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 plastic card you carry has to be renewed regularly, and it can be replaced if it is lost or stolen. This guide covers the whole licence lifecycle and points you to the right page for each step.
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 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).
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.
- Foreign licence holders may need to convert. See foreign licence conversion.
Documents and proof of address
- Original ID document or smart ID card.
- Proof of residential address. See proof of address.
- The DL1 application form. See traffic department application forms.
- Your learner’s licence (first licence) or current card (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 traffic department licence renewal.
Eye test and testing requirements
An eye test is part of the learner’s licence, the driving licence and every card renewal. It can be done at the centre or by a registered optometrist using the prescribed form.
Fees to verify locally
Test, licence, card and temporary licence fees are set provincially and by municipalities and vary. See replacement fees and ask your centre for the current amounts.
Card collection or next steps
- Temporary licence while you wait, valid for six months: temporary driving licence.
- Collecting the card: card collection. Cards left uncollected for 120 days may be destroyed.
- Checking whether it is ready: card status check.
- Lost or stolen: replacing a lost licence and stolen licence.
- Expired: expired driving licence.
Find a nearby DLTC
Use traffic department near me or the office directory. Back to the traffic department overview.
How long does the traffic department keep my new card?
Cards that are not collected within 120 days may be destroyed, according to the NaTIS FAQs and the City of Cape Town. Collect as soon as you are notified.
Frequently asked questions
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. See temporary licence validity.
What do the codes on my licence mean?
Codes show the vehicle classes you may drive, for example B for light vehicles and C1 for heavier trucks. See licence codes.
How do I replace a lost licence?
Apply for a replacement card at a DLTC and get a temporary licence if needed. See replacing a lost licence.
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’s authorities before you travel.
Common licence situations
- Card lost just before a trip: apply for a replacement and a temporary licence the same day. See lost licence.
- Card ready but you have moved: ask whether it can be collected elsewhere. See card collection near me.
- Someone else must collect your card: check the authorisation rules. See authorise someone to collect.
- Card not ready after weeks: check the status before returning. See card not ready.
- Moving from a code B to a heavier vehicle: you need a new learner’s and driving test for that code. See code C1 and code EC.
Official sources for this service
Rules and fees change, and this site cannot see your records. Before acting, confirm the detail that matters with the official source:
- gov.za: renew a driving licence: documents, eye test and renewal timing.
- gov.za: temporary driving licence: when one is issued and how long it is valid.
- NaTIS FAQs: card production and collection questions.
Does a foreign or international 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. See foreign licence conversion.