Becoming a private-hire driver is a good source of income for many people. Here are tips on getting started. Photo: 123RF
Being a private-hire driver is a good source of income for many people.
Having a car is important for such a group of people, but the monthly instalments are a burden.
Working as a private-hire driver lets you earn during your free time and pay off your car loan at the same time.
However, most people find it daunting to start working as a private-hire driver due to the many prerequisites.
Here are some things to take note of when you’re just starting.
Get a private-hire vocational license
You now need to have a vocational license instead of just a normal Class 3 one if you want to work as a private-hire driver.
What you are applying for is the Private Hire Car Driver’s Vocational License, or PDVL.
You must first possess a Class 3 driving license for at least two years at the point of application.
Thereafter, you must complete a medical checkup. After that, register for and attend the PDVL course.
The course is held at either the Singapore Taxi Academy (STA) or ComfortDelGro Taxi, and costs $145 (including course materials and two test papers).
It takes around 10 h ours to complete the course.
If you already hold a Taxi Driver’s Vocational Licence (TDVL), you do not need to apply for a PDVL.
Get a (fuel efficient) car
The Toyota Prius is one of the most popular cars with private-hire drivers for its space and parsimonious fuel consumption.
There’s a reason why most private-hire cars on the road are fuel-sipping hybrids or compact cars which don’t consume much fuel.
The Toyota Prius and Honda HR-V/Vezel are popular private-hire cars, as is the cheap and cheerful Mitsubishi Attrage.
They’re popular for being commodious and parsimonious at the same time, a boon to any private-hire driver.
To avoid the hassle of switching insurance coverage to commercial, you might want to lease cars from any number of leasing companies which specifically allow drivers to drive for a private-hire company.
Get a decent GPS unit or GPS app
Not getting lost on your first trip out is important for any driver.
If you’re looking for a good list of navigation apps that aren’t Google Maps, we’ve got you covered.
Invest in a standalone GPS unit if you worry about your phone losing coverage, but it’s probably not necessary in well-covered Singapore.
The benefit of having so many private-hire cars in Singapore
