Hiring a private family driver: licence, duties, safety and rights

Do you really need a private driver?

Before you start, ask yourself: how many trips does the family need each day? Are they regular, like the daily school run, or occasional? Can a family member drive? Would ride-hailing apps be enough on some days?

A private driver is a long commitment, suited to families with many regular daily trips — taking several children to different schools, or accompanying an older relative to frequent appointments.

It goes through a licensed recruitment office

Recruiting a private driver works like other domestic workers: through a licensed recruitment office and the approved official channels. Don’t deal with unlicensed intermediaries, and don’t accept offers to “transfer” a driver from another family outside the official procedures.

The Saudi licence

The driver needs a valid Saudi driving licence to drive in the Kingdom, and the procedures may differ by his situation, experience and previous licence. Ask the licensed office: what is required to get the licence, who bears it, and how long does it take?

Don’t let the driver drive the family car before he has a proper licence; this protects him and the family.

Driving experience

Mention in the request that you need driving experience and that trips include highways or traffic in big cities. The office matches on job-related skills, such as driving experience and knowing the roads — not on personal traits unrelated to the work.

Describe the duties clearly

The private driver’s main duty is driving: school runs, family errands, and accompanying an older relative to appointments. The contract may include basic car care, such as keeping it clean and following its maintenance.

Housework isn’t part of a driver’s duties unless clearly agreed in the contract. He isn’t asked to drive other people’s cars or to work for another family.

Working hours and rest

One of the hardest things about a driver’s work is that trips are spread across the day: early morning for school, then midday, then evening. So it matters to set working hours and rest breaks clearly, and not to call on him at every hour of the day and night.

A rested driver is safer on the road, which protects the whole family; fatigue is one of the biggest causes of accidents.

Safety with children

If the driver will take the children, agree clear rules: child seats suited to their ages, seat belts for everyone, no phone while driving, a suitable speed, and who collects the children from school.

It helps to ride with him in the first days to see how he drives and show him the schools, routes and usual places.

The car and responsibilities

Agree on car matters: who follows the maintenance, who pays for fuel, and what he does if there’s a breakdown or accident. Keep important contact numbers and emergency numbers somewhere visible in the car.

Clarity on these details prevents misunderstandings and protects the driver from being held responsible for what isn’t his.

A weekly trip schedule

One of the best things a family can do is write a weekly schedule of fixed trips: school drop-offs and pick-ups, work times and regular medical appointments. It helps the driver plan and shows the family whether the trips go beyond reasonable working hours.

If the trips turn out to be too many, the family may need to reorganise them — grouping some together or using ride-hailing on certain days — rather than loading the driver beyond what he can do.

Accommodation

If the driver lives in, he is entitled to decent accommodation with privacy and ventilation; families often give him a separate room with its own entrance. Make sure it suits the hot summer and has the basics he needs.

Salary and rights

The driver has the same basic rights: the agreed salary in full and on time through approved channels, daily and weekly rest, annual leave, health care, and keeping his personal documents.

The salary reflects the duties and experience needed; we don’t list prices, so ask licensed offices for written offers.

Respect and communication

The driver spends many hours with family members in the car, and mutual respect makes those hours comfortable for everyone. Treat him with respect, teach your children to do the same, and tell him clearly about schedules and changes in advance where possible.

Questions to ask the office

• What does getting the Saudi licence involve, and who bears it?
• How long until the driver can start?
• What is the guarantee period, and what does it cover?
• Is contract insurance included, and what does it cover?
• Which fees and services does the offer include?

The first days with the driver

In the first days, show the driver the schools, workplaces and hospitals the family visits, the routes it prefers and places where parking is hard. Explain who collects the children and what to do if someone is late. A new driver needs time to learn the city and the family’s ways; with patience and explanation he becomes a reassuring part of its day.

Alternatives to consider

If your need for a driver is temporary or irregular, ride-hailing apps or sharing school runs with other families may suit better. If trips are daily and regular, a private driver through a licensed office is the lawful route.

Ask licensed offices for offers

With SaudiMaid you describe your family’s needs once — the number of trips, the cities, and whether you need experience driving in big cities — and your request reaches licensed offices who contact you with offers. Read about the private driver service.