Get your Vocational Licence before you can start driving and be a Grab driver!


Deciding between a Taxi Driver’s Vocational Licence (TDVL) or Private Hire Car Driver’s Vocational Licence (PDVL)?

With a TDVL, you can drive both a Taxi and Private Hire Car (PHC). If you have applied for PDVL and looking to switch from driving a PHC to a Taxi, you will need to reapply for a TDVL. Why go through the hassle?

If you are a Singapore Citizen age 30 years and above with a valid Class 3 or 3A Singapore driving licence for a continuous period of at least 1 year, apply for TDVL now!

However, if you have not reached the age of 30 years or you are a Singapore Permanent Resident, you may apply for PDVL. You will be required to hold a valid Class 3/3A/3C/3CA Singapore driving licence for at least a continuous period of 2 years at the point of application.

TDVL PDVL
Course Fee $294.25 (up to $240.75 claimable from SkillsFuture) $155.15 (up to $128.40 claimable from SkillsFuture)
Course Duration 2 Modules:
2 days – 8 classroom hours per day		 1 Module:
1 day – 8 classroom hours
Test Papers 3 Test papers (1 hour per paper):
Paper 1 – Service Quality, Health & Safety
Paper 2 – Taxi and Private Hire Car Rules & Regulations
Paper 3 – Route Planning		 2 Test papers (1 hour per paper):
Paper 1 – Service Quality, Health & Safety
Paper 2 – Taxi and Private Hire Car Rules & Regulations

How do I Apply?

   Prepare copies of these documents:

  1. NRIC
  2. DRIVING LICENSE
  3. ENGLISH PROFICIENCY CERTIFICATE
  4. PASSPORT SIZE PHOTO (click here to resize your passport size photo)
  5. CREDIT CARD
   *You will not be able to proceed if you do not have these with you

For new Driver-Partners: Steps to become licenced!

Are you new to Grab? Follow these simple steps to get your Vocational Licence in just 6-8 weeks!

STAGE 1: Sign up for your ATC Via

1. Grab@Sin Ming
2. Online at LicenseOne via https://licence1.business.gov.sg

STAGE 2: Complete Medical Check

1. Go for your medical checkup at any one of the listed SATA Clinic or your own clinic
For more details, visit https://www.sata.com.sg/sta/
2. Self-collect your Medical Report or have it sent directly to Singapore Taxi Academy (for SATA CommHealth only)

*You will be required to bring along your LTA in-principle letter prior to the checkup.

You may proceed with course registration (stage 3) once you obtain all the following documents:

✅ LTA Approval to attend Course Letter (TPDVL/PDVL ATC)
✅ Complete Medical Report (FIT)
✅ English Proficiency Cert (Minimum O/N level English D7)

STAGE 3: Course Registration via

1. Grab@Sin Ming
2. Online at grab.taxi.org.sg

STAGE 4: TDVL/PDVL Course & Test

Prepare copies of these documents for submission on the day of your course:

1. NRIC
2. DRIVING LICENCE
3. LTA APPROVAL LETTER
4. ENGLISH PROFICIENCY CERTIFICATE
5. ORIGINAL MEDICAL REPORT

Things to note on your course day:
– Arrive 15 mins before the start of class or test
– Be in proper attire (All gender: collared shirt, long pants and covered shoes) during course and test

– You will be refused entry if you are late or not properly attired and your attendance will be marked as absent

Terms and Conditions: The Academy reserves the right to cancel or postpone and to make changes to the course’s venue, content and instructor.

Frequently Asked Questions

Vocational Licence

All taxi and private hire car drivers are required to be properly licensed by Land Transport Authority in order to provide chauffeured services in Singapore.

  • Be at least 30 years old at the point of application
  • Be a Singapore Citizen
  • Have a valid Class 3 or 3A Singapore driving licence for a continuous period of at least 1 year at the point of application
  • Be able to speak and read basic English
  • Be a Singapore Citizen/Singapore Permanent Resident
  • Have held a valid Class 3/3A/3C/3CA Singapore driving licence for at least a continuous period of 2 years at the point of application
  • Be able to speak and read basic English
  • PR and Work Pass holders may also apply for the PDVL if they are employed by a chauffeured services company.
  • If you are self-employed, please ensure that you have up-to-date Medisave contributions.

