For many people, a driver is someone who "just knows how to drive". In reality, behind a professional VIP chauffeur stands a set of formal requirements and additional qualifications — and their absence disqualifies someone from the role, no matter how good a driver they are in the technical sense.
Category B driving licence — the starting point
The basis is, of course, a category B driving licence, which permits driving passenger vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes. For most cars in a VIP fleet (sedans, SUVs) this is a sufficient formal qualification.
For vehicles such as the Mercedes V-Class Extra W447 (more than 9 seats, but a mass up to 3.5 t), a category B licence is still sufficient — however, the driver must have proven experience handling vehicles of this size class.
Certificate of professional competence
Under Polish and EU law (Directive 2003/59/EC), drivers performing the commercial carriage of passengers in a vehicle with more than 9 seats (including the driver) are required to hold:
- A certificate of professional competence — issued after completing a course and passing an exam
- Regular periodic training — every 5 years, confirmed by an entry on the driving licence (Code 95)
Code 95 on a driving licence is a number in the "codes" field — its presence means the driver holds current professional qualifications for the commercial carriage of passengers. The absence of this code while driving a vehicle with more than 9 seats for commercial purposes is a breach of the regulations.
Medical and psychological examinations
Professional drivers — those carrying passengers for commercial purposes — are subject to mandatory examinations:
- Medical examinations — an assessment of fitness to drive, taking into account eyesight, hearing, the musculoskeletal system and the circulatory system. Required every 5 years (or more often over the age of 60).
- Psychological examinations — an assessment of psychomotor performance, reaction time and perceptual ability. Mandatory for professional drivers.
The medical and psychological certificate issued is a document — a reputable company should be able to produce it.
Criminal record certificate
Professional VIP transport companies require their drivers to hold a criminal record certificate from the National Criminal Register, particularly with regard to offences that are:
- Traffic-related (accidents, drink-driving)
- Against life and health
- Against property
This matters especially when transporting VIPs, corporate delegations or families with children. A passenger should be certain they are entrusting their safety to someone with a spotless history.
Driver card (tachograph)
For long-distance journeys (more than 100 km from base), EU regulations may require a driver card for the digital tachograph. This applies to vehicles with more than 9 seats on journeys that exceed a certain distance or driving time.
A professional VIP chauffeur running routes such as Poznań–Berlin or Poznań–Warsaw should know and comply with the rules on driving and rest time (EC Regulation 561/2006).
Language skills and VIP protocol
Beyond the formal requirements, the work of a VIP chauffeur calls for soft skills that no certificate can define:
- English — communicating with international clients
- Guest-service protocol — conduct, dress, discretion, the right moment to start a conversation
- Route knowledge — alternative roads, travel time in different traffic conditions
- Operating navigation and flight-tracking systems
What does this mean in practice?
When you book VIP transport, it's worth asking:
- Does the driver have current medical and psychological examinations?
- Do they hold a certificate of professional competence (Code 95 on the driving licence)?
- Does the company verify its drivers' criminal records?
A reputable company will answer without hesitation. At EliteMotion, all drivers meet the full range of formal requirements — and, importantly, they are people with many years of experience in premium-class transport who understand what sets a VIP chauffeur apart from an ordinary driver. Ask us on +48 728 978 399.
Premium chauffeur service based in Poznań, Poland. We provide luxury chauffeured transport for private, business and corporate clients across Poland and Europe.
