inDrive brings back 1% commission as SA fuel prices head towards record highs
Available in Johannesburg and Pretoria from October, the initiative will allow inDrive drivers to keep 99% of their fare income as fuel costs place renewed pressure on earnings.
South African motorists are entering October facing record-high petrol and diesel prices, adding further pressure to the cost of earning an income on the road. For ride-hailing drivers, who absorb fuel costs as part of their day-to-day operating expenses, higher fuel prices can have a direct impact on what remains in their pockets at the end of each trip.
Against this backdrop, inDrive is bringing back its 1% commission initiative in Johannesburg and Pretoria from 1 October to 31 December 2026, allowing participating drivers to keep 99% of their fare income during the three-month period.
The timing comes as the latest Central Energy Fund data points to another significant fuel price increase in October. Month-end data shows under-recoveries of around R3.12 per litre for Petrol 95, while diesel is showing under-recoveries ranging from R2.73 to R3.13 per litre. With these market pressures feeding into the October fuel price adjustment, motorists and professional drivers are facing further increases in the cost of getting around and earning an income on the road.
“Fuel is one of the biggest costs drivers have to absorb every day, so when prices rise as sharply as they have this year, the impact on their earnings is immediate,” says Ashif Black, inDrive Country Representative in South Africa. “Bringing back our 1% commission gives drivers an opportunity to keep more of each fare at a time when the cost of being on the road is under renewed pressure.”
South African motorists have already faced steep increases this year. In September alone, both grades of petrol increased by R1.34 per litre, while diesel rose by between R2.94 and R3.15 per litre. Current projections suggest further increases could follow in October, although the final adjustment will depend on fuel price recoveries over the remainder of September.
For ride-hailing drivers, increases at the pump add to existing concerns about the proportion of each fare retained by platforms. The 1% commission initiative reduces that deduction for participating inDrive drivers for three months, giving them a greater share of the income generated from each trip.
“South African drivers work incredibly hard and have been vocal about the need for fairer systems,” says Black. “The 1% commission initiative is a practical way for us to respond. When operating costs are rising, reducing the amount the platform takes means more of every fare stays with the driver.”
inDrive’s peer-to-peer model also allows drivers and passengers to agree on fares, giving both parties greater choice over the price of a trip. Outside of the limited 1% commission period, inDrive says its commission globally, including in South Africa, does not exceed 12%.
“We know that a sustainable ride-hailing sector depends on drivers being able to earn a viable income,” says Black. “The pressures they face on the road are real, and fuel prices are a significant part of that. We want our model to give drivers greater control over what they earn and allow them to retain more of the value of the work they do.”