TDVL holders need not apply for PDVL. You can continue driving with Grab as long as your TDVL is valid.

The TDVL allows you to drive both taxis and private hire cars. You are also allowed to take street hail jobs when driving a taxi. However, there are different eligibility criteria for TDVL and PDVL (see table below). To obtain your TDVL, you will also have to undergo a more rigorous training course that takes 25 hours. Eligibility criteria for TDVL and PDVL:

You will need to be employed by a chauffeured services company before you can apply for a PDVL. Alternatively, you may continue to drive on our GrabHitch platform.

Medical

Besides being an LTA requirement, we want to ensure that all driver-partners are healthy while on the road.

Yes, you may choose to head to your preferred licensed physician. Please bring this form and have your preferred licensed physician complete it during the checkup.

Grab has partnered SATA CommHealth to help you with your medical examination at a subsidized rate.

If you are 70 years and above, you will need to go for additional test – Abbreviated Mental Test (AMT) and Off-Road Occupational Therapist Assessment. Abbreviated Mental Test (AMT) can be done at SATA CommHealth Clinic while Off-Road Occupational Therapist Assessment can be done at TTSH. Download Assessment on Fitness to Drive for Vocational Licence Holders Aged 70 Years and Above

Training

SkillsFuture is a national movement to provide Singaporeans with the opportunities to develop their fullest potential throughout life. Every Singaporean above 25 has an initial $500 credits. Your PDVL training course fee is claimable from SkillsFuture. Check your credit amount via SkillsFuture Portal here.

You can register for your training after you have received your Approval to Course (ATC) letter from LTA and have completed & collected your Medical Report. Simply register at Grab@SinMing or via grab.taxi.org.sg

TDVL Training – 2 full day, 9AM-6PM (16 hours)
PDVL Training – 1 full day, 9AM-6PM (8 hours)

Don’t panic. You may register to retake it multiple times with your training provider. Test Fee of $10.70 (incl. GST) + $5.35 (incl. GST) per test paper applies. However, this will be at your own expense.

If you request to change your course date 2 weeks before the course starts, you may reschedule your course online at grab.taxi.org.sg by managing your booking. Simply key in your NRIC no. and Booking reference no. (found in your e-receipt). Admin fee of $10.70 (incl. GST) applies.

If you request to change course date less than 2 weeks but more than 3 days before the course starts, please head down to 28 Sin Ming Lane, Midview City, #01-143 to do so. Admin fee of $26.75 (incl. GST) applies.

If you request to change course date 3 days before the course starts or already passed course date, please head down to your training provider to do so. Re-course fee of $128.40 (incl. GST) applies.

TDVL course – $294.25 (up to $240.75 claimable from SkillsFuture)
If you have sufficient value in your SkillsFuture Credit Balance, you will only have to pay $53.50 upfront for your course fees.

PDVL course – $155.15 (up to $128.40 claimable from SkillsFuture)
If you have sufficient value in your SkillsFuture Credit Balance, you will only have to pay $26.75 upfront for your course fees.

With effect from 1st May 2019, only Credit Card & NETS will be accepted.

A maximum of $240.75 can be deducted for TDVL course.

A maximum of $128.40 can be deducted for PDVL course.

No refund will be given for cancellations made less than 2 weeks before the course date.

For request to cancel course 2 weeks before course starts, please head down to your training provider to do so. An admin fee of $26.75 (incl. GST) applies.

If you did not attend or complete the scheduled course, course fee will be forfeited.

  • NRIC (copy)
  • Driving Licence (copy)
  • Approval Letter from LTA (copy)
  • Medical & X-Ray Report (original)
  • Documentary Proof of ability to speak and read simple English: GCE ‘O’ or ‘N’ level pass in English (grade D7 and above), or Workplace Literacy (WPL) programme pass in English (level 3 or higher)

Proper attire during Course and Test. (All gender: collared shirt, long pants and covered shoes)

For the list of all GrabCar Partner benefits, click here.