A PDP, or professional driving permit, is required to drive goods, passengers or dangerous goods for reward in South Africa. It is not a separate licence but an endorsement on your driving licence card, issued in addition to your ordinary licence. You need one to drive a goods vehicle over 3,500 kg, a vehicle carrying passengers for a fare such as a taxi, bus or e-hailing car, or a vehicle carrying dangerous goods. A PDP is valid for 24 months and must be renewed before it expires.
This page covers who needs a PDP, the three categories, the age limits and the rules. The cost, the application steps and renewal each have their own detailed guide, linked below.
Quick facts: the PDP licence
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| What it is | An endorsement on your driving licence for commercial driving |
| Governed by | National Road Traffic Act 93 of 1996 |
| Categories | G (goods), P (passengers), D (dangerous goods) |
| Minimum age | 18 (goods), 21 (passengers), 25 (dangerous goods) |
| Validity | 24 months |
| Typical cost | About R768 all in |
What a PDP is
Before 1998 it was called a public driver’s permit, which is why many people still say “PDP.” Today the correct name is the professional driving permit, or PrDP, and the two terms mean the same thing. It exists to hold professional drivers to a higher standard than ordinary licence holders, with medical fitness checks and a clean criminal record, because they carry passengers and heavy loads for a living.
Who needs a PDP
You need a PDP if you drive any of the following for an income:
- A goods vehicle with a gross vehicle mass over 3,500 kg, or a breakdown vehicle.
- A vehicle carrying passengers for reward, including minibus taxis, metered taxis, buses, shuttles and e-hailing cars, or any vehicle designed to carry 12 or more people including the driver.
- A vehicle carrying dangerous goods, such as fuel, chemicals or gas.
There are a few exceptions. You do not need a PDP to drive a tractor or a hearse, for example. The key test for the passenger category is that it applies to the type of vehicle and whether it carries people for reward, so a minibus built for 12 or more needs a PDP even when it is empty.
The three PDP categories
A PDP is issued in one of three categories, and the category is printed on your card.
Category G, goods. For driving a goods vehicle over 3,500 kg or a breakdown vehicle for reward. Minimum age 18.
Category P, passengers. For carrying fare-paying passengers, from e-hailing and metered taxis to minibuses and buses. Minimum age 21.
Category D, dangerous goods. For transporting hazardous materials such as fuel and chemicals. Minimum age 25, and you must also be certified by an approved training body.
Age limits
The minimum age depends on the category: 18 for goods, 21 for passengers, and 25 for dangerous goods. You must already hold the correct driving licence code for the vehicle before you can apply, so for a heavy goods vehicle you first need a Code C1 or higher. You can check which code covers which vehicle on the driving licence codes page.
The requirements
To qualify for a PDP you must hold a valid driving licence for the vehicle category, be certified medically fit on the official medical form, and have no disqualifying criminal record in the past five years, such as driving under the influence or, for the passenger and dangerous goods categories, an offence involving violence. Your driving licence must not be suspended or cancelled. A PDP can also be suspended or cancelled later if you become medically unfit or are convicted of a disqualifying offence.
How long a PDP is valid
A PDP is valid for 24 months from issue, and the expiry date is printed on the front of your driving licence card. This is shorter than the five-year validity of an ordinary licence card, precisely because professional drivers are reassessed more often. Before it expires you must apply for a new one in the same way you applied for your first, with a fresh medical and criminal record check. There is no grace period for driving on an expired PDP, so renew in good time. The full renewal process is on the PDP renewal page.
What a PDP costs
A PDP costs about R768 in total: roughly R324 for the application, R110 for the Afiswitch criminal record check, R84 for the temporary permit and R200 to R300 for the medical. The application fee is set provincially and varies slightly. The full breakdown is on the PDP cost page.
How to apply
You apply at a driving licence testing centre with the PD1 form, your licence, a medical certificate, photographs and proof of address. Your fingerprints are checked, you pay the fees, and you collect a temporary permit while your card is produced, which can take up to 12 weeks. Gauteng residents apply online through eNatis. The step-by-step guide is on the how to get a PDP page.
How we worked this out
The rules on this page are based on the professional driving permit provisions of the National Road Traffic Act 93 of 1996 and its regulations, covering the vehicle categories that require a PDP, the G, P and D categories, the minimum ages, the medical and criminal record requirements, and the 24-month validity. This page is general information, and you should confirm the current requirements at your own driving licence testing centre.
Frequently asked questions
Who needs a PDP in South Africa? Anyone driving for reward a goods vehicle over 3,500 kg, a vehicle carrying passengers for a fare such as a taxi, bus or e-hailing car, or a vehicle carrying dangerous goods.
Is a PDP the same as a PrDP? Yes. PDP is the older name (public driver’s permit) and PrDP is the current name (professional driving permit). People use both for the same endorsement.
How long is a PDP valid? 24 months. The expiry date is printed on the front of your licence card, and you must renew before it expires, with no grace period to drive on an expired one.
What are the PDP age limits? 18 for goods, 21 for passengers, and 25 for dangerous goods. You must also already hold the correct licence code for the vehicle.
Do I need a PDP for e-hailing like Uber or Bolt? Yes. Carrying fare-paying passengers requires a Category P PDP, even in an ordinary car.
