Government | Thursday 14 September, 2017 10:31 am |

The requirements of the Public Transport Authority (PTA) to register Saudi nationals who want to provide taxi services through the new taxi smart-routing system will provide opportunities to a wider range of ages, starting from 18 to 60, a spokesman of the PTA said.
The requirements aim to ensure efficient taxi services within a legal framework without prejudice as to whether the profession is practiced on a part or full-time basis, PTA spokesman Abdullah Sail Al-Mutairi said.
He said applicants must meet all requirements within the new system.
The new “Wasl” portal recently launched by the PTA verifies the qualifications of the applicants wanting to register. They will not be accepted unless they meet all the requirements, he said.
He said the registration process is fully automatic to accommodate the large number of applicants from different parts of the Kingdom.
The first part concerns the owner of the car (driver) and stipulates that he should have a valid driving license; his age should not be less than 18 or above 60; he should have no criminal record; he should be the actual driver of the car; and should pass a training course on how to work the smart routing taxi system, he said.
Regarding the vehicle, PTA regulations require a valid car registration document and its type (private); an insurance policy covering third-party liability concerning taxi cabs; the life of the car should not exceed five years from the date of manufacture; the engine capacity should not be less than 2000cc; the distance between the two centrifugal axes should not be less than 2.75 meter; and a periodic mechanical inspection of the car must be passed, he said.