With over 12 million live vehicles on South African roads, it’s obvious that a large amount of South Africans make use of vehicles and roads. Your driver’s license is the singular most important document you need for road usage, and without it, you could run into serious trouble with the authorities and have your vehicle seized.
Since we love all our readers, and we don’t want the car users among us to have any scuffles with the law, we have prepared this blog post on how to renew your driver’s license, and stay on the right side of the law.
The first and most important thing is that you must renew your driver’s license at least four weeks before it expires. This is because processing a renewed driver’s license takes time, and if you wait till after expiration, then you’ll have to spend an additional amount on obtaining a temporary one so you can keep driving while your driver’s license renewal is still being processed, except you don’t intend to drive during that period. So, a stitch in time saves nine and also some cash.
You will not be required to take a driving test for the renewal of your license, but your fingerprints will be taken, and you will retake your eye test. If your eyesight has depreciated from your last eye test, then your license will be issued with new conditions. So how exactly do you renew your driver’s license?
- You need to go to your nearest Driving License Testing Center (DLTC) with:
- Identity document (ID) and a copy of your ID, old driving license card or valid South African passport
- Four black-and-white ID photographs (before you have photographs taken confirm with the DLTC how many photos they require).
- Proof of residential address e.g. utility account. If the utility bill is not in your name, the of owner of the bill must make an affidavit declaring that you live at the address and the utility bill must be attached to the affidavit. If you stay at an informal settlement, you must bring a letter with an official date stamp from the ward councilor confirming your residential address
- Prescribed application fee, which differs from state to state. For example, in Cape Town, the prescribed fee is R140. You can inquire at the nearest DLTC office in your state to ascertain the applicable fee in your locality.
- All Gauteng residents should apply online for the renewal: https://online.natis.gov.za/#/
- You’ll need to complete form DL1: Application for renewal of driving license card. This form can be obtained at the nearest DLTC office to you.
- You’ll also need to complete the notification of change of address or particulars of person or organization (NCP) form.
- You will also do an eye test or you can do it at an optometrist of your choice and take your results to the DLTC.
Your new driving license will be ready in four to six weeks. Drive safe and always stay up to date people!
