How to Apply for Temporary Drivers License in South Africa

As a law, every qualified South African motorist is required to have a valid driver’s licence. However, if you have either lost or misplaced your South African driver’s licence, then you’ll need to apply for a temporary drivers’ licence from your local driving licence testing centre (DLTC).

In this guide, we have outlined a step-by-step guide on how to apply for a temporary driver’s license in South Africa.

In South Africa, driving licences are issued with various codes that indicate the types of vehicles that must be driven with the licence. The driver’s licence card has a validity period of five (5) years from the date of issuance.

Who Needs a Temporary Drivers Licence in South Africa?

There are two instances when you will have a need for a temporary driving licence in South Africa.

• If your official South African driving licence is stolen, damaged or lost
• If your regular Mzansi driver’s licence card has expired, and you have applied for renewal

How Long Does it Take to Get a Drivers Licence?

Once you have submitted your application for DL renewal or replacement, you have to wait for about four to six weeks before your permanent driver’s licence is ready.

However, while you’re waiting, you be issued a temporary driving licence. The temporary driving licence is issued immediately at any driving testing centre (DLTC) in South Africa. It is valid for six months of which you must have gotten your permanent DL card.

Types of Driving Licence in South Africa

There are different types of driving licences issued for various categories of motor vehicles:

• Code A1: This is for a motorcycle with or without a sidecar and with an engine not exceeding 125 cc. You must be at least 17 years old on the date of the test.
• Code A: This is for a motorcycle with or without a sidecar and with an engine that exceeds 125 cc. You must be 18 years or older to apply.
• Code B: This is for a motor vehicle, including a minibus, bus and goods vehicle, with a gross vehicle mass not exceeding 3 500 kg. You must be 18 years or older to apply.
• Code C1: This is for a motor vehicle, a bus, minibus or goods vehicle with a gross vehicle mass between 3 500 kg and 16 000 kg. You must be 18 years or older to apply.
• Code C: This is for a motor vehicle, a bus or a goods vehicle with a gross vehicle mass exceeding 16 000 kg.
• Code EB: This is for a:
  • light motor vehicle that is articulated (light motor vehicle drawing a trailer) with a gross combination mass not exceeding 3 500 kg. You must be 18 years or older to apply
  • combination of a motor vehicle with a tare not exceeding 3 500 kg and a minibus, bus or goods vehicle with a gross vehicle mass not exceeding 3 500 kg. You must be 18 years or older to apply.
• Code EC1: This is for:
  • an articulated heavy motor vehicle (heavy motor vehicle drawing a trailer[s]) with a  gross combination mass between 3 500 kg and 16 000 kg. You must be 18 years or older to apply.
  • a combination of a motor vehicle with a tare between 3 500 kg and 16 500 kg and a minibus, midibus, bus or goods vehicle with a gross vehicle mass between 3 500 kg and 16 000 kg. You must be 18 years or older to apply.
• Code EC: This is for an articulated heavy motor vehicle (heavy motor vehicle drawing a trailer[s]) with a gross combination mass exceeding 16 000 kg or a combination of a bus or goods vehicle with a gross vehicle mass exceeding 16 000 kg. You must be 18 years or older to apply.

How to Apply for a Temporary Driving Licence in South Africa

Once you have identified the type of driving licence that you need, the next step is to proceed to apply for a temporary driving licence. You also need to provide the necessary requirements before you can proceed.

1. A certified copy of your regular or temporary identification document (ID). Foreigners residing in Mzansi can present a traffic register number certificate.
2. Proof of postal and residential address, for example, a utility account. If someone else owns the bill, the legal owner should make an affidavit that confirms your residency at the said address. Ensure you attach the testimony to the bill.
3. Motorists who live in informal establishments must get an official and stamped letter from the ward councillor to confirm their residential and postal location.
4. Four similar black and white pictures, but the DLTC may need more than four photos. It is, therefore, prudent to confirm from the DTLC before having them taken.
5. A duly filled application for a driving licence (DL1) form. The document can be obtained from any driving licence testing centre on or before the day you make your application. You can also download it from the eNatis website and fill it before proceeding to DLTC.
6. A duly filled notification of change of address or particulars of a person or organization (NCP) form.
7. Carry the required fee. How much does a temporary drivers licence cost? The amount varies across municipalities. Make inquiries from the local licensing office. On top of the licence charges, you must have R70 for a fingerprint check against the national SAPS criminal fingerprint database. The temporary driving licence cost is not part of the licence renewal fee.
8. Eye testing results. The test is usually done at the DLTC on the day of application. If you want to shorten the time you stay at the centre, get an eye test from a professional optometrist and take the form to the DLTC.

Drivers who reside in Gauteng can make the temporary drivers licence application online. Visit online.natis.gov.za and follow the prompts.

How Much Does a Driving License Cost?

You will need to pay a R70 fee to have your fingerprints checked against the national SAPS criminal fingerprint database. This is standard at all testing centres and cannot be avoided. This fee is in addition to the locally determined temporary license charge. The cost of a temporary driver’s license costs will vary depending on which DVLC you attend. A few representative charges are listed below:

• Western Cape R45;
• Nelson Mandela Bay R96.

However, most municipalities do not publish their driving license charges online, so you may want to call your chosen DVLC and ask.

How Long Does it Take to Get a Temporary Drivers Licence?

A temporary driver’s licence is issued immediately upon application. You can also fast track the process by having your eye test done by an optometrist, downloading the DL1 form from the eNatis website, and then filling it out before going to the testing centre.