An event guest may attend a briefing, leave for a reception and finish at a hotel. That itinerary does not automatically explain what happens to the car between those appointments. Does it stay at the first venue, move empty or remain available for another journey? An organiser considering a driver for a provided car should make those decisions explicit.
Drivers on Demand (DOD) is preparing a marketplace connecting customers and businesses with verified independent drivers who drive customer- or business-provided eligible vehicles. Auckland services are coming soon, subject to product alignment and readiness. Bookings are not open. This guide is preparation for a future enquiry, not a confirmed event transport package, shuttle service or promise of driver availability.
Write two connected plans
Start with the guest’s required locations and times. Alongside that, record each proposed movement of the actual car. Identify who would travel in it on each leg and where the vehicle would remain between legs. Keep the two plans together so a change to the guest itinerary prompts a review of the car plan.
DOD’s customer information explains the proposed own-vehicle model. A request concerns the eligible car the customer or business provides; it is not a request for DOD to supply a vehicle.
Explain the gaps between journeys
A two-hour gap in a guest’s programme could mean several different things for a proposed driver arrangement. The driver might be asked to wait, the car might finish at that point, or a later journey might need a separate arrangement. Do not leave the intended meaning implicit.
State the request and ask what, if anything, the final service can support. Do not assume a driver remains available throughout an event or that an empty-car movement is automatically included. Any change in passengers, tasks, vehicle or timing needs to be considered under the final service criteria.
Use a movement table
| Programme point | Car question to resolve |
|---|---|
| Guest arrives at briefing | Does the car stay here, finish here or move elsewhere? |
| Guest attends the session | Is any waiting requested, and has it been agreed? |
| Reception begins elsewhere | Which car, passengers and departure point are proposed? |
| Programme finishes | Where does the car finish and who receives its keys? |
This is a planning example rather than a service menu. It does not establish eligibility or a booking. Identify the actual car and the person authorised to provide it before relying on any proposed movement plan.
Spot a mismatch before it becomes an assumption
For example, a hypothetical organiser may expect a guest to be collected outside a reception at 9 pm while the car plan ends at the earlier venue at 5 pm. Writing both plans down exposes the missing arrangement. The next step is to clarify the request and find out whether a suitable supported option is available, rather than treating the later collection as confirmed.
Likewise, an invitation saying “transport arranged” should not be treated internally as proof that every vehicle movement and return journey has been accepted. Make the status of each proposed leg visible to the person coordinating the event.
Give changes a responsible contact
Name one organiser who can explain the current request and one person authorised to receive the car at the end. Establish how a changed programme will be communicated and which details need reconfirmation. A guest, venue receptionist and car owner may each have different information.
The venue-access brief covers entrances and receiving arrangements. The arrival-time guide helps work backwards from a required arrival. Neither turns an estimated journey time into a guarantee.
Keep additional tasks visible
Describe any proposed luggage, equipment, extra passengers or duties alongside driving. Do not assume loading, freight movements, shuttles, traffic management or specialist vehicles form part of a future DOD arrangement. Applicable licensing, vehicle eligibility and insurance questions must be resolved for the actual proposed assignment; this article makes no determination on those matters.
Use the business vehicle handover guide for car release and receipt. During prelaunch, contact DOD for general questions. An enquiry does not reserve a driver or confirm event-sector acceptance. Use a suitable available alternative for an event that takes place before bookings open.
About this guide
Prepared by the Drivers on Demand editorial team for Driver on Demand NZ Limited. The examples are hypothetical and do not claim completed DOD event assignments. This is practical coordination guidance, not legal or insurance advice.