Your driving licence is issued by the traffic department, or more precisely by a driving licence testing centre (DLTC), after you pass a learner’s test and a driving test. The card you carry has to be renewed, and it can be replaced if it is lost or stolen, with a temporary licence covering you in between.
This guide covers the whole licence lifecycle and points you to the right page for each step.
Last checked: 19 September 2026. TrafficDepartment.co.za is an independent guide, not a government website. We do not book appointments, take payments or issue documents. Confirm fees, hours and requirements with the official source before you act: gov.za: renew a driving licence, gov.za: temporary driving licence and NaTIS Online.
Driving licence overview
- Learner’s licence: the theory test and eye test.
- Driving test: the K53 yard and road test.
- Licence card: issued after you pass, produced centrally and collected from the DLTC.
- Renewal: the card must be renewed before it expires.
The card is currently valid for five years. A proposal to extend light vehicle codes to ten years was approved by Cabinet in July 2026 but is not yet law (SAnews, 30 July 2026), so keep renewing on the five-year cycle.
Eligibility and requirements
- A valid learner’s licence for the code, and passing the driving test.
- Minimum ages: 17 for a light motor vehicle and 18 for heavy vehicles and larger motorcycles.
- Which code you need: licence codes and which code to choose.
Documents and proof of address
- Original ID document or smart ID card.
- Proof of residential address. See proof of address.
- Form DL1 (application for driving licence). See traffic department forms.
- Your learner’s licence for a first licence, or your current card for a renewal.
Booking or renewal steps
Driving tests and card renewals are usually booked, on NaTIS Online in provinces that use it or at the centre elsewhere. See traffic department online booking and driver’s licence renewal.
Eye test and testing requirements
An eye test is part of the learner’s licence, the driving licence and every card renewal, done at the centre or by a registered optometrist on the prescribed form.
Temporary driver’s licence
gov.za says a temporary driving licence is issued the same day and is valid for six months (gov.za: temporary driving licence). Ask for one when you renew or replace your card and it will not be ready in time.
A temporary drivers licence South Africa wide carries the same driving entitlement as the card it stands in for, so the restrictions and codes on it are your existing ones. There is no published temporary license price South Africa wide, because these fees are set locally, so ask your centre. See temporary driving licence and temporary licence cost.
Expired, lost or foreign licences
- Expired card: an expired license can still be renewed, but do not drive until you hold a valid card or temporary licence. See expired driving licence.
- Lost or destroyed card: apply for a replacement at a DLTC. Form DCT, the “Declaration in respect of lost documents”, is used to declare the loss. See replacing a lost licence and stolen licence.
- Foreign licence: some can be converted instead of retesting, depending on the country and your residence status. See foreign licence conversion.
Fees to verify locally
Test, licence, card and temporary licence fees are set provincially and by municipalities. See replacement fees and ask your centre for the current amounts.
Card collection or next steps
- Collecting the card: card collection. Cards left uncollected for 120 days may be destroyed.
- Checking whether it is ready: card status check and card not ready.
- Someone else collecting: authorise someone to collect.
Common licence situations
- Card lost just before a trip: apply for a replacement and a temporary licence the same day.
- Card ready but you have moved: ask whether it can be collected elsewhere. See card collection near me.
- Card not ready after weeks: check the status before returning to the centre.
- Moving from code B to a heavier vehicle: you need a new learner’s and driving test for that code. See code C1 and code EC.
Find a nearby DLTC
Use traffic department near me or the office directory. Back to the traffic department overview.
Frequently asked questions
How do I replace a lost licence?
Apply for a replacement card at a DLTC and ask for a temporary licence if you need to drive while it is made.
How do I apply for an expired driving licence?
Renewing an expired South African driving licence follows the normal renewal route; there is no separate application. Do not drive until the temporary licence or new card is in hand.
Does a foreign licence let me skip the South African test?
Some foreign licences can be converted instead of retesting, depending on the country and your residence status.
How long does the traffic department keep my new card?
Cards not collected within 120 days may be destroyed, according to the NaTIS FAQs. Collect as soon as you are notified.
What is the difference between a licence and a licence card?
The licence is your authorisation to drive, recorded on the national system. The card is the physical proof, which expires and must be renewed.
Can I drive while my new card is being made?
Only with a valid card or a temporary driving licence.
What do the codes on my licence mean?
They show the vehicle classes you may drive, for example B for light vehicles and C1 for heavier trucks.
Do I need a PrDP as well?
Only if you drive for reward or certain heavy or dangerous goods vehicles. See PrDP.
Can I use my licence in another country?
Many countries require an international driving permit alongside your card. Check with the destination country before you travel.