When you arrange a driver for your own car, the booking format depends on more than the distance to your destination. The key question is what you need the driver—and your vehicle—to do after the first stop.
Driver on Demand (DOD) plans to offer one-way and hourly booking options for eligible customer-provided vehicles in Auckland. The service is preparing for a 2 November 2026 launch, subject to product alignment and readiness. The examples below help you plan; the available options, duration and terms should be checked in the booking flow when it opens.
At a glance
| Your journey | Start by considering | Detail to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| A defined pickup and destination; the car stays there | One-way | Driver return arrangement |
| Several stops, waiting or a return to the starting point | Hourly | Available duration and change rules |
These are planning examples, not a guarantee that either format will be offered for every vehicle, location or time.
Choose one-way for a defined A-to-B journey
A one-way request is the clearest fit when you know the pickup point and destination and do not need the driver to wait or continue to other stops. For example, you may want your own car driven home after an evening event, or moved from one approved location to another.
Before choosing it, ask where the car will be when the trip ends. If you still need it back at the starting point, plan that separately. Also check the driver return arrangement shown for the request. DOD’s services page says the available option should be displayed.
Consider hourly when the journey has stops or waiting
An hourly request may fit a series of errands, an appointment with uncertain finishing time or a trip that returns to the starting point. Describe the stops and the likely time needed, including parking, loading and any time the driver may need to wait.
Hourly does not mean unlimited time or unlimited changes. Review the duration and conditions offered before confirming. If an appointment runs late, use the process shown in the service to ask about an extension rather than assuming the driver can stay.
Use the whole journey to make the choice
A short drive to an appointment could still call for more time if the driver must wait and bring you home. A longer trip may still be straightforwardly one-way if the car is meant to stay at its destination. The number of kilometres alone is not a reliable way to choose.
Write your route as a simple sequence: pickup → stop or destination → final location of the car. Add the expected time at each stop. This gives you a more useful description to enter when booking options become available.
Check the return and booking details before confirming
The driver may need a way back after leaving your car at its destination. DOD’s services page describes an available driver-return option for one-way trips. Check which arrangement is actually offered for your request before you confirm; do not assume the driver will travel back in your vehicle.
Review the pickup and destination, selected vehicle, date and time, expected duration, stops, driver return details and cancellation conditions. If an important detail is wrong, correct it before confirming so the request reflects the journey you actually need.
Two quick examples
Event to home: Your car is parked at an event venue and you want it driven home with you. If the journey ends at home, one-way may be suitable. Check how the driver will return after the handover.
Appointment and home again: You want the driver to take you to an appointment, wait and bring the same car home. Hourly may be a better starting point; estimate the appointment and waiting time before choosing a duration.
The five-question check
- Where will the vehicle be after the first destination?
- Will the driver need to wait or make several stops?
- How certain is the finishing time?
- What driver return arrangement is offered?
- What duration, return and change rules appear before confirmation?
Plan the complete trip
If you are still unsure, describe the complete journey and compare the formats offered. DOD’s customer page explains the planned booking flow, while the services page outlines one-way and hourly use cases. For vehicle and pickup preparation, see our first customer checklist.
About this guide and sources
Prepared by Driver on Demand NZ Limited’s editorial team and reviewed on 28 September 2026 against DOD’s customer page and services page. The examples explain how to think about a proposed trip; they do not claim firsthand operational experience or guarantee launch features. See DOD safety for the planned checks, About DOD for the organisation and Contact DOD to ask about a specific journey. Recheck service details when bookings open.