How to renew your driver’s licence in South Africa

So, you have recently discovered that your licence expires in a month or two, and now you’re wondering how to renew your driver’s licence. You already know that there will be some tedious admin tasks to deal with, and with the complications that the COVID-19 pandemic and consequent lockdown brought about, things might be much more tedious than ever before. Although Apostil.co.za does NOT assist with driver’s licence renewals (the process must be completed in person), we can give you a step-by-step guide on what to do and where to go.

First, understand your timeline to renew your driver’s licence

It is essential to renew your driver’s licence at least four weeks before it expires. If you’re already too late for this, you will need to apply for a temporary driver’s licence as well, which is an added expense. The only good news is that your temporary licence will be issued on the spot and will keep you safe until you’re issued with your new licence card.

There’s a grace period in place enforced by the Government due to the backlogs caused by the pandemic. Currently, the grace period for renewing your licence extends to 31 March 2022. This means that if your licence (including learners, drivers, and PDP) expired between 26 March 2020 and 31 August 2021, it’d automatically remain valid until 31 March 2022. Keep in mind that this DOES NOT apply to licences that expired after 31 August 2021.

Next, book your driver’s licence renewal

Obviously, you should phone your nearest Drivers License Testing Center (DLTC) to ensure they’re open for business before making a booking. If the center you want to renew your licence at is open, you can make a renewal appointment by phone or by using the National Traffic Information System’s online booking service.

Take the following with you on the day of your appointment

Here is a list of the requirements for renewing your driver’s licence (aside from your mask of course)

Eye test – You can do this at the DLTC on the day of your appointment. But to speed up the process, your optometrist can perform an eye test, and you can merely submit the report along with your application form. Remember that the DLTC does the eye test for free, while you will probably pay a fee if you have the test done with your optometrist.

Copy of your ID – You must take a copy of your South African Identity Document with you on the day of your appointment.

ID photos – Although most DLTCs do take photographs of applicants when they apply for their driver’s licence renewal, it’s a good idea to take black-and-white ID photos with you in case there is a problem with the system. Like the eye test, the DLTC takes your ID photos for free, but there will be a fee if you have them taken privately.

How much does it cost to renew a driver’s licence?

The cost of renewing your licence might vary depending on the licencing office since municipalities charge their own rates. Expect to pay around R250 for the renewal process, but always get in touch with the licencing office to confirm the fee. Most offices do not accept cash, so make sure you take your credit or debit card with you for payment.

How long does it take?

It can take anywhere from six weeks to two months for the DLTC to issue you with a new driver’s licence. The pandemic has obviously caused massive backlogs, and it is not uncommon for applicants to wait up to three months for their new cards to be issued. You can check the status of our application online with the NATIS booking service or opt-in to receive updates via SMS. Once your card is ready for collection, you’ll need to take proof of payment (your original payment receipt) as well as your ID to the DLTC for collection.

What if I lost my driver’s licence card?

If you want to replace a lost or stolen driver’s licence card, you will need to complete a Declaration of Lost Documents Form along with a Driver’s Licence Application Form (DL1). As with renewing your licence card, you must make an appointment at your nearest DLTC as walk-ins are not accepted.

I live in Gauteng, and I heard that I must book through NATIS?

This is true. All Gauteng residents must apply for their renewal online by visiting online.natis.gov.za. You can download all the application forms on this website too, but keep in mind that a limited number of slots open up for bookings every day. If you can’t find a slot at the DLTC closest to you, remember that the DLTCs all post new slots at different times throughout the day, all of which are specified on the NATIS website. Numerous 3rd party booking agents also assist Gauteng residents with making online bookings on behalf of applicants, but the fees for these services can be extremely high.