An electric car can be familiar to its owner and unfamiliar to the person who will drive it. A useful booking note covers the route and the small vehicle details that could otherwise delay the handover: charge level, access, starting controls and where the car will be left.
Drivers on Demand (DOD) is preparing an Auckland service in which a verified, suitably licensed driver drives an eligible vehicle provided by the customer. Personal and business services are planned for 2 November 2026, subject to product alignment and readiness. An EV should only be requested if it appears among the vehicle types DOD actually accepts when bookings open. The guidance below is a planning checklist, not confirmation that every EV, charger or charging task will be supported.
Start with the whole journey
Write the pickup address, destination and any stops. Add the final location of the car, especially if the booking would end somewhere other than home. For a return trip or an appointment with waiting time, estimate the time needed at each stop. DOD’s services page describes planned one-way and hourly formats; our format comparison helps you decide what to check when options become available.
Look at the displayed charge level and the route together. A dashboard range estimate is useful context, but do not treat it as a guaranteed distance. If the planned journey needs charging, decide before requesting a driver where that would happen, whether the connector suits your car and whether you are asking the driver to wait. Confirm with DOD whether a charging stop or charging assistance is permitted for the particular booking; do not assume it is included.
Give a two-minute vehicle orientation
At pickup, point out the controls that are specific to your car. Different EVs use different key cards, phone keys, start sequences, parking controls and charging-port releases. Tell the driver how to unlock, start, select drive and park, and how to secure the vehicle at the end. Show any warning or fault message already present rather than leaving the driver to discover it after departure.
Keep the handover concise. A note such as “key card is in the centre console; hold it at the marked spot to start; parking control is on the stalk” is more useful than a full owner manual. The driver should still follow the vehicle manufacturer’s instructions. If an essential control or warning is unclear, resolve it before the car moves.
Settle charging expectations separately
The person who drives the car is not automatically the person who should connect it to a charger. Say whether the journey is drive only or whether you hope to include a charging stop. If charging is needed, confirm who will choose the site, provide access, authorise any charger payment and disconnect or collect the car at the destination. Check those arrangements against the booking terms when they become available.
If you are supplying charging equipment for use at home, WorkSafe New Zealand advises against damaged or modified equipment and household adaptors between EV charging equipment and a socket. Its guidance also says EV charging adaptors should come from the vehicle or charging-equipment manufacturer. Do not improvise with a cable or adaptor at handover; ask the equipment provider or a qualified electrician if you are unsure. This article does not replace the vehicle or charger’s instructions.
Make the pickup and final handover precise
If your car is in an apartment garage, office car park or a location with controlled access, describe the entrance, level, bay and the person who will meet the driver. Agree how keys or a key card will be handed over. If a phone key is normally used, have a workable access plan that does not depend on handing over your personal phone or account credentials.
At the destination, state the approved parking place, who receives the car and whether it should be plugged in only if that step is agreed and supported. For a one-way journey, check the driver-return arrangement offered for that request. DOD’s customer page explains the planned vehicle and journey details; the live booking flow will be the place to confirm what is actually available.
A short EV booking note
| Detail | What to record |
|---|---|
| Vehicle | Registration, make, model and the access method |
| Route | Exact pickup, destination, stops and final car location |
| Charge | Displayed level and whether the planned journey may need a stop |
| Controls | How to start, park, lock and release the charging port, if relevant |
| Charging | Whether any stop or plug-in task is requested, and who will authorise it |
| Handover | Meeting point, key recipient and any site access instructions |
If the car has a fault, an unfamiliar warning or a charging problem, disclose it and resolve whether the journey can proceed. DOD’s safety page sets out its planned approach to driver and vehicle checks. For a question about a specific EV or journey, use Contact DOD before relying on a proposed arrangement.
About this guide and sources
Prepared by Drivers on Demand NZ Limited’s editorial team and reviewed on 30 September 2026 against DOD’s customer, services and safety pages, plus WorkSafe New Zealand’s EV charging advice. It is an editorial planning guide. It does not claim first-hand DOD trip experience or guarantee EV acceptance, charging assistance, service coverage or availability at launch.