I was recently in a discussion with friends over when one actually needs a PDP licence? One of them is a missionary who often transports people around in one of the church’s Quantums. Investigating the situation it all comes down to how you want to define certain things. The following is the simplest breakdown to determine if you need one or not:
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modified from: foresightpublications.co.za
The biggest thing to decide is on the concept of paying customers. Certain websites state it as “a motor vehicle used for the conveyance of persons for reward” and others as “other vehicle carrying paying passengers”. These are two very different topics. In my friend’s case, the passengers aren’t paying, but she may be receiving remuneration for her work at the church and such as is required to drive the mini-bus as part of her duties, thus she would fall in this category.
If we look at the regulation itself:
National Road Traffic Act, 1996 – National Road Traffic Regulations, 1999 – Chapter V: Fitenss of Drivers – Part IV: Professional Driving Permit – 115: Certain drivers of certain vehicles to hold professional driving permit
1) Subject to the provisions of subregulation (2), a professional driving permit shall be held by the driver of –
… e) a motor vehicle used for the conveyance of persons for reward …
Thus if she is being remunerated for her work she would probably require one. It also explains why on sports tours at university we didn’t require one, as we were not being paid for driving.
Other things to note:
- The currently used Professional Driving Permit (PrDP) is the continuation of the old Public Driving Permit (PDP) which was used pre 1998 and excluded certain provisions which are now included under the PrDP.
- Price will vary with time.
- A D (dangerous goods) licence includes a G (goods) licence.
- One can hold both a P (people) and G, or P and D PrDP licence at the same time.
- The minimum age for a PrDP licence is 18 for a G licence, 21 for a P licence, and 25 for a D licence.
- If it’s a goods vehicle under 3.5 tons, it does not require a PrDP.
- If it’s a vehicle of any size used to carry passengers for reward, or has 12 or more seats, a PrDP is required.
- Almost all vehicles over 3.5 tons will require a PrDP, either for carrying passengers or as a goods vehicle. This is irrelevant of whether you are transporting goods or passengers at the time or not.
- A vehicle over 3.5 tons, but is not a goods vehicle, does not require a PrDP. I’ve seen several people make mention of the Ford F250 and how traffic officer’s have demanded a PrDP. According to the law it is not required unless it can be defined as a goods vehicle. It does however require a C1 (old code 10) or higher licence.
This opens another discussion on the definition of goods vehicle. The RTA defines goods as
any movable property
and a goods vehicle as
a motor vehicle, other than a motorcycle, motor tricycle, motor quadrucycle, motorcar, minibus or bus, designed or adapted for the conveyance of goods on a public road and includes a truck-tractor, adaptor dolly, converter dolly and breakdown vehicle
Which is very vague, so people who get fines for their F250 should probably just right a nice letter trying to explain how their vehicle is a private vehicle and should not fall under the definition of a goods vehicle.
To get a PrDP you must also not have been convicted of certain crimes within the space of 5 years (NRTA):
if the applicant has, within a period of five years prior to the date of the application, been convicted of or has paid an admission of guilt on –
i) driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or a drug having a narcotic effect;
ii) driving a motor vehicle while the concentration of alcohol in his or her blood exceeded a statutory limitation;
iii) reckless driving; or
iv) in the case of an application for a category “P” and “D” permit, an offence of which violence was an element;
With regards to foreign/international/overseas driver’s licences, the exact law is unclear and interpreted differently. My interpretation of the NRTA (specific section) matches Fleetwatch here. If you wish to drive a vehicle that requires a PrDP, you either need a South African licence with a PrDP, or you need a licence from a prescribed country with their equivalent of the PrDP (for example Zimbabwe’s Defensive Driving Licence). If you have a licence from any other country you are not permitted to drive such a vehicle.
This is however countered by the AA in this response of their’s in which they essentially state that if you are allowed to drive a PrDP vehicle in your country, you can drive it in SA.
