inDrive clarifies car age limit confusion, pegs it at 2002 and later

Ride-hailing company inDrive has clarified a vehicle age limit kerfuffle that arose among drivers on the platform, stating that the minimum model year remains 2002. This clarification was made in response to a Technext inquiry into the matter.

Technext reported that drivers on the app were thrown into confusion after several representatives on the company’s support platform gave varying car age limits, including 2001, 2008 and 2011. But the company has clarified that none of those limits was right.

“2002 is the minimum,” inDrive Nigeria’s spokesperson said. “Currently, driver’s car should be at least 2002 or later, and this is in effect.”

However, for its comfort class, the company confirmed that the car age limit for that category is set at 2008 or newer.

Background to the inDrive car age limit confusion

Trouble began after a driver who acquired a 2009 Toyota Corolla applied to change the car registered to his inDrive account to the new vehicle. But after several attempts to submit a change of vehicle application on the app, he had to contact the support team.

According to an exchange seen by Technext, the driver got the following response after tendering his inquiry: “As per your concern, your vehicle does not meet our service rules because of its production year. It should be 2011 or above.”

When the bemused driver asked, “Since when?” the company representative simply replied: “From a while ago.”

Amid the confusion, other drivers decided to seek clarification from the inDrive representatives via the company’s support system. A representative, who gave their name as Rustam, debunked the 2011 claim, insisting the limit is actually 2008.

The rep also suggested that drivers won’t be required to upgrade their vehicles immediately.

But that didn’t clear the air, as yet another rep named Amir, responding to the same request, said the car age limit is 2001 and above. “Any brand of car as long as it has four doors and is a 2001 model, we will accept it for sure,” the support personnel said.

When asked how long this will be the case, the handler replied: “Once we update it, we will announce it, but for now, 2001.”

inDrive, however, clarified that its car age limit of a minimum of 2002 for general and 2008 for comfort is in effect. It also pointed out that a driver’s vehicle could be refused for a number of reasons.

“Reasons for declining a driver may vary, as a matter of fact, ranging from the photo of the car to document upload. We strictly apply the requirement of registration,” the company said.

Read also: Public Complaints Commission to investigate Uber, Bolt, inDrive following driver petition