Applying for a driver's license

You are required to have your driving license on you whenever you are driving a vehicle. Only people over the age of 18 can apply for a driving license. However, you can apply for a license to drive a motorcycle (up to 125cc) if you are over the age of 16.

When applying for the license you will have your fingerprints taken.

You will also need to bring the following with:

• Completed Application form for Driving Licence (DL1);
• Your identity document;
• Any existing driving licenses;
• Four identical black and white photographs of yourself;
• The required fee.

Your application will specify which type of vehicle you would like to drive (motorcycle, car, minibus etc.). 

Once you have applied for the license and have passed the eye test, a date will be set for your driving test.

The driving test uses the K53 method and the driving examiner will ensure that you:

• Have a valid learner's drving license;
• Know and understand the road traffic signs;
• Have a sound knowledge of the rules of the road and the different signals which a driver of a vehicle is required to give when driving on a public road;
• Are generally capable of driving the type of vehicle specified on the application.

Study materials are available to help you prepare for your driver's test and many people employ the services of a driving instructor.

Once you have passed the driving test, you will be issued with a temporary driving license while your credit card format driving license is prepared.

Once the credit card format license is ready for collection, you will be notified by post. When you collect the license, you need to produce your ID. Licenses that are not collected in 120 days are destroyed.

If another person is to collect the driving license, the person collecting the license will need to have:

• A certified copy of their identity document;
• A certified copy of the driver's identity document;
• An affidavit stating why the driver cannot collect the license himself or herself.  This must also state the name and ID number of the person collecting the license.

There is a R120 fee to book a driving test. Once you have passed the driving test, you will be required to pay R100 for your license.

Renewing your driver's license

Your credit card driving license is only valid for five years and needs to be renewed after this time. The expiry date appears on your license. You will also be sent a renewal notification in the post.

You can renew your license at any time before your license expires. The new license will be valid for five years from the date of the renewal.

To renew your license, you need to complete the application form at your nearest driving license testing centre. You will also need:

• Your current driving license;
• Your identity document;
• Two black and white ID photographs if you're renewing your license before the expiry date of your current license or four photographs if you're renewing your license after the expiry date

Before your license can be renewed, you will need to have your fingerprints taken and you will have to undergo an eye test. If your sight has deteriorated since your license was issued, new restrictions may be attached to your license. For example, you may be required to wear glasses when driving. Should you fail the eye test completely, your driving license will not be renewed.

You are not required to undergo the driving examination again.

South Africans who are overseas at the time that their driving licenses expire can only renew their licenses when they return to the country. At present there are no penalties for late renewal. However, once penalties are introduced, people who have been unable to renew their licenses will be able to apply for exemptions from these penalties.

If your license has already expired when you go to renew it, you will have to get a temporary license while you wait for the credit card license to be issued. In this case you will need an extra two black and white photographs.

There is R100 license renewal fee. There is also a fee of R40 if you require a temporary license.

Replacing your driving license

If your driving license is lost, stolen or destroyed, you can apply for a replacement license.

You will be issued a temporary permit which is valid for six months or until the replacement driving license is issued, whichever occurs first.

To apply for a replacement license, you need to complete form TDL at any driving license testing centre.

You must provide:

• Your ID
• Four black and white photographs.

The temporary permit costs R40, while the fee for a replacement license is R100.