How much does a driver’s license cost?
As much as we’d all like to have that little piece of freedom-enabling plastic glistening in our wallets, it comes at a price. You can’t just ‘get’ your license. It’s a process, and it costs a bit of money. It also depends which province you call home – prices differ. In Gauteng it can be almost twice as expensive as the rest of SA.
Step 1: Getting your learner’s license
The current cost of booking the test for your Learner’s Licence (Code 3 – your ‘everyday’ car) ranges from between R68 and R300 or even more, depending on which province you’re in – as such, it is best to call the relevant testing centre beforehand to find out what the exact costs are. For testing centres in the Western Cape, click here. Johannesburg residents, you can click here for the complete list.
As for the rest of South Africa, you will find where you need to go below:
- City of Tshwane
- City of Cape Town
- Nelson Mandela Bay
- Eastern Cape municipalities
- Free State municipalities
- Gauteng municipalities
- KwaZulu-Natal municipalities
- Limpopo municipalities
- Mpumalanga municipalities
- North West municipalities
- Northern Cape municipalities
- Western Cape municipalities
But wait, there’s more
On top of that, it can cost anything between R33 and R100 for the licence issuing fee if you pass your test. Your driving instructor should also be able to answer any cost-related questions. But we still recommend calling first to find out the exact cost so you don’t go to all that trouble and pitch up with too little cash. And yes, we recommend cash, because sometimes the credit card machines are offline. Imagine having taken a day off work to arrive with the incorrect amount of money or a credit card, only to find that it costs significantly more, or there’s a power outage of some sort!
Costs in Jo’burg vs. Cape Town
For the written (learner’s license) test booking, it will still cost you R68 in the City of Cape Town for code 3. For the issue of the actual learner’s license, it will cost an additional R33 (correct as in May 2022).
In Johannesburg, it’s R108 for the booking (written test) and R60 – R72 for the learner’s license itself. You will need a valid ID document and you will need to pass an eye test. You will need to complete a LL1 form at the testing centre, or you can print the LL1 form and fill it out in advance, to save you time. You can download this form (as well as a Driver’s License form) on the NaTIS website here.
Let’s recap – Here’s what you should bring along with you:
- Your ID or passport;
- Two to four recent ID photos (also have them taken beforehand so you don’t need to do it there);
- The completed LL1 form (if you plan on skipping at least one queue);
- Your glasses, or if you wear contact lenses, ensure you are indeed wearing them;
- Proof of residence;
- The receipt of the payment made when booking the test;
- Your own pen and some hand sanitiser, just in case.
- Don’t forget your face mask!
Step 2: Getting your driver’s license
Once you’ve had your *K-53 driving lessons and you are nearly ready to hit the road to independence, you can undergo the driving test. The application (driving test) is R135 in Cape Town (Code B, a car no more than 3500kg), and the issue of the license itself will set you back another R140.
In Johannesburg, expect to pay R288 – R300 for the license itself and R228 for the issuing fee, but yet again we recommend calling in advance just to make sure, as prices may go up without prior notice.
Step 2: Getting your driver’s license
Once you’ve had your *K-53 driving lessons and you are nearly ready to hit the road to independence, you can undergo the driving test. The application (driving test) is R135 in Cape Town (Code B, a car no more than 3500kg), and the issue of the license itself will set you back another R140.
In Johannesburg, expect to pay R288 – R300 for the license itself and R228 for the issuing fee, but yet again we recommend calling in advance just to make sure, as prices may go up without prior notice.