South African licensing guide

A learner's licence proves you have basic knowledge of a motor vehicle and the rules of the road. It is valid for 24 months and cannot be extended. While you hold it you may only drive under the supervision of a licensed driver.

1. 1Go to your nearest driving licence testing centre (DLTC) to book and confirm a test date.
2. 2Complete the Application for learner's licence form (LL1) at the DLTC. Applicants 65 or older also complete a medical certificate (MC) form.
3. 3Do an eye test at the centre, or bring the results from a qualified optometrist.
4. 4Study road signs, vehicle controls and the rules of the road before the test day.
5. 5On the day, hand in your booking receipt and ID, then write the test.
6. 6Pass, pay the issue fee, and your learner's licence is issued the same day.

Source: Apply for a learner's licence on gov.za

Code 1 — motorcycles

16+ for engines up to 125 cc, 18+ for anything larger.

A1 — Motorcycle up to 125 cc

Engine capacity 125 cc or less, with or without a sidecar. Minimum age 17 (16 for a learner's).

A — Motorcycle over 125 cc

Engine capacity above 125 cc, with or without a sidecar. Minimum age 18.

Code 2 — light vehicles

Gross vehicle mass up to 3 500 kg. Minimum age 17 on the test date.

B(a) — Light passenger vehicles

GVM up to 3 500 kg, towing a trailer up to 750 kg.

B(b) — Light goods and service vehicles

Delivery van, emergency vehicle or light delivery truck up to 3 500 kg.

B5/7 — Special-purpose vehicles

Agricultural tractor, forklift and construction plant tested under the light vehicle classes.

Code 3 — heavy vehicles

Gross vehicle mass over 3 500 kg. Minimum age 18 on the test date.

C1 — Medium heavy vehicles

GVM over 3 500 kg and up to 16 000 kg. Minimum age 18.

C — Heavy vehicles

GVM over 16 000 kg, heavy goods vehicle or bus, towing a trailer up to 750 kg.

Set the same code in your K53 Examiner profile and every quiz, mock exam and past paper is filtered to match it.

Source: Apply for a learner's licence on gov.za

For a learner's licence:

• Your identity document (ID).
• Two identical black-and-white ID photographs — confirm the number with your DLTC first.
• Proof of postal and residential address, for example a utility account. If the bill is not in your name, the account holder must make an affidavit confirming you live there and attach the bill.
• If you live in an informal settlement, a date-stamped letter from the ward councillor confirming your address.
• The booking fee.

For a driving licence test:

• Your valid learner's licence and your ID.
• Four identical black-and-white photographs — again, confirm the number first.
• Proof of residential address on the same terms as above.
• The booking fee.

Fees differ per province and centre — contact your local licensing office for current amounts.

Source: Apply for a driving licence on gov.za

Once you hold a valid learner's licence you can book the practical driving test (the "K53 yard and road test") at a DLTC.

1. 1Book a test date at the DLTC with your learner's licence, ID, photographs, proof of address and booking fee.
2. 2Complete the Application for driving licence form (DL1) at the centre.
3. 3Keep the receipt — it is your proof of payment and confirms the test date and time.
4. 4Arrive at the specified testing time. Your receipt and learner's licence are verified before the test.
5. 5A qualified examiner assesses your yard and road driving.
6. 6If you pass, your fingerprints are taken and you do an eye test (or submit an optometrist's form).
7. 7Pay the issuing fee to receive a temporary driving licence while your card is produced.
8. 8Collect your card at the same DLTC once you are notified — usually four to six weeks.

Source: Apply for a driving licence on gov.za

Gauteng residents should book learner's licence, driving licence and professional driving permit appointments online instead of queueing:

online.natis.gov.za

Other provinces book in person at the DLTC. Either way you still write the test at a testing centre, and an eye test is part of the process — done at the centre or by an optometrist whose form you hand in.

Read the full booking guide for the step-by-step process, documents and eye test.

A driving licence card is valid for five years. Renew it at a DLTC — apply at least four weeks before it expires so you are not driving on an expired card.

1. 1Go to your nearest DLTC with your ID, your current card, photographs and proof of address.
2. 2Complete form DL1: Application for renewal of driving licence card.
3. 3Complete the notification of change of address or particulars (NCP) form.
4. 4Do an eye test at the centre, or submit results from your own optometrist.
5. 5Pay the fee and keep the receipt — the new card takes four to six weeks.

Source: Renew a driving licence on gov.za

You need a PrDP, in addition to your ordinary driving licence, to carry goods, dangerous goods or passengers for an income. It applies to goods vehicles over 3 500 kg, buses and breakdown vehicles, minibuses and vehicles designed for 12 or more people, taxis, any vehicle with an operating licence, and dangerous goods vehicles such as fuel tankers.

Minimum ages

• 18+ for a goods vehicle permit.
• 21+ for a passenger vehicle permit.
• 25+ for a dangerous goods permit.

You also need to

• Hold a valid driving licence for that vehicle type.
• Be certified medically fit by a doctor (certificate not older than two months).
• Be certified by an approved training body for dangerous goods (category D).
• Have no relevant criminal record, no suspended licence and no admission-of-guilt fine for the listed offences.

Apply on form PD1 at a DLTC (or online via NaTIS in Gauteng). You will do an eye test and be referred for a conviction report from the police.

Source: Apply for a professional driving permit on gov.za