Please note, I am in no way an expert with regards to traffic laws or any related topic, I am merely laying out the information as I’ve found it, all comments below are also given with a view from the facts I know, always enquire at your local traffic department when uncertain.
I have a criminal record one for robbory,2 asults and I want a pdp wil it be a problem for me to get one da last one was in 2012
You must have not committed any driving related offences in the last 5 years. Your assault and robbery convictions should still allow you to get a PrDP.
Thnx a lot for the information
Hi There
I have a code B license. I want to get a prdp for a breakdown vehicle. But will i be allowed to drive a breakdown van, when i am blind in one eye?
Regards
Hi Barend, I’m not sure if you will be given a PrDP if you are blind in one eye. I know the requirements for HMV is vision in both eyes. For code 8 you only need vision in one yee, but I’m not sure if a PrDP requires eye sight in two eyes or not, sorry.
Hi Gareth
I have a code B licence, driving a 12 sitter quantum, planning to transport school kids or staff for a reward. Do I need a code 10 (C1) to obtain PrDP or I can apply with the licence I have?
Will I ever need a PrDP, If am using it as family car but carrying 11 family members
If it can seat more than 12 people you will still need a PrDP.
Thank you
You can apply with a code B.
Much appreciated info
Hi I want to transport (14 and 10 seater quantum) staff, students and long distance I.E Cape Town to port Elizabeth I have a pdp do I need anything other permit? Thanking you in advance
Hi Cindy
Investigate operators licences. I’m not sure of the exact legislation around them, it may be applicable.
Hi Garth , I have EC drives licence . would I require a PDP if I drive a mec sprinter 519 panel van which gross is 7000 KGs. it is only towing and carrying my racing car parts . I mite also carry two guys with me to help at the track.
Regards Garry.
Hey Garry, I think what you’re driving pretty much falls directly into a ‘Goods Vehicle’ category, and will thus require a PrDP-G. You’re not transporting people for reward, so will just need a PrDP-G, and not PrDP-P.
Hie , I am a Zimbabwean with a valid drivers licence for B,C, and E classes and an international driving permit issued by the automobile association of Zimbabwe. I also have a valid defensive driving certificate and the road traffic act special medical certificate all issued in Zimbabwe. I wish to know the all the types of vehicles I am able to drive here in south Africa so that I am not found in conflict with the law. Thanx in advance
Hi Kuda, I’m not sure, I don’t know the Zim system that well. But if you have EC licence and a defensive driving certificate, you should be able to drive almost anything.
i just need to know a quantum, that have 15 seat do i need a code 10 license for pdp or is code 8 fine
If it’s GVM is less than 3.5 tons you only need a code 8 with PrDP.
Hi Gareth I’m a South African having a 5 years old theft criminal record do i qualify for pdp?
you most likely will.
hi if i tow a vehicle with a towtruck but not using the actual towtruck im using a piggyback do i still need a pdp?
Yes, because your acting as a tower. You’re doing it as a job
i pass my code 14 in another side my EC1 prdp was expired den i renew with for that code,does is need for me to apply a prdp for a code EC?
I don’t understand what you’re asking.
if you have code 10 test for code EC and pass it does a EC1 still valid ?
I’m still not sure what you’re asking. Did you book for code 10, but then do your test in a EC vehicle? You should get a licence for whatever vehicle you passed out in. Booking for code 10/14 shouldn’t matter.
Hi Gareth,
I have read numerous replies here but want to make 100% sure i understand correctly… we have bought a T5 Kombi (seats only 6 passengers + 2 in the front) and we wish top start a touring company so the passengers would have paid for their transportation…. do I need to get a code 10 as well as a PrDP or only use my current EB licence as is? And according to what i understood from your diagram, i would require a PrDP-G, is this correct? Thanks in advance for your assistance…
Hi Linda, according to my diagram you require a PrDP-P(eople) not G(oods) licence, as you are using it to carry passengers for reward. And your EB licence will be sufficient, you do not need a code 10 as the kombi weighs less than 3.5 tons.