How to Apply for Your E-Hailing Operating Licence: Step by Step

TaxiSure 20 July 2026 10 min read regulatory

The rules have changed. These new permit rules are here to stay. Do you drive for Uber, Bolt, inDrive or another e-hailing app? Then you need an official e-hailing operating licence. The deadline to swap old permits was 11 March 2026. Drivers without a licence face fines. Your car can be taken away. The app can also block you.

Most drivers get stuck at the first step. They do not know how to apply. This guide gives you the full picture. It shows who to apply to. It shows each step. It gives you a clear list of papers.

Who do you apply to? The two-part system

This part confuses most people. Let us make it clear first.

Your own driver or owner licence comes from your PRE. Apply to the PRE in the province where you want to work. A licence usually covers one vehicle. It may only allow certain areas. Driving outside your approved area can break the rules.

The National Public Transport Regulator (NPTR) is a different office. It registers the e-hailing apps themselves (Uber, Bolt, inDrive and others). It also handles licences that cross provinces. Are you a normal driver working in one province? Then you do not go to the NPTR. Your province deals with your licence.

Your municipality may be asked for comment during the process. This is not the same as the full route and rank sign-off that minibus taxis need. It is a smaller role.

Quick guide by province:

Western Cape: Western Cape PRE (applications are in person; call 021 483 0270 for enquiries). Check the current application status page.
KwaZulu-Natal: KZN Department of Transport PRE (Durban PRE office: 15 Bronze Street, Bayhead).
Gauteng and Eastern Cape: Contact your provincial Department of Roads and Transport. Ask which PRE office handles e-hailing applications. Ask where to submit. Do not use Gauteng service links you see online. Some of them do not work.
All other provinces: Contact your provincial transport department. Ask for your nearest PRE.

Step by step: how to apply for your e-hailing operating licence

Do these steps in order. Skip a step and you will likely have to go back.

Step 1: Get or confirm your PDP

You must have a Professional Driving Permit (PDP). Without it, you cannot get an operating licence. No PDP yet? Apply at your nearest traffic department. You will need a medical certificate. You will also need a police clearance. Has yours expired? Renew it now, before anything else.

Step 2: Confirm your platform is registered with the NPTR

Your app provider (Uber, Bolt, inDrive, etc.) needs to be registered nationally with the NPTR before you can get a provincial licence. Registration is the platform’s responsibility, not yours, but it directly affects your application. Around the March 2026 deadline, only about three of twelve platforms had registered. Bolt was among the first. If you are unsure about your platform’s status, ask them directly or check the NPTR page on the Department of Transport website.

Step 3: Get your vehicle in order

The vehicle must be registered and licensed. It is best if it is in your name. Is it not in your name? Then you need a signed permission letter from the owner. You also need a certified copy of the owner’s ID. You need a valid roadworthy certificate too. Before you collect your licence, once approved, the vehicle needs two more things. It must have a panic button fitted. It must carry e-hailing branding. Plan for this early.

Step 4: Get a SARS Tax Compliance Status (TCS) PIN

The PRE needs proof that you pay your tax. Log in to SARS eFiling to make your TCS PIN. It is free. It is usually instant if your tax is in order.

Step 5: Complete the application forms

The new operating licence application form differs by province, so make sure you are using the correct one. The national Department of Transport form is Form 1A. In the Western Cape, the equivalent is Form 1B. On whichever form applies in your province, select “New Operating Licence” and “e-hailing service” as your service type.

You will also need to complete the Form 10 affidavit. In the Western Cape, applicants must additionally complete Form 20, an impartiality and employment declaration, plus a Method of Correspondence form. All the Western Cape forms can be downloaded from the Western Cape operating licence page. Drivers in other provinces can get the correct forms from their own Provincial Regulatory Entity (PRE), so ask your PRE if any additional provincial forms apply.

Step 6: Certify all your supporting documents

Certified copies must usually be less than three months old. Do not bring old ones. A commissioner of oaths can certify them for free. You will find one at your nearest police station or post office.

Step 7: Lodge the application at your PRE (in person)

Take your full application to your PRE office. In most provinces, you must apply in person. This includes the Western Cape. There is no online portal for the public right now. An online system is being built. It is not open to applicants yet.

Make a full copy of everything before you hand it in.

Step 8: Pay the application fee and get your receipt

Pay the fee. Make sure you get a receipt and a reference number. Keep both safe. Processing often takes a long time. So keep your proof of submission while you wait. It does not promise that you can keep driving. But it shows that you have applied.

Step 9: Wait for PRE processing

The legal target is 60 days. In real life, many drivers wait three months or more. In some provinces, the wait is six to twelve months. During this time, the PRE may check with the planning authority. It may also ask you for more documents. Reply fast to any request.

