To check a chauffeur service in Cape Town before you book, ask five things: how the operator is licensed, whether the drivers hold a Professional Driving Permit, what exactly the written quote includes, what the cancellation terms are, and how the driver will meet you. A licensed chauffeur service in Cape Town will answer all five plainly and in writing. If the answers are vague, or arrive only as a WhatsApp voice note with a price, that tells you what you need to know.
None of this is exotic. It is the same care you would take before signing any contract that puts people you are responsible for in someone else's hands.
Why checking a chauffeur service is worth ten minutes
The cost of a poor booking is rarely the fare. It is the delegate standing in arrivals with nobody there, the guest driven by someone who should not be carrying passengers, or the wedding where half the guests arrive late. For a company, it is also a duty of care question: if something goes wrong, you will be asked what you checked. The guide on duty of care for visiting staff covers the corporate side in detail.
At Cape Town International specifically, ACSA tells passengers not to accept rides from unsolicited taxi or shuttle drivers, and in June 2026 a news report warned passengers about fake Uber drivers at the airport. A pre-booked, verifiable arrangement is the simplest protection.
Is the operator licensed?
In South Africa, carrying passengers for reward is regulated under the National Land Transport Act of 2009. Two bodies matter for a chauffeur service:
- The Western Cape Provincial Regulatory Entity, set up under the Act, which issues operating licences for services such as chartered services. A charter service is the hire of a vehicle and a driver for a trip at a charge arranged in advance with the operator.
- The National Public Transport Regulator, which accredits operators of tourist transport services and keeps a register of accredited operators.
Which licence an operator needs depends on the kind of service it runs. You do not need to master the regulations. Ask the operator what licence it holds, from which body, and whether it covers the trip you are booking. A professional operator will tell you without fuss.
Does the driver hold a PrDP?
Road safety guidance from Arrive Alive says a driver who transports people for reward needs a Professional Driving Permit (PrDP) in the passenger category, in addition to an ordinary driving licence. Arrive Alive also notes it is required when the vehicle is designed to carry 12 or more people including the driver. The PrDP involves an age requirement and a medical fitness certificate.
Ask whether the drivers who will carry your party hold a current PrDP. It is a reasonable question and should get a direct answer.
Ask about insurance as well, specifically what cover is in place for passengers. Ask any operator, including us, and expect a plain answer. West Landau shows its operating licence, its drivers' PrDPs and its passenger insurance on request.
What the written quote should tell you
A proper quote is a document, not a figure in a message. It should set out:
| Item | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Vehicle | The model, not a category such as "luxury van" |
| Booking type | Transfer, half day, full day or multi-day, with hours and kilometres |
| Inclusions | Driver, fuel, tolls, waiting time |
| Extras | Overtime per hour, extra distance per km, child seats |
| Exclusions | Entrance fees, tastings, venue parking |
| Payment | How and when, and what confirms the booking |
| Cancellation | The windows, in writing |
| Reference | A booking reference for every change |
At West Landau the quote is written, priced per vehicle and carries a booking reference. Driver, fuel, tolls, Wi-Fi and chilled water are included. The booking is confirmed on full payment by EFT, and the cancellation terms are on the policies page: free more than 48 hours before pickup, 50 percent retained within 48 hours, the full value within 24 hours or for a no-show.
How will the driver meet you?
This is where a weak service usually shows itself. Ask:
- When will we receive the driver's details? At West Landau, the evening before, with the driver's name, photo and direct number.
- Where will the driver wait? For an airport pickup, in the arrivals hall with a name board, not "call when you land".
- Is the flight tracked? The driver should work from the actual landing time, and you should know how long the waiting allowance is. Ours is the first 60 minutes after actual touchdown.
- What happens if the flight is cancelled or diverted? It should move to the new arrival, not count as your cancellation.
- Who answers if something changes? A named person, and the hours they are reachable. Our concierge replies within the hour during business hours, every day from 07:00 to 21:00.
The guide to what to send your chauffeur before you land covers the other side of the arrangement.
Signs a chauffeur service is not set up properly
A few patterns are worth taking seriously:
- A price but no written terms.
- No vehicle named, or a vehicle that changes after payment.
- Pressure to pay a deposit in cash or to a personal account.
- No answer to the licence or permit questions, or an answer that changes.
- A different person every time you call, with no record of what was agreed.
- An offer from someone approaching you in the terminal.
None of these proves a problem on its own. Together, they suggest the operator relies on things going right, with nothing in place for when they do not. The corporate chauffeur page explains how company bookings and accounts are handled at West Landau.
Common questions
Can I check an operator's licence myself?
The National Public Transport Regulator is required to keep a register of accredited tourist transport operators, and operating licences are issued by the regulatory bodies under the Act. The quickest route is usually to ask the operator for its licence details and check them with the issuing body.
What about e-hailing at the airport?
ACSA names Uber and Bolt as authorised app-based operators at Cape Town International. Request rides only in the app and check the vehicle and driver details before you get in. The guide on Uber or a private transfer compares the two.
What should a company keep on file?
The written quote, the booking reference, the driver details sent before the trip and the operator's licence and insurance details. That is usually enough to show what was booked and checked.
To get a quote, send the dates, the number of people, the addresses and any questions you want answered in writing. The concierge replies with a written quote and a booking reference.