South Africa Drivers License Application - Forms, Requirements, Fees & Renewal Process

In this post, we look at how you can go about your South Africa Drivers License.

South Africa has a very good road infrastructure and the drivers license requirements are not as stringent as in some other countries.

A practical driving test is required and if you pass you will be issued with a drivers license which is valid for 10 years.

The requirements for getting a driver’s license in South Africa are as follows:

You must be at least 18 years of age
You must have a valid ID
You must have a valid learner’s license
You must pass a written examination on the traffic laws of South Africa
You must pass a roadworthy test and must pass an eye test
You must be able to demonstrate your ability to control the car and drive safely.

The written test covers the rules of the road and traffic regulations. The road test is taken in a car with an examiner.

Getting a drivers license in South Africa is a process that involves both theory and practical tests.

The theoretical test must be passed before the practical and both are administered by the driving license testing centers (DLTCs). The pass rate for the theoretical test is usually between 80-90% but the practical test is where most people fail with a pass rate of only 50-60%.

There are different types of drivers licenses in South Africa depending on the type of vehicle you wish to drive.

The four main categories or types of Drivers license in South Africa are:

Code 8 (light motor vehicle)
Code 10 (medium motor vehicle)
Code 14 (heavy motor vehicle) and
Code EC (extra heavy motor vehicle)

South Africa Drivers License Application Forms

The first step in applying for a drivers license is to obtain an application form from your local Driving License Testing Centre (DLTC) office.

The form will ask for your personal information such as your name address and date of birth.

You will also be required to provide proof of your identity such as a passport or birth certificate.

Once you have completed the form you will need to submit it to the DLTC along with the appropriate fee.

South Africa Drivers license fees

The cost of drivers license in South Africa varies and below it is:

Online payment for driving license card: R250 which does not include temporary license cost.
Booking of a driving license test: R220 – R300 plus R250 when passed for the card.
Learner driving license: R150 plus an additional R60 when the learner license is issued.

How to Renew your South Africa Drivers license

To renew your driver’s license in South Africa you must submit a completed application form as well as the appropriate fee to the nearest licensing authority.

You will also need to provide proof of your identity residency and that you have passing vision and medical certificates.

If your license has been expired for more than two years you will need to retake the written and practical driving exams.

There is an SMS service for you to check on the progress of your renewal. Simply SMS your ID number to 33214 and you will get a prompt reply about the status of your South African license.

Documents required to renew your South Africa Drivers license.

Original ID document or Smart Card ID. (An A4 copy of ID is required in Edenvale, Johannesburg. Maybe their photocopiers are broken!).
Proof of residence. This needs to be an official document not older than three (3) months that clearly states your address, for example, a bank statement, account or utility bill.
Take a pen with you.
Glasses or contact lenses if needed for driving.
Your current or expired drivers licence. If your licence has already expired you can take out a temp licence for R90. This is not compulsory and you have to ask for the temporary licence at the cashier. A fee of R90 is payable in cash.
2 black and white ID photographs for the temporary licence (optional). You can bring these along. There is also a booth at most testing stations that will take the photographs for you. It is around R50 for a set of 4. In Johannesburg, only 1 photograph (colour or black & white) is required. The Randburg testing centre requires 2x black and white photos for renewal. In Vanderbijlpark, only 1 colour photograph is needed.
DL1 (green) form. This form can be obtained at the testing centre or online from the eNatis website here. Fill out sections A, B and D. Andrea pointed out in the comments: “I had to use the department’s form because it needs to be in a double sided-A3 format (like a file) so their docs can be inserted in it.” Liam also pointed out that Marlboro does not accept the web form and you have to fill out theirs. One of our readers, Chanel has kindly edited an A3 version of the form here.
Gauteng users new to book online in advance at https://online.natis.gov.za which will have a list of all Gauteng RTI’s only. The RTMC will pilot the project in Gauteng and will be rolled out to other provinces in future.

How to get a Drivers license as a Foreigner in South Africa

If you want to get a South African driver’s license as a foreigner you will need to complete a written exam and a driving test. The written exam will test your knowledge of the South African traffic code.

The driving test will assess your skills behind the wheel. If you already have a driver’s license from your home country you may be able to convert it to a South African license without having to retake the written and driving exams.

To do so you will need to provide proof that your home country’s license is valid and that you have held it for at least six months. You will also need to pass a vision test and a first-aid course.

Tips to help you pass your driving test

Here are 13 tips to help you pass your driving test:

Get plenty of practice – the more time you spend behind the wheel the better prepared you’ll be for your test.
Make sure you know the Highway Code inside out – this will help you with both the theory and practical parts of the test.
Find a good driving instructor – someone who will give you honest feedback and help you to feel confident behind the wheel.
Take some mock tests – this will help you to get used to the format of the real thing and identify any areas you need to work on.
Stay calm on the day of your test – if you can stay calm it’ll help you to focus and make fewer mistakes.
Listen to the examiner’s instructions carefully – if you’re not sure what they’re asking you to do ask them to repeat themselves.
Drive smoothly and confidently
Make a list of everything you need to bring with you on the day of the test so you don’t forget anything important.
Arrive at the testing center early so you have time to relax and go over any last-minute questions you may have.
During the test be sure to follow all instructions from the examiner carefully and stay calm and focused.
If you make a mistake don’t dwell on it – just correct it and move on.
Practice parallel parking and other maneuvers that may be included in your test ahead of time so you feel confident doing them on test day.
When you’re taking the road test drive defensively and be aware of other vehicles.

South Africa Drivers License Application – Forms, Requirements, Fees & Renewal Process