You see R8,000 on your weekly earnings summary and think you're doing alright. Then the month ends and there's nothing left in your account. Where did it all go?
This article lists every single expense an e-hailing driver in South Africa faces in 2026, with real prices. No vague ranges — we're giving you the actual numbers so you can budget properly and know exactly what you're working with.
This is the first deduction you'll notice — it happens automatically before your earnings hit your wallet.
| Platform | Commission | Monthly on R30,000 gross |
|---|---|---|
| Uber | 25% | -R7,500 |
| Bolt | 15–20% | -R4,500 to -R6,000 |
There's no way around this. It's the cost of accessing their rider base. The only "hack" is choosing Bolt for the lower commission — but you may get fewer rides (see our Uber vs Bolt comparison for the full breakdown).
Fuel is your biggest variable cost and the one most sensitive to market changes. Here's the maths:
💡 Fuel efficiency matters massively. The difference between a 14 km/L Dzire and a 10 km/L Corolla is R2,000–R4,000/month in fuel alone. That's straight out of your pocket. Choose your vehicle wisely.
Fuel-saving tips:
If you don't own your car, this is your second-biggest expense after fuel:
| Option | Weekly | Monthly |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly rental (older car) | R1,800–R2,000 | R7,700–R8,600 |
| Weekly rental (mid-range) | R2,200–R2,800 | R9,500–R12,000 |
| Weekly rental (premium) | R2,800–R3,500 | R12,000–R15,000 |
| Bank finance (60 months) | — | R4,500–R7,500 |
| Rent-to-own | R3,500–R5,000 | R15,000–R21,500 |
We cover rental costs in depth in our dedicated rental cost article. The short version: if you can buy through bank finance, do it. It's dramatically cheaper.
E-hailing insurance is expensive because you're using your car commercially. Standard personal insurance won't cover you if you're in an accident while on a trip.
⚠️ Driving without proper e-hailing insurance is rolling the dice. One accident without cover could cost you R50,000+ in vehicle damage and liability. If you're renting, confirm the fleet owner's policy covers e-hailing specifically — not just personal use.
The driver app, Google Maps, Waze, and music streaming eat data. Typical usage: 2–4 GB/month.
Tip: Download offline maps for your city on Google Maps. This cuts data usage in half for navigation.
Driving 5,000+ km/month destroys cars faster than normal use. Here's what to budget:
Averaged out, budget R800–R1,500/month for routine maintenance. If you're renting, confirm what the fleet owner covers.
Passengers don't want to get into a dirty car. Low ratings = fewer rides = less money. Budget for at least two washes per week at R40–R60 each.
Required by law to drive for Uber or Bolt. PrDP application costs ~R250 (plus the cost of obtaining the required medical certificate and any driving licence card renewal). Renew every 5 years, but budget the medical annually.
Let's add it all up for a typical Johannesburg driver renting a mid-range car:
| Expense | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|
| Uber commission (25%) | R7,500 |
| Fuel (Dzire, 1200 km/wk) | R9,200 |
| Car rental (R2,300/wk) | R9,900 |
| Insurance (included in rental) | R0 |
| Data | R250 |
| Maintenance reserve | R1,000 |
| Car wash | R400 |
| PDP (amortised) | R50 |
| Total Expenses | R28,300 |
On gross monthly earnings of R34,400 (R8,000/week), that leaves R6,100/month net. For 220+ hours of work.
If you owned the car outright, you'd save R9,900/month on rental, bringing your net to R16,000/month. That's the difference owning makes.
These are averages. Your actual costs depend on your car, your city, your rental agreement and your driving habits. Don't rely on estimates — plug YOUR numbers into the FleetCalc calculator and see your real monthly profit.
🧮 Calculate My Profit →The five biggest expenses are: platform commission (15-25% of gross fares), fuel (R8,000-R11,000/month), car rental or finance (R7,700-R15,000/month), insurance (R800-R2,500/month), and data (R200-R500/month). Additional costs include car washes, maintenance, and PDP renewal.
A typical e-hailing driver covers 4,000-6,000 km per month. In a car averaging 14 km/L with petrol at R23.50/L, that's roughly 350-430 litres per month, costing R8,200-R10,100. Less efficient vehicles (10 km/L) will use R11,500-R14,100 in fuel.
For a renting driver, typically 70-85% of gross fares goes to expenses (commission, fuel, rental, insurance, data). Drivers who own their cars outright typically see 50-65% go to expenses. This is why knowing your specific costs is critical.