The complete driver hiring checklist for Pakistan: write a brief, set a lawful salary, shortlist, interview, trial drive in your car, verify CNIC, licence and references, sign a written agreement, then onboard the driver properly in the first week.
- Stages
- 8
- Must-dos
- References, licence check, trial drive, agreement
- Salary floor
- Rs 40,700 Islamabad · Rs 40,000 Punjab
1. Brief
- Vehicle: make, model, transmission
- Area and pickup point
- Hours, day off, evenings
- All regular destinations
- Waiting time
- Live-in or live-out
- Who gives instructions
2. Salary and budget
- At least the provincial minimum wage (e.g. Rs 40,700 Islamabad, Rs 40,000 Punjab)
- Overtime rule
- Allowances: mobile, meals
- Agency fee (HireDriver.pk: one-time, = first monthly salary)
- Fuel and running costs (owner)
3. Shortlist
- Relevant experience with similar roles
- Experience with your vehicle type
- Lives within reasonable distance
- Expectations match hours and pay
4. Interview
- Previous employers and reasons for leaving
- Routes and areas known
- Situational questions: delays, breakdowns, clashes
- Expectations: hours, day off, salary
5. Trial drive
- Your car, your real route
- Busy junction, tight parking
- Mirrors, braking, distance
- Calm and respectful
6. Background checks
- Original CNIC
- Licence verified with the issuing authority
- Two employer references, called by you
- Police character certificate where available
7. Written agreement
- Duties and vehicle
- Hours, day off, overtime
- Salary and payment date
- Expenses and fuel
- Leave, probation, notice
- Conduct and confidentiality
8. First week
- Walk through routes and addresses
- Share emergency contacts
- Explain expense recording
- Register with society or school if required
- Give early feedback
Common mistakes to avoid
- Hiring without calling references
- Skipping the trial drive
- Leaving hours vague
- Paying below the minimum wage for full-time work
- No written terms
- Letting several people give conflicting instructions
Let HireDriver.pk handle the search
We shortlist drivers against your brief, with a one-time fee equal to the first monthly salary and a free replacement within six months. Call 0339 1222233.
How to use this checklist
Print it or keep it on your phone, and tick each item as you go. If you are hiring through HireDriver.pk, we help with stages one to four; you remain in charge of the interview, trial, checks and agreement, because you are the employer.
A realistic timeline
| Stage | What happens | Who |
|---|---|---|
| Brief | Write requirements | You |
| Salary | Agree a lawful range | You, with our guidance |
| Shortlist | Match candidates | HireDriver.pk |
| Interview | Meet candidates | You |
| Trial | Drive your route | You and the driver |
| Checks | Verify documents and references | You |
| Agreement | Sign terms | You and the driver |
| Start | First day and first week | You and the driver |
The time each stage takes depends on the role and on candidate availability, so we confirm the likely timeline after reviewing your brief rather than promising a fixed number of days.
Questions to answer before you start
- What exactly will the driver do each day?
- How many hours, including waiting?
- Which day off?
- What salary can you offer?
- Live-in or live-out?
- Who gives instructions?
- What are the house or company rules?
Documents checklist
- CNIC (original seen, copy kept with consent)
- Driving licence (category and expiry checked, verified)
- Two employer references (called)
- Police character certificate where available
- Photographs for society or school registration
- Signed employment agreement
After the first month
- Hold a short review
- Confirm the salary review date
- Update the brief if duties have changed
- Thank the driver for good work
If a driver placed by HireDriver.pk leaves within six months, contact us with the placement date and leaving date to start a replacement without an additional agency fee.
