A customer's car may be the same size as the one you usually drive and still put its controls in different places. The useful question at handover is not simply, “Have I driven this brand before?” It is, “Can I operate this particular car without searching for essential controls once the journey starts?”
Drivers on Demand (DOD) is preparing a marketplace connecting customers and businesses with verified independent drivers who drive customer-provided eligible vehicles. Auckland personal and business services are planned for 2 November 2026, subject to product alignment and readiness. Bookings are not open. This guide helps drivers and vehicle providers prepare for a future journey; it does not replace DOD's final onboarding, eligibility or trip procedures.
Make familiarisation part of the handover
The current DOD driver page identifies locating key controls as part of preparing to drive a customer-provided vehicle. Give that task its own place in the handover rather than treating the key exchange as the signal to move immediately.
Ask the vehicle provider where the manufacturer's instructions can be found and which features differ from a conventional layout. A useful handover explains the controls; it is not a substitute for being competent to drive the vehicle. If an essential operation remains unclear, resolve it while parked before deciding whether the journey can proceed.
For a company vehicle, arrange for a key holder who knows the actual car to be available. The business vehicle handover guide covers the people and vehicle-release arrangements at both ends.
Set the driving position for you
Do not inherit the previous driver's seat and mirror settings just because the trip is short. Set up the driving position before moving, using the vehicle instructions where needed. Check the view from the seat you will actually use, including the mirrors and the location of blind spots.
NZTA's vehicle-controls syllabus includes adjusting the seat, headrests, mirrors and safety belt, and identifying blind spots. Its familiarisation exercise takes place with the vehicle safely parked off the road and secured with its parking brake. These are driver-education reference points, not a DOD inspection certificate.
If the seat adjustment does not work, a mirror cannot be positioned appropriately or something interferes with access to the controls, pause and clarify the problem. A customer being comfortable with their own setup does not establish that it is suitable for another driver.
Locate the controls you may need without notice
Before departure, identify the indicators, lights, wipers, demisters, hazard switch, gear selector and parking brake. Know the starting and shutdown procedure for that model. Use the manufacturer's instructions for the actual operation; do not assume that an unfamiliar electronic selector behaves like a conventional lever.
NZTA's controls syllabus also includes instruments and warning lights. Ask about any unfamiliar indication and consult the appropriate instructions rather than accepting a vague explanation that a warning is “always there”. This article cannot interpret a dashboard warning or establish roadworthiness.
The vehicle-concern-at-pickup guide explains how to frame a concern that needs resolving. If the issue changes whether the car or driver is suitable for the journey, do not turn the first part of the trip into an experiment.
Set navigation before the car moves
Confirm the destination with the customer, including the relevant entrance rather than only the street address. Then prepare the navigation method while parked. Ask before connecting to a customer's infotainment system; do not assume you need access to their personal phone, account or saved contacts.
NZTA's distraction guidance recommends setting the route before departure, positioning a navigation phone so it does not obstruct the view, and pulling over to check or change the route. It also recommends preparing the seat, mirrors and music before driving and securing loose items.
Apply that preparation to an unfamiliar touchscreen too. Finding the demister should not depend on a tutorial delivered while moving through Auckland traffic. If a setting or route needs attention later, choose a safe place to pull over and park before dealing with it.
Keep the handover specific to this car
“Automatic hatchback” is less useful than the model, starting method and location of its essential controls. The same applies when a business has several similar cars: confirm which vehicle is being provided rather than assuming they all share the same layout.
Avoid changing optional driving modes or assistance settings simply to explore them. Follow the vehicle instructions and clarify any setting relevant to operating the car. An explanation from the owner does not remove the driver's responsibility to understand what they are doing.
If the car is manual or electric, use the manual-car guide or EV preparation guide for those additional questions. This article focuses on the parked setup common to an unfamiliar car, not a full lesson in a transmission or powertrain.
A parked setup checklist
| Area | Question to settle before moving |
|---|---|
| Driving position | Are the seat, headrest, belt and mirrors set for this driver? |
| Essential controls | Can the driver locate lights, indicators, wipers, demisters and hazards? |
| Vehicle operation | Are starting, gear selection, parking and shutdown understood? |
| Instruments | Are unfamiliar warnings or indications resolved? |
| Navigation | Is the destination confirmed and the route prepared? |
| Loose items | Are items stored securely and controls unobstructed? |
| Unresolved issue | What must be clarified before this journey can proceed? |
For example, a key holder might explain that the demister is in a touchscreen menu and show its location while the car is parked. The driver can then confirm they understand it before departure. This is an illustrative handover, not a report of a completed DOD trip.
During prelaunch, use Contact DOD for general questions about future driver or customer arrangements. An enquiry or launch-list registration does not activate a driver, reserve a trip or confirm acceptance of a vehicle. If a journey is needed before bookings open, use an option that is already available.
About this guide
Prepared by the Drivers on Demand editorial team using current DOD driver and Journal content and NZTA vehicle-controls and distraction guidance checked on 20 October 2026. It is a practical preparation guide, not manufacturer-specific instruction, a vehicle inspection or a statement that DOD's launch processes are final.