Step 10: Receive the decision and collect your licence

If you are approved, you will get a letter. The letter lists any last steps. It also gives you a time limit to finish them. Common last steps are fitting a certified panic button and adding e-hailing branding to the car. You may also need a fresh roadworthy check. Once these are done, you collect the licence.

If you are refused, you can appeal. The refusal letter explains why. It also explains how to appeal.

Document checklist

This is the general list. Check the exact needs with your own PRE before you go.

Core documents (almost every province):

Completed new operating licence application form with “New Operating Licence” and “e-hailing service” selected (national Form 1A; Western Cape Form 1B)
Form 10 affidavit; Western Cape applicants also complete Form 20 (impartiality and employment declaration) and a Method of Correspondence form
Certified copy of your South African ID, passport or valid work permit (under 3 months old)
Valid Professional Driving Permit (PDP)
SARS Tax Compliance Status (TCS) PIN
Vehicle registration certificate (make, model, year, VIN, passenger capacity)
Valid roadworthy certificate
Proof of your home address
Letter from your e-hailing app (like Bolt or Uber) that shows you drive for them, plus proof of the platform terms
Labour-law compliance declaration

Extra documents for some cases:

If the car is not in your name: a signed permission letter from the owner, plus the owner’s certified ID
If a company or fleet applies: company registration papers, a proxy or permission letter, and the representative’s ID and proof of address
Some provinces may ask for a criminal-record clearance, panic-button proof, or branding proof when you apply. Check with your PRE.

What does it cost?

You will see two different fees. They are for two different things.

The provincial PRE application fee is usually low. It is around R600 per vehicle in most provinces. Some charge less for the form itself. You pay this when you hand in your licence application.

The R5,000 figure appears a lot in the news. It is for the NPTR conversion process for nationally registered apps. It is not the normal provincial application fee.

Always check the current fee with your PRE before you go. Fees can change.

Other costs to plan for:

Document certification: R50 to R150
Panic button fitting: R500 to R1,500, plus a monthly monitoring fee
Roadworthy certificate: R500 to R800
PDP (if you need to apply or renew): R600 to R1,200

How long does a licence last? The Western Cape says up to five years per licence. The NPTR conversion process is linked to a seven-year period. Check your own licence term when you get your approval.

A few things that catch drivers out

If your platform is not registered, you cannot get a licence. You cannot control this. But it helps you to check.
The 11 March 2026 deadline has passed. Driving without a valid licence or proof of application is risky. You can get fines. Your car can be taken away.
KZN drivers: the KZN PRE says do not buy a new vehicle until you know your application is approved.
Geographic restrictions are real. Your licence may only cover certain areas. Picking up passengers outside your area can break the rules. This is true even with a valid licence.

Protect your vehicle with the right cover

While you sort out your licence, make sure your e-hailing cover is in place. Using a private policy for commercial e-hailing driving can create a mismatch that may only become apparent at claim stage. Explore TaxiSure’s e-hailing cover for options designed for e-hailing operators, subject to policy terms, limits and exclusions.

Got a question about your cover?

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Frequently Asked Questions

Where do I apply for my e-hailing operating licence?

You apply to the Provincial Regulatory Entity (PRE) in the province where you want to work. Each province has its own PRE office. Western Cape drivers apply in person and can call 021 483 0270 for enquiries. KZN drivers apply at 15 Bronze Street, Bayhead, Durban. Gauteng and Eastern Cape drivers should contact their provincial Department of Roads and Transport for the right office.

Can I apply for my e-hailing licence online?

Not right now. In most provinces, you apply in person at the PRE. An online system is being built. It is not open to the public yet.

What form do I use to apply, and where do I get it?

The new operating licence application form differs by province. The national Department of Transport form is Form 1A; in the Western Cape it is Form 1B. You can download the Western Cape forms from the Western Cape operating licence page, or collect the correct form from your own PRE office. When completing it, select “New Operating Licence” and “e-hailing service” as your service category.

How long does the application take?

The legal target is 60 days. But many people wait three months or more. In busy provinces, it can take six to twelve months. Keep your proof of submission while you wait.

What happens if my platform is not registered with the NPTR?

You cannot get an operating licence if your app is not registered with the NPTR. Registering the app is the job of the app provider (Uber, Bolt, inDrive and others). It is not your job. But it can still block your own application. Ask your app if you are not sure about their status.

Do I need a PDP to apply?

Yes. You must have a valid Professional Driving Permit. You cannot get an e-hailing operating licence without one. No PDP yet? Apply at your nearest traffic department.

What are the two different fees I keep seeing mentioned?

The provincial PRE application fee is usually around R600 per vehicle. The R5,000 fee is for the NPTR conversion process for apps. It is not the driver’s provincial application fee. Always check the current fee with your own PRE.

Sources

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