Hiring a personal driver is a significant step for any household. A good driver does far more than navigate traffic — they manage the family's schedule, handle school runs, and often act as a trusted support figure for elderly or young family members.
Mandatory verification steps
Unlike maids or cooks, drivers carry an additional legal obligation: their driving licence must be valid and appropriate for the vehicle class. Before hiring:
- Verify the licence on the Parivahan portal (parivahan.gov.in)
- Check the driving history — ask the candidate directly and cross-check with references
- Run an Aadhaar + police verification — mandatory for someone with access to your vehicles and family
- Verify PAN card for salary documentation
Salary benchmarks 2026
- Full-time driver (6 days/week): ₹14,000 – ₹22,000/month in metro cities
- Part-time / outstation driver: ₹800 – ₹1,200/day plus fuel reimbursement
- Night-shift premium: 20–30 % above standard rate
Key contract clauses
A written agreement protects both parties. Include:
- Defined working hours and permitted overtime rate
- Advance policy (typical: one month's advance, recovered over 6 months)
- Fuel card or reimbursement procedure
- Traffic challan policy — who pays?
- Mobile phone use while driving (it should be prohibited)
- Notice period (30 days is standard)
Trial period
Ask the candidate to drive your regular routes — school, office, market — with you in the car before you finalise. Observe how they handle congestion, lane discipline, and whether they use the phone while driving.
