A South African driving licence card has to be renewed before it expires, even though the licence itself does not lapse. Renewal is done at a driving licence testing centre (DLTC): you book or queue, pass an eye test, have your fingerprints and photograph taken, pay, and collect the new card weeks later. This guide covers who can renew, what to bring, how booking works and what to do if your card is not ready in time.
Last checked: 13 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 FAQs.
Driving licence overview
The card currently needs renewing every five years. In July 2026 Cabinet approved extending the validity of cards for light vehicle and motorcycle codes (A, A1, B and EB) to ten years, but that change still has to go through Parliament. Until it becomes law, the government has told motorists to keep renewing as normal (SAnews, 30 July 2026).
Heavy vehicle codes stay on the five-year cycle, and a professional driving permit is renewed separately. See PrDP.
Eligibility and requirements
- gov.za advises renewing about four weeks before the card’s expiry date. The NaTIS FAQs add that applying within two months of expiry extends the expiry date by three months, which covers the production time.
- You can generally renew at a DLTC outside the area where you live, provided it has capacity.
- If the card has already expired, you can still renew, but you should not drive until you have a valid card or a temporary licence. See expired driving licence.
Documents and proof of address
- Your original ID document or smart ID card, and a copy.
- Your current or expired licence card.
- Proof of residential address, or a letter from your ward councillor if you have none. See proof of address.
- ID photographs, only if the centre still asks for them. gov.za mentions four black-and-white photographs, but many centres capture photographs digitally.
- Form DL1, and form NCP if your address has changed. See traffic department forms.
Full checklist: licence renewal requirements.
Booking or renewal steps
- Book a renewal slot on NaTIS Online where your province or centre uses it, or confirm the walk-in arrangement with the centre. See traffic department online booking.
- Arrive early with your documents and booking confirmation.
- Complete the eye test, fingerprints and photograph.
- Pay the card and application fees.
- Ask for a temporary driving licence if your card expires before the new one will be ready.
- Return to collect the card when you are notified.
More detail on each route: booking a renewal and what can be done online.
Eye test and testing requirements
The eye test is done at the centre, or you can bring a result from a registered optometrist on the prescribed form. If your eyesight has changed, a condition such as needing to wear glasses can be added to the licence.
Fees to verify locally
Renewal fees are not the same everywhere. They are set provincially and by municipalities, and published amounts differ noticeably between centres. When you book online, the RTMC has said the amount charged is the card production fee rather than an extra booking fee. Confirm the total with your centre. See licence renewal cost.
Card collection or next steps
- gov.za gives a production time of four to six weeks. Production has been delayed in the past: a card printer breakdown in 2025 created a backlog that the Department of Transport said was cleared in December 2025.
- A temporary driving licence is issued the same day and is valid for six months (gov.za: temporary driving licence). See temporary driving licence.
- Cards not collected within 120 days may be destroyed, according to the NaTIS FAQs and the City of Cape Town.
- Checking progress: card status check and card not ready.
- Collection: traffic department licence collection.
Which code you hold, and what code 10 or code 8 mean, is explained in licence codes.
Find a nearby DLTC
Use traffic department near me or browse the office directory. For the wider licensing picture, see the traffic department overview.
Frequently asked questions
Can I renew my driver’s licence at any traffic department?
Generally at any driving licence testing centre that offers renewals and has capacity, not only the one nearest your home. Municipal traffic departments that only handle fines cannot renew licences.
Can I drive with an expired licence card?
No. Renew as soon as possible and ask for a temporary driving licence if you need to drive while the card is being made.
Can I renew my licence online?
You can book the renewal online where your province uses NaTIS Online, but you still have to go to the centre for the eye test, fingerprints and photograph.
My card expired while I was overseas. What now?
Renew when you return, with proof of the dates if asked. See renewing from abroad.
Does the 10-year licence mean I do not have to renew?
Not yet. The change needs legislation first. Until then, renew when your card is due.