What is the difference between a chauffeur and a bodyguard driver?

A chauffeur focuses on comfort and transport from A to B. A bodyguard driver combines executive driving with professional Close Protection, using route planning, anti-surveillance skills and real-time decision-making to help the principal arrive safely even when conditions change.

Do bodyguard drivers need an SIA or PSA licence?

Yes. In the UK, anyone carrying out Close Protection duties, including protective driving, should hold a valid SIA Close Protection licence. In Ireland, commercial security services must be delivered under PSA licensing. Using a properly licensed driver supports both legal compliance and professional standards.

Can a PA or private office arrange a bodyguard driver for multi-day travel?

Yes. Many protective drivers work directly with PAs, estate managers and private offices on multi-day or multi-location itineraries, including airports, hotels, residences and events. This allows secure travel planning, consistent standards across the trip and a single point of contact for schedule changes or additional protection requirements.

What’s the difference between a chauffeur and a close protection driver?

Q: When should I use a protective driver instead of a standard chauffeur?

A protective driver is recommended when visibility or risk is elevated – for example for HNW and UHNW individuals, celebrities and influencers, executives attending sensitive meetings, families needing secure school runs or airport transfers, or anyone experiencing unwanted attention, surveillance or media interest. In these situations, a standard chauffeur service may not provide the level of security required.

Q: What does a Close Protection driver do day to day?

A Close Protection driver plans multiple routes, conducts pre-drive vehicle checks, assesses areas on arrival, manages secure boarding and exiting, monitors for signs of surveillance, and coordinates closely with the principal’s PA or private office. Their role is to move the client efficiently while managing risk in the background and maintaining discretion at all times.

paulfrederickjones
11 hours ago
4 min read

Bodyguard or close protection chauffeur vehicle keeping principle safe from harm and detecting risks discreetly and calmly

A standard chauffeur gets you from A to B, whereas a close protection driver ensures you reach your destination even when the route changes, surveillance is in play, or a threat emerges mid-journey. It’s the difference between arriving... and arriving safely.

At VIS Protection, we provide Close Protection (bodyguard) drivers who combine high-level security training with the professionalism of executive transport. These aren’t just drivers. They’re trained operatives behind the wheel - veterans who understand risk, movement, and the value of keeping a principal safe without disrupting their routine.

What makes a Close Protection Driver different?

Advanced anti-surveillance and behavioural awareness

Protective drivers don’t just watch the road. They watch the environment - identifying hostile surveillance, unusual following patterns, and behavioural cues long before they escalate.

Escape and evasion under pressure

Where a chauffeur slows down, a trained operative acts decisively. Protective driving techniques allow the vehicle to break contact, avoid choke points, and create time and distance between the principal and the threat.

Route planning that adapts in real time

A chauffeur follows directions. A CP driver creates multiple routes with built-in contingencies, adjusting instantly if:

• Traffic becomes suspicious

• Paparazzi appear

• The environment feels compromised

• A sudden protest, incident or roadblock emerges

Licensed Close Protection professionals

VIS drivers are fully SIA-licensed in the UK and PSA-licensed when operating in Ireland - meeting the legal standard for delivering genuine protective services.

Experience across complex environments

From London and Belfast to Dublin and high-profile rural estates, our operatives understand how risk changes with visibility, travel patterns and public attention.

London bodyguard chauffeur ensures safety to clients whether they are travelling for pleasure or business - safety is paramount

The role behind the wheel: more than transport

Professional protective drivers operate in the grey space between security and lifestyle support.

Their work includes:

Secure boarding and exit protocols
Pre-drive vehicle checks and area assessments
Maintaining discretion during paparazzi or media attention
Controlling exposure when clients move between venues
Liaising with PAs, estate staff and private office teams
Ensuring the principal remains unobserved during transitions

The aim: keep the day flowing, not slow it down.

Who uses protective drivers?

Protective driving isn’t just for celebrities or diplomats. Increasingly, our clients include:

HNW and UHNW individuals
Entrepreneurs with public profiles
Celebrities and influencers facing exposure or stalking risks
Executives attending negotiations or sensitive meetings
Families needing secure school runs and airport transfers
Anyone experiencing unwanted surveillance or media attention
Private offices managing complex movement for principals

The common factor? They value not just arrival… but safe arrival.

A PA-focused guide: what you must check before booking

For Personal Assistants, Estate Managers and Chiefs of Staff, protective driving is often one of the most sensitive components of a principal’s routine.

Here’s the essential checklist:

1. Route planning & dynamic risk assessment

A professional bodyguard driver prepares primary, secondary and contingency routes - factoring in predictable stops, crowd density, crime zones, paparazzi hotspots and unusual vehicle behaviour.

2. Due diligence on the operative

Confirm:

Military or police background
Current Close Protection qualifications
Medical training (ideally FPOS-I or equivalent)
Experience with HNW, UHNW or public-figure clients
Strong references and clean operational record

3. Correct licensing: SIA vs PSA

UK – SIA licence required for Close Protection work
Ireland – PSA licence required for commercial security services

Many chauffeur companies do not meet this standard. As a PA, this puts you at risk of liability if something goes wrong.

4. Insurance that actually covers security work

Check for:

Employer’s liability
Public liability
Specialist Close Protection insurance
Vehicle insurance valid for security work (not standard chauffeur cover)

5. Daily protection protocols

A bodyguard driver should follow strict procedures, including:

Pre-departure vehicle inspections
Area scans on arrival
Secure loading and unloading
Discreet communication with the PA
Confidentiality with addresses, routines and schedules
Urgent-change readiness (airport switches, route changes, unexpected meetings)

This is what separates a genuine security driver from a premium chauffeur.

Why VIS Protection?

At VIS, every security driver is:

✓ A former military professional

✓ SIA- or PSA-licensed

✓ Trained in evasive and anti-surveillance techniques

✓ Experienced with HNW families, celebrities and high-profile individuals

✓ Discreet, calm and unintrusive

We don’t just protect the journey. We protect the person.

Final thought

Protective driving isn’t about paranoia - it’s about preparation.

If your profile, routine or lifestyle creates visibility, a trained bodyguard driver ensures every journey is predictable for you and unpredictable for anyone watching.

When you need a driver who does more than drive, VIS Protection provides reassurance behind the wheel and confidence throughout your day.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a chauffeur and a close protection driver?

A chauffeur provides comfortable transport. A CP/ security driver delivers secure movement - combining Close Protection training, anti-surveillance awareness and dynamic route planning to ensure you arrive safely, even when the environment changes.

Do protective drivers need an SIA or PSA licence?

Yes. In the UK, protective driving carried out as part of Close Protection requires a valid SIA licence. In Ireland, security services must be delivered under PSA licensing. Using properly licensed operatives protects both the principal and the PA responsible for arranging travel.

When should I use a protective driver instead of a standard chauffeur?

Protective drivers are recommended for HNW or high-profile individuals, principals experiencing unwanted attention, those attending sensitive meetings, or anyone whose movements are predictable or publicly visible. If exposure is a concern, a standard chauffeur may not offer sufficient protection.

What does a Close Protection driver do day to day?

They perform pre-drive checks, assess risk on every route, monitor for surveillance, secure entry and exit points, manage safe arrivals, and coordinate with the PA or private office. Their focus is maintaining the principal’s safety without disrupting the schedule.

Can a PA arrange a security driver for multi-day travel?

Yes. Most protective drivers work directly with PAs and estate teams across multi-day itineraries - covering airports, hotels, meetings and private residences. This ensures consistent, high-standard protection throughout the entire journey.

SECURITY AND RISK MANAGEMENT