074078548
   Branch code: 630256
   Reference: Fill in the ID number of the applicant as the reference.
8. You will be informed once the PrDP card is ready for collection. Take identification such as an ID with you when you collect the card. Any cards not collected within 120 days will be destroyed.

How long does it take

Your permit may be ready within a maximum of 12 weeks.

How much does it cost

Contact your local licensing office to find out the cost.

Forms to complete

Application for professional driving permit form (PD1)
Medical certificate application form (MC)
These forms are available at your nearest driving licence testing centre