03
Mar
10 PDVL Step to Be Full/Part-Time Grab Driver with Car Rental
by MissSJ













Hi Mappy Travel,
Hope you are doing good in everything.
Saw your post “10 Steps To Become A Private Hire Driver with Car Rental”.
Just get my TDVL on this year August. Till now still zero experience in this “line”.
Intend to do part-time first with either one (Grab, Gojek or Taxi).
Are you able to share with me your experience and provide some guides as a part-timer? Thanks.
Hi Leslie, thanks for leaving a comment. Congratulation for getting your TDVL! 🙂 Not sure if I answer your question as it is a rather broad subject you are asking. You can do part-time for both Grab and Gojek concurrently, but I would prefer to place my eggs in one basket to accumulate the incentive.
Please be a part-time Private-Hire Driver (PHD) and not make it into a full-time career first if you have a job currently. I do not think it is as lucrative as it used to be. You will slough like hell, paying for your medical fees and thinking twice to have an off day, sacrificing family times above all especially if you have a rental car.
Being a part-timer with your own car, I think you can make some good passive income with it, especially on weekends if you are hardworking. For your info, I was a night driver and detested to do GrabShare as most other drivers do. Unfortunately, by cancelling a lot of GrabShare, it affects my incentive too. My percentage was always low to hit most targets. So tip number 1, be aware of how many jobs you cancel if you are aiming for incentive.
The other alternate group of people who do not go for incentives are selective on the fares and cherry-pick. I will not do that as you can get many $6 trips for a short distance such as 2 km. As a ‘professional’ service provider, I accepted almost all jobs except for GrabShare.
I would also avoid CBD areas, especially Orchard areas. Though the fares may be higher, the time trapped in a traffic jam was even higher. And many times, there is not even price surge in such area so I would cancel the job after justifying the opportunity cost. I liked Boat Quay vicinity as the fares were mostly high and also easy to pick up people.
My rule is not engage in discussion with the passengers first. Most of them want some peace playing with their mobile or rest in the car. If they want to talk to you, they will initiate the conversation. Talking too much or saying the wrong things may affect your rating later.
The passengers in the evening are more easy-going than those during the days. I have not had strange requests from them requesting me to drive faster or to find ways to avoid the ERP. So overall, that is less stressful to drive at night.
My last tip is to standby some plastic bags for people so they can vomit. The best type of bag material is those that you can take from the planes. One taxi driver advised me to keep some charcoal. In case someone vomited, the charcoal can be handy to absorb the smell. All the best to you! 🙂
Stumbled upon this blog half hr b4 my PDVL test. Thanks to the TP tests links, I was more confident in taking the tests. Thanks for sharing your experience.
Hi Fouzie, I hope there was enough time to do the TP test. Did you pass your PDVL? I hope so… All the best!
Hi, I am having my own car and applied for PDVL. Any idea how to proceed next?
Hi Andy, unfortunately, I have no idea regarding registering your own vehicle. I know you have to apply a Z10 license for your car… The Private-Hire company will be able to advise you on the next step. Good luck to your passive income!