Quick interview checklist
- Previous two employers and dates
- Reasons for leaving
- Areas and routes known
- Vehicles driven: automatic, manual, hybrid
- Situational answers: delay, breakdown, clash
- Expected salary and hours
- Live-in or live-out preference
Quick trial-drive checklist
- Mirrors and indicators used consistently
- Smooth braking and acceleration
- Safe following distance
- Calm at junctions and roundabouts
- Tight parking done carefully
- Respectful, clear communication
Red flags at any stage
- References that cannot be reached
- Licence category does not match your car
- Pressure to start without checks
- Inconsistent stories
- Unwillingness to sign a simple agreement
A one-paragraph brief you can copy
“We are looking for a full-time [family / personal / office] driver for a [make, model, automatic/manual] in [area, city]. Normal hours are [start] to [finish], [six] days a week, with [day] off. Duties include [school runs, commute, errands]. Occasional late evenings [number per week], paid as overtime. [Live-in / live-out]. Salary range [amount] per month. Instructions from [names].”
Send this to HireDriver.pk on WhatsApp 0339 1222233 and we can start the shortlist immediately.
Budget checklist
- Monthly salary at or above the provincial minimum wage
- Overtime rule and expected amount
- Meals, mobile allowance or accommodation if offered
- One-time agency fee (HireDriver.pk: equal to the first monthly salary)
- Fuel, tolls, parking and servicing for your car
- An Eid bonus if you plan to give one
Adding these up before you interview means you can discuss salary confidently and avoid surprises later.
End-of-probation checklist
- Punctual every day?
- Safe and smooth driving?
- Car kept clean and checked?
- Expenses recorded honestly?
- Respectful with every passenger?
- Communication clear when plans changed?
Key terms explained
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| Placement agency | A business that finds and shortlists candidates for an employer. The employer interviews, chooses and employs the driver directly. |
| Full-time placement | A permanent driving job on a monthly salary, usually a full day six days a week, as opposed to a daily or hourly booking. |
| Placement fee | The amount paid to the agency for a successful placement. At HireDriver.pk it is charged once and equals the driver’s first monthly salary. |
| Replacement guarantee | A promise to find another driver without a new fee if the placed driver leaves within a set period. Ours is six months, for any reason. |
| Minimum wage | The lowest lawful monthly pay for full-time work, set by each province or territory for 26 working days. |
| CNIC | The Computerised National Identity Card issued by NADRA; the basic identity document every driver should show in original. |
| LTV licence | A licence for light transport vehicles such as vans and pickups used commercially. |
| HTV licence | A licence for heavy transport vehicles such as buses and trucks. |
| Police character certificate | A certificate issued by the police confirming a person’s record, available through provincial police services. |
| Probation | A short trial period at the start of employment, often one month, with a simple notice rule for both sides. |
| Overtime | Work beyond the agreed normal hours, paid at an agreed rate or fixed amount per late evening. |
| Live-in / live-out | A live-in driver stays at or near the employer’s home; a live-out driver commutes daily. Hours and pay should be agreed either way. |
Knowing these terms makes it easier to compare agencies, read an employment agreement and ask the right questions before a driver starts.
How to hire a driver in Pakistan
Driver hiring checklist pakistan. Call or WhatsApp 0339 1222233 with your requirements and we will explain availability, salary expectations and next steps.
Hiring a driver through HireDriver.pk
HireDriver.pk is a driver placement agency at Chandni Chowk, Rawalpindi. We place full-time drivers for your own car in Islamabad, Rawalpindi and 13 other cities. You share your brief, we shortlist suitable drivers, you interview them and take a trial drive in your own car, and you employ the driver directly on a monthly salary. Our fee is charged once and equals the first monthly salary; there is no monthly commission. If the driver we place leaves for any reason within six months, we provide a replacement without an additional agency fee.
To start, call or WhatsApp 0339 1222233 with your area, your car, the duty hours and the kind of driving you need, or use the enquiry form on our website. We will explain realistic salary expectations for the role and the next steps before any shortlist is prepared.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most important step when hiring a driver?
Calling previous employers and taking a trial drive in your own car.
Do I need a written agreement?
Yes, it prevents most disputes.
What salary should I pay?
At least the provincial minimum wage for full-time work, more for experience and long hours.
How many candidates should I interview?
Two to four well-matched candidates is usually enough when the shortlist fits your brief.
Should I pay a driver during the trial?
Agree it beforehand. Many employers pay for a trial day if it involves real duties.
What if a driver asks for an advance?
Decide your policy in advance and record any advance in writing with the repayment plan.