Having a driver’s licence is a great advantage to any student or graduate in South Africa. Not only does having a driver’s licence allow you to drive to your college or university but it’s also essential when you start job hunting and need to drive to interviews. However, reaching your destination becomes tricky if your driver’s licence has almost reached its expiration date and needs to be renewed.
With that said, if the time has come for you to renew your driving licence, and you’re unsure of how to do it, then you’re at the right place. Our step-by-step guide has everything you need to know about renewing your driver’s licence in South Africa.
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What Items Do I Need For My Driver’s Licence Renewal?
According to the South African government, there are a couple of items you will need in order to renew your driver’s licence:
- Your South African ID, a copy of your ID, your old driving licence card or a valid South African passport
- Four black-and-white ID photographs (confirm how many photos you need from your local driving licence testing centre)
- Proof of residential address (e.g. utility account)
- Residents living in an informal settlement will need a letter with an official date stamp from the ward councillor confirming your address
- Application fee
It’s important to note that the application fee for your driver’s licence renewal will vary, pending on whether you book online, or at your local driving licence testing centre (DLTC).
Can I Renew My Driver's Licence Online?
If you are a South African living in Gauteng or certain parts of the Eastern Cape, then you’ll be happy to know that you can renew your driver’s licence online!
Online bookings for driver’s licence renewals are done through the Road and Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC)’s National Traffic Information System (NaTIS). This is a more convenient alternative to the previous process, which required you to stand in a queue at the driving licence testing centre (DLTC) in order to make a booking.
It’s important to remember that, although Gauteng and Eastern Cape residents must book their driver’s licence renewal online with NaTIS, they will still have to visit the DLTC to have their fingerprints taken and get their eye test done.
Booking your driver’s licence online through NaTIS—or manually by visiting your local DLTC—has its own costs and fees attached, which you can read more about below.
How Much Does a Driver's Licence Renewal Cost in South Africa?
The cost to renew your driver’s licence largely depends on where you do your booking, whether it’s done online or at the driving licence testing centre (DLTC).
If you are renewing your driver’s licence online with the NaTIS online booking system, you’re given the option to pay a one-off fee of R250 for your driving licence card payment.
With that said, it’s important to remember that you have to renew your driver’s licence four weeks before the expiry date. If you renew your driver’s licence after it has expired, you will have to apply for a temporary driver’s licence at an additional cost ranging from R72 to R100.
If you’re renewing your driver’s licence at the DLTC, then the cost of your driver’s licence renewal will depend on the province in which you live. You’ll therefore need to contact your local DLTC to find out what the costs are.
Now that you know the cost of renewing your driver’s licence, it’s time to find out how to renew your driver’s licence in South Africa.
What Are the Steps to Renewing Your Driver's Licence in South Africa?
Although the thought of renewing your driver’s licence may be stressful, it’s something that needs to be done so that you can continue to drive your motor vehicle legally in South Africa.
No matter the types of driver’s licences South Africans may have, all driving licence cards need to be renewed after a period of 5 years.
Thankfully, renewing your driver’s licence in South Africa is fairly easy and the procedure is quite straightforward. To renew your driving licence, all you have to do is follow these 3 easy steps.
Step 1: Book Your Driver’s Licence Renewal Online
Only South Africans who currently live in Gauteng and Eastern Cape provinces can book their driver’s licences online. If you do not live in Gauteng or the Eastern Cape, you can move on to the next step.
If you live in Gauteng or certain parts of the Eastern Cape (Kariega or Gqeberha), you must book your driver’s licence online via the NaTIS portal.
South Africans can book their driver’s licence renewal online through the NaTIS system by following these steps:
- Visit the NaTIS website
- Where it says, “Book now to renew your Driving Licence Card”, select “Book Now”
- Select your province (Gauteng or Eastern Cape*)
- Read the notice and tap “Continue”
- Enter your personal details (ID type, ID number, initials and surname)
- Fill in your contact details (name, surname, mobile number, email address)
- Schedule a date and time at your preferred driving licence testing centre
- Confirm your booking
Remember, even though you’ve booked your driver’s licence renewal online, you still need to visit the DLTC to get your eye tests and fingerprints done.
*Note: Although other South African provinces are listed on the NaTIS website, they have not yet been added to the online platform.
Step 2: Visit the Driving Licence Testing Centre (DLTC)
Whether you book your driver’s licence through NaTIS or are following a more manual process for renewing your driving licence, the next steps are equal parts the same and apply to all South Africans.
You must visit your local driving licence testing centre (DLTC) to complete your driver’s licence renewal. If you haven’t booked online, and you’re not sure which DLTC to go to, then be sure to check out our complete list of driving licence testing centres (DLTC) in South Africa.
Once you know which DLTC to go to, you’ll need to follow these steps to complete your driver’s licence renewal:
- Visit the DLTC with the following items (ID, copy of ID, 4 black-and-white ID photographs, proof of residence and application fee money)
- Fill out the DL1 driver’s licence renewal form (you can also download the DL1 form and fill it in prior to visiting the DLTC to save time)
- Complete the notification of change of address, particulars of person or organisation (NPC) form (if applicable)
- Get your fingerprints taken (a helpful assistant at the DLTC will advise you on when and where to do this)
- Complete an eye test at the DLTC (you can also do your eye test at an optometrist prior to visiting the DLTC and just take your results with you when you go)
Once you’ve completed the above steps, all you’ll have to do is pay your application fee and wait for your brand-new driver’s licence!
Step 3: Collect Your Driver’s Licence
After you’ve completed the application process for your driver’s licence renewal, you’ll need to wait for about 4 to 6 weeks before you’ll be able to collect your new driver’s licence. Now, you may be wondering: How will I be able to drive without my driver’s licence while I wait for the new one?
Don’t worry, the South African government has measures in place to ensure that you’ll still be able to drive legally while waiting for your new driver’s licence.
Depending on when you applied for your driver’s licence renewal, you will either have received a temporary licence while you wait, or your driver’s licence will have been extended for an additional 3 months. Note that the latter only applies if you applied within 2 months of your driver’s licence expiry date.
If you’re in a situation where you’ve been waiting for more than 8 weeks, be sure to contact your local driving licence testing centre (DLTC), or visit the DLTC in person, to find out when you’ll be receiving your driver’s licence.
Get Your Driver's Licence in South Africa
Knowing how to renew your driver’s licence is vital information that all students and graduates need to know! However, in order to renew your driver’s licence, you first need to have one.
If you don’t have a driver’s licence, then be sure to check out our guide on how to apply for your driver’s licence in South Africa.
Our step-by-step guide will explain exactly how to study for your driver’s licence, how to make your first booking and more!
Wondering which driving licence testing centre (DLTC) to go to? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! Our complete list of driving licence testing centres in South Africa lists each DLTC by province so that you can find the nearest one in your region.
Being able to drive in South Africa means knowing the types of driver’s licences that are available. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of all the types of driver’s licences in South Africa, which covers everything from light motor vehicles to heavy articulated vehicles.
Apply for a Study Loan With Fundi
There’s no bigger relief than getting the daunting task of obtaining and renewing your driver’s licence out of the way. However, if you’ve still got other issues to worry about—like funding your studies—Fundi can help!
Fundi provides students with the funding they need to pay all their educational costs—such as tuition fees, accommodation, technical devices and more!
Eager to find out if you qualify for a Fundi study loan? Then be sure to try out the Fundi Loan Calculator and start your educational journey today.
