To hire a personal driver, write a clear brief (car, hours, routes), set a lawful salary, shortlist candidates through references or a placement agency, interview, take a trial drive in your own car, verify documents and sign a short written agreement before the first day.
- Time to prepare a brief
- About 30 minutes
- Must-have checks
- CNIC, licence, references, trial drive
- Salary floor
- Rs 40,700 (Islamabad), Rs 40,000 (Punjab)
- Agreement
- Written, signed by both
Step 1: Write down exactly what you need
Most hiring problems start with a vague job. Before you speak to anyone, spend half an hour writing a one-page brief. It tells candidates whether the job suits them, and it gives you a fair way to compare people.
- Your car: make, model, year and whether it is automatic, manual or hybrid
- Reporting time, normal finish time and weekly day off
- Every regular trip: office, meetings, gym, family visits
- How much waiting is involved and where the driver waits
- Evenings, Sundays and any out-of-city travel
- Errands you expect: pharmacy, bank, documents
- Live-in or live-out
- Your salary range and how overtime will be paid
Step 2: Decide a fair, lawful salary
A full-time personal driver is an employee, so the salary must meet at least the provincial minimum wage: Rs 40,700 a month in Islamabad and Rs 40,000 in Punjab, for example. Experienced drivers, long hours and premium cars justify more. Decide your range before interviews so you can discuss it openly.
Step 3: How to find a reliable driver
There are three main routes. Personal referrals from friends and colleagues are valuable because you can ask the previous employer directly, but the pool is small. Online classifieds give volume but little screening. A driver placement agency sits in between: it does the search and first screening against your brief and usually backs the placement with a replacement guarantee.
Whichever route you use, reliability shows in history, not in promises. A reliable driver can name previous employers, explain why each job ended and give you numbers you can call.
How does a driver placement agency work?
A placement agency works for the employer. At HireDriver.pk the process is simple: you share your brief, we agree a realistic salary range, we shortlist drivers who match your car, location and schedule, and you interview and trial them. You employ the chosen driver directly and pay their salary. Our fee is charged once, equal to the first monthly salary, and if the placed driver leaves within six months we provide a replacement without another agency fee.
That is different from a job board, where you receive applications with no screening, and from a rent-a-car service, which provides a vehicle and a driver together.
Is a driver available for my own car?
Yes. Hiring a driver for your own car is exactly what a placement is. You keep control of the vehicle, its insurance and its running costs, and the driver works only on your car. Check that your insurance allows another person to drive, and tell candidates which vehicle they will drive so they can confirm their experience with it.
How to compare driver agencies
- Fee model: one-time or monthly?
- Replacement guarantee: how long and what does it cover?
- Screening: which checks are actually done?
- References: can you call previous employers yourself?
- Transparency: are terms written down?
- Focus: do they specialise in full-time placements or mix in rentals and daily bookings?
Step 4: Interview with purpose
Keep the interview practical. Ask about real situations rather than general qualities: how they would handle a passenger running late, a breakdown, a road closure or a disagreement between two family members about the car.
Step 5: Take a trial drive in your own car
Nothing replaces watching someone drive your car on your route. Sit in the passenger seat, then in the back. Include a busy junction, a tight parking space and a stretch of main road. Watch mirrors, braking, spacing and calm. Ask the driver to talk you through the car’s warning lights and daily checks.
Step 6: Verify documents and references
- Original CNIC matching the person
- Valid licence of the right category, checked with the issuing authority
- At least two employer references you call yourself
- Police character certificate where available
Step 7: Put the terms in writing
A one-page agreement covering duties, hours, salary, day off, overtime, leave and notice protects both sides. Agree a probation period, for example one month, and a salary review date.
The first week: setting the driver up to succeed
- Walk through the daily routine and key addresses
- Share emergency contacts and who may give instructions
- Explain how fuel and expenses are recorded
- Agree how schedule changes are communicated
- Give feedback early and kindly
Mistakes people make when hiring a personal driver
- Hiring the first available person because the need feels urgent
- Agreeing a salary before describing the real hours
- Not checking that the licence matches the car
- Skipping the back-seat test during the trial
- Allowing personal use of the car without clear rules
- Paying cash without any record
Using a probation period well
A one-month probation gives both sides a fair chance. Agree in writing what you will review at the end: punctuality, driving quality, care of the car, accuracy of expense records and communication. Hold a short conversation at the end of each week so nothing comes as a surprise at the end of the month. If the placement ends within six months and the driver came through HireDriver.pk, our replacement guarantee applies.
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.
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
How do I hire a personal driver?
Write a brief, set a lawful salary, shortlist, interview, trial drive, verify documents and sign a written agreement.
How do I find a reliable driver?
Look for verifiable history: previous employers you can call, a valid licence and a calm trial drive.
How does a driver placement agency work?
It shortlists drivers against your brief; you interview and employ the driver directly. HireDriver.pk charges a one-time fee and replaces within six months.
Is a driver available for my own car?
Yes, a placement is a driver-only arrangement for your vehicle.
How do I compare driver agencies?
Compare fee model, replacement guarantee, screening, references and written terms.