Map the routine first
A driver's job is defined by the clock. Write out a normal weekday: school drop at 7:30, office drop at 8:30, school pick-up at 1:30, tuition at 4, and so on. Then add the irregular things: weddings, airport runs, the weekly bank visit, trips to Murree or Lahore.
This tells you three things: how many hours the job really is, whether the driver will have long idle gaps, and whether evenings and weekends are involved. It also gives candidates an honest picture, which keeps the good ones from leaving after a month.
Check the licence properly
Ask to see the original driving licence, not a photocopy. Check the name matches the CNIC, the category matches your car (LTV for cars, HTV for larger vehicles such as coasters), and the expiry date.
Islamabad licences are issued by the Islamabad Traffic Police and Rawalpindi licences through the Punjab system. Both have online verification. Search for the official verification page of the issuing authority and enter the licence number; never rely on a link sent by the candidate.
- Name on licence matches the CNIC
- Category covers your vehicle
- Licence is current, not expired
- Online verification confirms the record
Take a real test drive
Sit in the passenger seat for 30 minutes on routes the driver will actually use. Include a busy stretch, such as Murree Road, Kashmir Highway or the Blue Area service road at rush hour, a U-turn, and parking in a tight market.
| Watch for | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| Mirrors and indicators used without reminding | Habits, not show |
| Distance kept from the car ahead | Patience in traffic |
| Smooth braking | Comfort for children and elderly passengers |
| Phone left alone while driving | Whether rules will be followed when you are not there |
| Knows the routes without a map | Local experience |
If you have an automatic car, make sure the test is in that car. Some drivers with years of manual experience are uncomfortable in automatics at first.
References and background
Call the last employer and ask: how long did he drive for you, was he ever late, did he have any accidents or challans, and why did he leave? Ask whether they ever lent him the car for personal use and how that went.
Keep copies of the CNIC and licence, and the contact details of a family member. Register the driver with your local police station and, in DHA, Bahria Town or Askari, with society security. A police character certificate is worth asking for, especially if the driver will be alone with children.
Salary, overtime and trip allowances
Driver salaries in the twin cities depend on hours, overtime and travel. Our driver salary guide gives typical ranges as a starting point. Whatever you agree, three extras cause most arguments, so put them in writing:
- Overtime: the normal finish time, and the rate or amount after it
- Out-of-city trips: a daily food allowance and an overnight amount
- Late nights: weddings and events, and whether they count as overtime
Fuel, tolls, parking and car repairs are the owner's costs. Give the driver a fuel card or a float with receipts, never a fixed sum he is expected to stretch.
Set the car rules on day one
Most families never say these things aloud, then feel upset when they happen. Say them on the first day, kindly and clearly.
- No phone calls while driving, except on a hands-free set if you allow it
- No personal use of the car without permission
- No smoking in the car
- Children wear seatbelts; the driver waits until they are inside the school gate
- Report any scratch or problem the same day
- Keep the car clean inside and check tyres, oil and water weekly
If the driver will be alone with children
This is the most common reason families hire a driver, and it deserves extra care. Agree exactly who the driver may pick up, and tell the school which driver is authorised. Ask the driver to message you when the children are dropped and collected for the first few weeks.
Children should sit in the back. Teach them to tell you about anything that made them uncomfortable, and take it seriously if they do.
Part-time and shared drivers
If you only need school runs, a part-time driver can work well. Some drivers in the same sector cover two families whose school times do not clash. It saves money, but it needs firm timings, because one late pick-up throws out both families' days.
Make sure the driver is never expected to be in two places at once. Write the timings down and agree what happens on half-days and exam days, when schools change their hours.
Keep a simple fuel and expense log
A notebook in the glove box saves arguments. The driver writes the date, the amount of fuel bought, the odometer reading and any tolls or parking. You check it weekly against receipts. Within a month you will know your normal monthly fuel cost, and any big change stands out.
Never ask a driver to pay for fuel from their own pocket and claim it back later. Give a float or a fuel card so they are never out of money on the road.
Keeping a good driver
Good drivers leave for three reasons: unpredictable hours, late salary and being treated with suspicion. Tell them the next day's plan the evening before where you can, pay on the same date each month, and give them somewhere to rest and wait between trips, with water and access to a washroom.
Seasons, fog and long trips
Driving changes with the seasons around the twin cities. Monsoon rain floods underpasses and low roads in Rawalpindi, winter fog closes the motorway some mornings, and the Murree road is icy after snowfall. Ask candidates how they handle each, and agree that the driver can delay or cancel a long trip if conditions are unsafe, without blame.
Questions
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