Driving Licence system in South Africa

The driving licence system in South African went through an overhaul in 1998 from the old system to the new system. While there have been tweaks to the system over the years, for the majority it’s stayed the same. Here’s a quick summary of the current system, with equivalent codes from the old system.

When the new system was implemented, everyone who had an old licence of the form Code 8, Code 12 etc. was given an equivalent licence in the new letter format, eg. B, EC etc. To this day people still often refer to having a code 12 licence, although the system is not used in practice.

Learner’s Licence
There are three main categories of licences. Light Motor Vehicles, Heavy Motor Vehicles and Motor Cycles. Before you can get either one of these licences, you must first write a learner’s licence exam. This is a 1 hour theory exam, to test your knowledge of the rules of the road. There are three different learner’s licences available, each one applying to a different vehicle class. These licences are:

Code 1: Motorcycles
Code 2: Light Motor Vehicles
Code 3: Heavy Motor Vehicles

A Heavy motor vehicle is considered any vehicle with a GVM over 3,500kg (3.5 tons), and a light motor vehicle anything below. There was talk 2 years ago about combining learners licences so as not to require people who already have a licence to rewrite their learner’s licence, but this was never passed. Currently a Learner’s Licence is valid for 2 years. Once you have a learner’s licence for a vehicle, you are free to drive that vehicle as long as there is a driver licenced for that vehicle in the passenger seat with you. You may drive on freeways, and have additional passengers. If you want to get your Driver’s Licence, you must apply so that your test occurs before your learner’s licence expires. If you have a learner’s licence for a motorcycle, you may drive by yourself (I’ve also heard you’re not allowed passengers, unsure).

You may only apply for a Code 2 Learner’s Licence if you are over the age of 17. For a Code 1 licence you may apply when you are 16 (limited to 125cc). I have heard that you must be 18 before applying for a Code 3 learner’s licence.

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Driver’s Licence
For motorcycles there are two licences available. An A, and a A1 licence. An A1 licence you may hold from the age of 17, and is limited to motorcycles with an engine capacity of 125cc or less. You may only get an A licence once you turn 18, and permits you to drive any motorcycle.

Light motor vehicles have two classes. Either a B (old code 7) or an EB (old code 8). The B licence is the standard driver’s licence that most people get. It allows you to drive any Light Motor Vehicle and tow a trailer with a GVM less than 750kg. An EB licence is for the same class of vehicles, but allows you to tow trailers in excess of GVM 750kg. Most people who did their driver’s licence before 1998 were automatically upgraded to an EB licence, whereas most new drivers have only a B licence. This limits one from towing certain caravans and boats which can have GVMs higher than 750kg. You must be 18 years old before you take the test for an LMV licence.

Heavy Motor vehicles have four classes. A code C1 (former code 10) which is for vehicles with a GVM between 3.5 and 16 tons and a code C which is for vehicles with a GVM over 16 tons. Drivers with a code C1 licence are permitted to drive vehicles of class B. Drivers with a code C may drive vehicles covered by both the C1 and B codes.
A code EC1 licence holds the same rights as a C1 licence, but with the inclusion of trailers with a GVM in excess of 750 kg. Likewise an EC licence permits the driver to drive vehicles covered by a C licence with a trailer of GVM in excess of 750kg. The holder of an EC licence, in addition to vehicles covered by a C licence, may also drive EC1 vehicles.

In 2010 reports were issued that drivers who obtained a Heavy Duty Vehicle Licence after January 2011 would not be permitted to drive light motor vehicles. This law was never passed.

To obtain a driver’s licence, you must hold the appropriate learner’s licence and do a practical test for driving that vehicle. The test comprises of a yard test (inclined start and alley docking. Additional three point turn and parallel parking for LMV and additional straight reverse for HMVs). As well as an on the road test, generally along preset routes in general traffic. For each of these you must follow practices specified by the K53 defensive driving system, which has many critics. It is advised that anyone attempting to pass a driving test in South Africa first go for driving lessons with an accredited driving school.

A South African Driver’s Licence must be renewed every 5 years.

SA Driver's Licence

SA Driver’s Licence
Rear and Front

Professional Driver’s Licence
Anyone who wants to drive a motor vehicle for reward (taxi, deliveryman etc.) or anyone driving a Goods Vehicle, or Vehicle able to transport more than 11 people must hold a Professional Driver’s Permit. See my article here for more information. A standard PrDP licence is valid for 2 years.

Other things to note
It is possible to hold a licence which is valid for both an LMV or HMV as well as a motorcycle. You will be issued with one card which displays the separate restrictions, dates etc. for each.
Whatever vehicle you do your licence in will be the vehicle that you are given a licence for. If you drive an automatic vehicle, you will not be permitted to drive manual vehicles.
Whenever you renew your driver’s licence you will be required to do an eye test, this test will dictate whether you are required to drive a vehicle with or without glasses.
A South African Driver’s licence is in the shape of a credit card. Pre-1998, driver’s licences were included in your ID book.
Go here to view a table comparing the old and the current driver’s licence codes.

