Private Hire Car Driver’s Vocational Licence (PDVL): New Requirements in 2021

Before you can sign up to become a private hire car driver with Grab, GoJek, or any other private hire services, you'll first need a Private Hire Car Driver's Vocational Licence (PDVL). And over the years, the requirements for a driver to get this licence has changed. Learn about the new requirements for PDVL in this article!

What is PDVL?

First, let's start with what it is. The PDVL is a vocational licence that allows you to drive a private hire car in Singapore. Without a valid PDVL, you are not legally allowed to drive for Grab or any other private hire car service. There are different types of vocational licences for various uses, with a validity of 3 years, subject to age restrictions as the age limit for a licence is set at 75 years old. This means that if you are older, say 68 years and above, the validity period may be shorter.

What are the New PDVL Requirements?

Announced in September 2020, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) has set new requirements for drivers looking to apply for a PDVL. Previously, the requirements were:

1. Singaporean Or Singapore Permanent Resident;
2. > 18 years old
3. Valid Class 3/3A/3C/3CA Singapore Driving Licence for at least 2 years

However, the new requirements have raised the bar by quite a bit. If you're looking to apply for PDVL, you'll need to meet these requirements:

1. Singaporean
2. > 30 years old
3. Valid Class 3/3A/3C/3CA Singapore Driving Licence for a continuous period of at least 1 year

These new requirements for private-hire car drivers are now in line with those of taxi drivers who require a Taxi Driver's Vocational Licence (TDVL).

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How to Apply for PDVL?

Before you start your application, you will need to prepare these items.

1. NRIC
2. DRIVING LICENSE
3. ENGLISH PROFICIENCY CERTIFICATE
4. PASSPORT SIZE PHOTO
5. CREDIT CARD

Please note that your application will also be affected if you;

1. Committed any serious offences such as rape, murder, or kidnapping
2. Committed less serious offences such as housebreaking and cheating. However, for such cases, your application might still be considered after you've completed your sentence.
3. Have a suspended or disqualified driving licence

Step 1: Submit application

First, log in to GoBusiness Licensing portal with your Singpass to submit your application. Navigate to the “Private Hire Car Driver's Vocational Licence” section and upload the required documents. Once you've uploaded your documents, you'd need to pay a non-refundable application fee of $40. Please note that the application will take 30 days to be processed!

Step 2: Go for a medical

After your application's been approved, you are required to undergo a complete medical check-up. This can be done at any clinic of your choice. You will need to complete a medical examination form, certified by a registered medical practitioner. You'll have to complete a chest x-ray too, and this has to be signed off by a radiologist! When you have these items ready, submit your medical records to the training provider during registration for the PDVL course.

Step 3: Register for PDVL Course

When registering for the PDVL course - conducted by ComfortDelGro (CDG) Taxi, NTUC LearningHub (LHUB), and Singapore Taxi Academy (STA) - make sure you bring along the hard copy medical certificates. Otherwise, you might not be permitted to register for the course. Learn more about the course details here:

• CDG PDVL Course
• LHUB PDVL Course
• STA PDVL Course

Once you've passed the course, you can collect your Temporary PDVL which is valid for 6 months from the date of issue. You can use this while waiting for the PDVL to be delivered to you.