Chauffer

Chauffeurs drive people to and from their destinations, usually in a luxury car. Other duties include basic maintenance of the vehicle and providing travel information to passengers.

Also known as:

Driver

Work activities

Chauffeurs work for private households, large companies and local or central government departments. Their main duty is to drive people, safely and punctually, wherever they want to go. They also wait around to take people back home, or on to the next place.

Those employed by private households may have to drive their employers to appointments and social events. They may also drive their employers’ children to school. Those employed by large companies may drive senior executives or guests to meetings, airports, railway stations or hotels. Local or central government chauffeurs/might drive ministers, dignitaries and visitors to various official functions.

Additional duties may include basic maintenance of the vehicle, such as cleaning or filling with fuel. Chauffeurs also have to plan routes and may need to provide travel information to passengers. In some private households, driving may be combined with other domestic duties.

Self-employed chauffeurs often rent out their services for things like:

Weddings.
Hen and stag nights.
Trips to sporting or music events.

Personal qualities and skills

To do this job well, you’ll need:

To be an experienced driver.
A friendly, polite and helpful manner.
To be punctual, as reliability is valued by employers.
Practical skills, as you may have to carry out minor repairs to the vehicle you’re driving.
Knowledge of routes and places of interest within the area you work, as clients may ask about places to visit during their free time.
To be smartly dressed with a good standard of personal grooming.

If you are a self-employed chauffeur, maths skills will be useful for handling cash and when doing your accounts.

Pay and opportunities

Earnings for chauffeurs vary with the employer. The pay rates given are approximate. Salaried chauffeurs earn in the range of £14,000 and above, rising to £50,000 with experience.

Chauffeurs usually work a 41-43-hour week, although work can be irregular. Work can include early starts, nights, public holidays, weekends and nights away from home. Some employers offer a live-in facility.

Employers are private individuals, government departments, and large companies that provide chauffeur-driven cars for senior executives and clients. Opportunities for chauffeurs occur with employers in towns, cities and rural areas throughout the UK.

Opportunities occur for drivers to become self-employed.

Where are vacancies advertised?

Vacancies are advertised on all the major job boards, on the Government’s Find a Job service.

Entry routes and training

A chauffeur must have a great deal of driving experience and a full and current driving licence. Some employers may ask you to pass a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

The British Chauffeurs Guild offers a Security Chauffeur Training Course, leading to membership of the Guild. This course covers things like:

What chauffeurs should wear.
Personal hygiene.
Procedures for picking up, setting down and meeting clients.
Safe motoring and driving techniques.

Some chauffeurs set up their own companies.

Qualifications

No qualifications are usually needed to enter this job. Chauffeurs must hold a full and current driving licence.

Adult opportunities

Age limits apply to this occupation. Applicants for a Private Hire Vehicle (PHV) licence need to have held a full driving licence for at least one year.

Applicants normally require a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, local area knowledge test, medical check and may need to take a Special Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency PHV Driving Test. Normally, extensive experience in driving is expected. A clean, current driving licence is necessary. For some posts, employers also value a background in security work.

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Lorry driver
Motorcycle courier
Taxi driver
Van driver