A driver arrives to use your car and notices a warning light, soft tyre, unusual noise or another concern. Should the journey begin? The safest useful answer is not a diagnosis made at the kerb. It is a clear handover process: stop, identify what is known, and only continue if the vehicle is suitable for the agreed trip.
Drivers on Demand (DOD) is preparing an Auckland service that connects a verified, suitably licensed driver with an eligible vehicle provided by the customer or business. Personal and business services are planned for 2 November 2026, subject to product alignment and readiness. This guide describes a sensible way to handle a concern before departure; it does not confirm final DOD inspection, substitution, cancellation or support procedures.
A current WoF is a starting point, not a live diagnosis
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi explains that a Warrant of Fitness is a regular check against required safety standards. NZTA also states that a vehicle must remain up to WoF standard between inspections. A current label therefore does not answer a new noise, damaged tyre, warning message or other condition noticed today.
The customer or business providing the car should address known faults before requesting a driver. A quick handover check does not replace servicing, a WoF inspection, the vehicle manual or advice from a qualified repairer. The driver should not be expected to diagnose or repair the customer’s vehicle.
Use a three-step pause at handover
1. Identify the concern
Describe what can actually be observed: which symbol is displayed, where a noise comes from, whether a tyre looks low, or what has changed since the car was last driven. Avoid guessing at the cause. If the customer knows the issue has already been assessed, have the relevant explanation or repair advice available.
2. Decide who can resolve it
The vehicle owner, authorised business contact or fleet coordinator should take responsibility for obtaining appropriate advice. Depending on the issue, that may mean checking the manufacturer’s instructions, contacting roadside assistance, speaking with a repairer or arranging an inspection. DOD support may help with the booking record, but it is not a substitute for a mechanic or emergency service.
3. Confirm the booking outcome
Do not let schedule pressure turn uncertainty into an assumption. If the concern is not resolved, pause the trip and use the available DOD process to report or change the request. If another vehicle is proposed, it should be added or selected through the supported booking process and separately meet the service’s vehicle, authority and insurance requirements. Do not silently swap cars or hand over different keys.
What the customer or business should provide
Before the driver arrives, check the car’s current WoF or CoF where applicable, vehicle licence, fuel or charge level and obvious condition. The NZTA car requirements guide notes that a car driven on the road must meet WoF standards, including relevant safety equipment being in working order.
Disclose a known issue when making the request or as soon as it appears. At pickup, show the driver unfamiliar controls and any message that needs explanation. Provide one authorised person who can decide what happens if the car cannot leave. For a business vehicle, the DOD handover guide also recommends naming the person releasing the car and the person receiving it.
Insurance is a separate check. Consumer Protection advises that policy cover depends on the policy, and that an unsafe car can affect a claim. Ask the insurer about the actual vehicle, arranged driver and proposed use. Driver verification by DOD would not itself confirm insurance cover or vehicle condition.
What the driver should do
At handover, compare the registration and vehicle with the accepted request, use the available DOD process to identify the customer, and listen to the vehicle orientation. If a new concern appears, describe it plainly and give the customer or authorised contact the opportunity to resolve it.
Do not dismiss an unfamiliar warning, reset a message to make it disappear or give a mechanical assurance outside your competence. If the car does not appear suitable for the journey, do not start merely because the customer is in a hurry. Follow the applicable DOD reporting process when it becomes available and keep the discussion factual: what was noticed, when, and what decision was made.
Record enough, but not everything
A short factual note can reduce later confusion. It should use the secure process DOD makes available and avoid unnecessary personal or vehicle information.
| Record | Useful detail |
|---|---|
| Booking and vehicle | Booking reference, registration and pickup location |
| Concern | Observable light, sound, damage or message—without diagnosis |
| Time | When it was first noticed or reported |
| Contact | Customer or authorised business person involved |
| Decision | Proceeded after resolution, paused, changed or cancelled through the supported process |
| Next step | Roadside assistance, inspection, alternative travel or later booking |
For more preparation guidance, see Before you book a driver for your own car, the DOD safety page and customer responsibilities. Use Contact DOD for a question about a proposed vehicle or booking.
About this guide and sources
Prepared by Drivers on Demand NZ Limited’s editorial team and reviewed on 3 October 2026 against DOD’s safety, customer and business guidance, NZTA’s Warrant of Fitness guidance, NZTA’s car requirements and Consumer Protection’s car insurance guidance. It is general planning information, not a vehicle diagnosis, legal opinion, insurance decision or account of a completed DOD trip.