Most of the information here I posted from memory. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, if uncertain, please contact your local Traffic Department for assistance.
Source: General Knowledge and the National Road Traffic Act.

1,450 thoughts on “Driving Licence system in South Africa

  1. Hi Garath.

    1) I’m aiming at truck driving career, like freight. What is the license called in SA, code 14?
    2) If I get the SA truck license, can it be exchanged in the UK/ be used in some way overseas UK/EU nations? How will one go about being issued UK license?
    I would not like to redo the tests there again, rather exchange the SA to EU one?

    Please shed some light. Thanks.

    • Hi Louis, I have a decent understanding of the South African system, but not at all of foreign systems.
      1. The official code is an EC licence. It was previously, and is often commonly referred to as a code 14.
      2. In general a licence obtained here can be converted overseas, but this depends entirely on the laws in the other countries which you’ll have to research separately.

  2. Hi,

    I have a Botswana drivers licence as i did my university degree there for four years and thought might as well learn to drive. now i am in south africa(i am a south african citizen) but grew up in england so feel like a foreigner here in south africa.
    Anyways i wanted to convert my Botswana licence to South African but im told i need to do a road test again. Is this true or false?
    They say only foreigners with permanet residency here in south africa may convert so why cant i even though im south african but hardly been here.

    • Hi Roweena, the laws on foreign driver’s licences are a bit unclear to me, but it seems like you should be able to get your licence.
      According to this website: http://www.westerncape.gov.za/service/convert-foreign-driving-licence

      If you obtained a foreign driving licence while living abroad, you have to convert your licence within five years of resuming your residency

      Try contacting the Department of Transport for more info. Contact details are listed on that website.

  3. Hello again
    I would like to know if its posible to Apply only for the licence und not a temporary when u renew your licence. …
    Und how much does it really cost to renew a code 10 licence? ????

    • Hi Fikile, if you apply early enough for your new driver’s licence (ie before your licence expires) you do not have to buy a temporary licence. Your old licence is still valid for up to 3 months after it expires if you have proof of payment for a new licence.
      Price of renewing licences differs from province to province.

    • Hi Sbu

      You have to redo your learner’s licence and your motor vehicle licence in a vehicle that qualifies for a C licence.

  4. may i ask if you are a foreigner what are requirements needed to get a south african licence if u have especialy a zim drivers licence

    • You need a traffic register certificate and copy of your Zimbabwean licence. Then you need to apply for permission to transfer your licence from department of transport.

  5. More Gareth,

    Kan jy asseblief vir my sê of n RSA Motorfiets leerling lisensie geldig sal wees in Namibië en Botswana?

    Dankie!

    • Hi Louise. Ek is eintlik nie seker. Ek twyfel of hulle n learner’s sal anvaar, maar bel vir een van die AA travel winkles. Hulle maak die international driving licences en sal beter weet.

  6. It is unfair to some of us who are 16 years old nd wants 2 drive. We want a drivers licence nt a motorcycle licence. In South Africa they should announce a new law of a drives licence for 16 years old’s.

    • Why should the age be changed to 16? They’re not just going to change the law. You need to put forward good arguments for your case.

  7. Hi Gareth,

    Ek het tans n C1 lisensie maar kan nie iets sleep wat meer is
    as die wettige 750kg gvm nie. Ek sal sekerlik nou gaan vir die EC ( voertuie bo 3500kg en trailers bo 750kg) lisensie maar wat gebeur met my huidige C1 lisensie as ek slegs gaan vir n EB lisensie wat n motor minder as 3500kg + trailer bo 750kg toelaat want huidiglik kan ek tot en met 16000kg trokke bestuur. Sal my nuwe lisensie kaart my huidige C1 + my moontlike nuwe EB lisensie apart aantoon op die lisensie kaart of verloor ek my C1 lisensie heeltemal en kan dan nie voertuie bo 3500kg bestuur nie? Ek hoor graag van jou. Dankie

    • Hi Andrew
      As far as I know both your C1 and EB should then be displayed on your licence, thus indicating that you can drive both class of vehicles. Before you go through with this though check with your licence department, and when you complete your test be sure to confirm that both codes will be displayed on your licence card.

  8. Hi Gareth,I would just like to know why you can’t apply for a licence of a certain class if you already have a valid licence for that class,says so in the k53 manual

    • Hi Gregor, unfortunately that’s just the law, I don’t know the exact reasoning behind it.
      But to apply to a driver’s licence of any category, you need to have a valid learner’s licence, so even if you’ve passed it in the past, you will have to rewrite it.

  9. Hi Gareth,

    Just wanted to thank you, your advice last year really helped. And, today, just going through some of the questions and answers on this blog answered a few other questions I had.

    Wil net se baie, baie dankie vir jou hulp…

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