When do you require a PDP / PrDP licence?

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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:

Click for full size modified from: foresightpublications.co.za

Click for full size
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.

764 thoughts on “When do you require a PDP / PrDP licence?”

  1. hi, I would like to know what are the costs involved for a renewal of a pdp and code 14 drivers license? I done it last year January, and they were suppose to contact me to collect the original, as they gave me a temporary one, but they never got around to contacting me, and when I contacted them after the 6 month period, they said it wasn’t ready. so now I have to do it all over again.

    • Hi gezelle costs vary from province to province. Check your local municipalitys website or phone the traffic department for more info.

  2. Hello There,

    I have a code 8 licence and would like to buy a toyota quantum 16 seater. I know i will need a PDP but 3 questions
    1. can i apply for a PDP with a code 8 licence?
    2 .Will i be allowed to transport passengers with a code 8 driving a Quantum taxi?
    3. Can i Traport pasengers using a Merc Sprinter or VW Crafter?

    • Hi Michael. Your code 8 allows you to drive vehicles with a specific Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM). With a code 8 you can drive any vehicle with a GVM of less than 3.5 tons. I believe the quantum is less than that so you can use your code 8, but the sprinter and crafter are most likely over that and will necessitate a code 10.
      For transporting passengers you’ll require the PrDP, and you can get that regardless of what drivers licence you have.

  3. Hi! Great blog
    My brother in law purchased a Quantum 14 seater and when to go fetch it in Gauteng with his wife and two kids. They then drove down to Cape Town , where a traffic officer pulled him over in Riverside and issued him a fine for not having a Pdrp. Is this a lawful fine?

    • Hi Carlton
      I’m afraid it is. You require a PrDP when driving a vehicle able to carry 12 people or more even if you’re not travelling with 12 people.

  4. Hi Gareth,
    Thanks for your patience answering all these questions!
    We are an electrical contracting company and just bought a 8 ton flatbed truck with a 16 ton hydroponic crane. We are going to use it to transport a 6 meter shipping container to different sites. I have our code C1, do I need a PrDP?

    • Hey Quinton, I think your vehicle will fall under the category of being a Goods Vehicle and thus require a PrDP.

  5. Hi Gareth, I applied for PrDP in Langlaagte last year. I was told to wait for three weeks. After it ended I went there to check it, I was told its not back from Pta yet. Then I moved from Jo’burg & never got a chance to check it again. What do you suggest I should do??

    • Hi theo. Try asking a friend to go collect it. He will need a copy of your ID and a letter stating he can collect it. Or else you may have to reapply. Try phoning the traffic department to see if they have your licence.

  6. Thanks man. Last thing, how long does it take for them to take it back or re-application. Meaning e.g if I don’t collect within 3 months; a year; etc???

  7. Good day,
    A Client of us wants to finance a Sprinter 22 seater to transport school children.
    He does not have a contract with the school – he’ll be doing it in his private capacity. Currently he is transporting these children with his Kia Workhorse!
    The banks however has declined his application due to the fact that he’ll be transporting school children. What permits and/or legal documents would the client need to have for him to be able to obtain finance?
    Thank you

    • Hi Mariska, I don’t understand that he was denied ‘because he’s transporting children’. It might be an insurance concern, I don’t know.
      From a legal perspective driving the vehicle, he’ll need a PrDP licence and a vehicle licence that allows him to drive a vehicle over 3.5tons (so a code C/10). You need to get more information from the bank for them denying him the finance.

  8. We are athletes using the company’s Mercedes Benz Viano and a Vito. Do we require a pdp, as the company doen’t wanna give us the vehicles if we don’t have pdp’s? What category driver’s licence must one have to obtain a pdp?

    • How many people are you going to be transporting? Are any of you being employed to drive the vehicle, or driving the vehicle as part of your duties. You can get a PrDP regardless of your driver’s licence category. The company’s insurance might require all drivers to have an employee regardless of legal requirements.

      • The vehicles accommodate seven people. None of us are employed as drivers of said vehicles and it’s not part of our daily duties. We only drive them to races

  9. Hi! Thanks for your time. I recently bought a multi perpose trailer with a capacity of 500kg. I am going to use an Astra to tow it just for private use. Do I also need the Prdp when towing it with load or not as mostly I will be using it between Gauteng and Limpopo. Thanks

  10. I am employing a 23 year old driver who has a goods PDP. As we convey glue which is flammable does he need a D PDP. In addition, we use a Hyundai H100 bakkie as our delivery vehicle which is below 3500 kg. Does he still need a D PDP?

    • Hi Dees, if he transporting flammable materials in a vehicle that requires a PrDP, then he requires a D PrDP. But, as far as I can tell, if the vehicle’s GVM is less than 3500kg, he shouldn’t need a G or D PrDP. However I suggest confirming with your local traffic department.

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