Can You Drive for Didi Without an Operating Permit?
3 Answers
Operating without an operating permit is not allowed when driving for Didi. As Didi's regulatory measures continue to strengthen, engaging in ride-hailing services without obtaining the online car-hailing operating permit is considered illegal. Once caught by traffic police, drivers will face certain penalties. Here’s more related information: Penalties: According to the 'Interim Measures for the Administration of Online Car-Hailing Business Services,' legally engaging in the online car-hailing industry requires holding dual certificates (driver and vehicle permits). Otherwise, it will be treated as illegal operation. Currently, transportation authorities in many regions conduct random inspections. If caught, drivers will be fined. Didi Reputation Score: Currently, Didi’s service score has gradually transitioned to a reputation score system. The purpose of implementing the reputation score is to prioritize drivers with higher scores for more orders, thereby achieving order allocation bias. The reputation score consists of travel points, service points, and bonus items. Part-time Didi drivers, who drive less frequently and for shorter durations compared to full-time drivers, tend to have lower reputation scores. Many drivers report that a low reputation score reduces the chances of receiving high-quality orders, often resulting in short-distance pickups (1-2 km) that barely cover the base fare. With increased travel costs, part-time drivers naturally earn less income.
To be honest, it's absolutely not okay to drive for Didi without an operating license. I know a friend who tried to save money by skipping the license and driving secretly, but got caught in the first week. He was fined nearly 10,000 yuan and had his car impounded. This license is essentially a transport permit, and all ride-hailing platforms require drivers to have it—otherwise, it's considered illegal operation. Didi's system regularly checks, and if you don’t pass the review, your account gets banned, and you can't receive orders. Even if you occasionally get away with it, if a passenger complains or the police inspect you, the trouble multiplies. Although getting the license takes some time and fees, driving legally is much safer, and you can also enjoy platform benefits. I recommend checking with the local transportation department for the specific process—don’t risk big losses for small savings.
From a financial perspective, I think this topic needs to be considered. The cost of obtaining an operating license is around a few thousand yuan, including vehicle inspection and additional insurance. However, if you drive for Didi without a license, getting caught once can result in fines of tens of thousands of yuan, and your vehicle might even be impounded, leading to even greater losses. Didi's platform has strict monitoring; drivers without licenses have lower account activity, reduced priority in order assignments, and unstable income. I did the math before—getting the license pays for itself in about six months, making it more cost-effective in the long run. Additionally, without proper passenger safety insurance coverage, you could end up paying out of pocket in case of an accident, which could be financially devastating. Don’t take the risk to save a few bucks—just get the license properly.
