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.
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
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.
Hi, I have just passed my learner’s license. I chose to write the code 08. Can I ride a motorbike or a scooter with this learner’s license or is there a different learner’s test that I need to pass to drive a motorbike or a scooter?
Hi Sam. Unfortunately your learners licence only allows you to drive light motor vehicles and not motor bikes. You must do a code 1 learners licence for motor bikes.
Hi i just got my EC license but not yet my prdp am i alowwed to drive a bus while its not loaded with passangers
No I’m afraid not, you’re not allowed to drive a vehicle capable of transporting 12 people without a PrDP
Hi,
What license is needed : We drive a VW Amarok (GVM – 3040kg, Tarra 1666kg) and need to tow a cherry picker that weights 2700kg.
Please advise.
Hi Roland you need at least an EB licence to drive that combination. Furthermore the cherry picker must have brakes and you must confirm that the amarok manual allows for towing of such a heavy trailer.
hi there I just want to know if its possible for me to write a code 3(14) learners even if I don’t have code 10…. isit possible to start with code 14 learners once?
Hi ofentse. As long as you are 18 years old you can get a licence for any heavy motor vehicle. You can go straight to 14 without having a10
Hy. G. I’m 26 and. Have. Cod 11 can I do my cod 14 driving test with out redoing my learners test
Hey Justin, what do you mean by a code 11? Anyone with an old code 11, 13 or 14, should have been upgraded to the current day EC licence, which is the new ‘code 14’ licence.
In any case. Regardless of what licence you have, if you want to get a new driver’s licence, you have to redo your learner’s licence.
I got my code 10 2001 ,and need to motor bike license , why is it that I have to write learners on sections beside motor vehicle handling , since have a valid license nd passed sections on such as “Rules of Road” “Road signs” and so on ?
Hi Henry. Unfortunately that’s just the law at the moment. If you want to get a driver’s licene, regardless of any previous licences, you have to redo your learner’s licence.
Hi Gareth
I Would like to find out i Did my Licence in 2004 And it then Expired in 2009 i renewed my licence in 2009 and it expired again in 2014 when i Went to the licencing department this year I was told i am not on the system and to redo my licence from scratch how is this possible
Hi Phillip, I have no idea how that is possible, but it doesn’t sound right. If you have a valid licence, show them your current licence. You should be in the eNATIS system. If you have further issues try speaking to a manager at a traffic department.
Hi The problem Is i Was Mugged And the Stole my Id An Licence so i dont have it to show to them at this Stage
Hi Phillip, you need some form of ID to get a driver’s licence renewed, whether it be a previous driver’s licence, and an ID book or passport. If it was all stolen, I’m afraid you’re going to have to wait till the Department of Home Affairs can issue you a new licence until you can get a new driver’s licence.
Can I get a drivers license before I am 18 ?
And Can I get a learners license if I have an overseas passport and a traffic registration ?
Hi Arsalan, you can’t get a South African driver’s licence before you’re 18.
You should be able to get a learner’s licence with a passport and traffic register.
1. The drive license never expire / The license card does expire.
2. The Road Traffic Act says “you may apply for a new license card” nowhere in the act does it say you “must” apply for a new license card.
3. Traffic officer’s are incorrectly charging drivers whose card has expired for not having a valid drivers license – remember your license doesn’t expire.
4. There is no charge for driving with a expired license card because the act does not make it compulsory to renew a expired card. When it says “may” you have a choice
5. Money making scam to enrich the card producing facility share holders
kind of but not really. The way the road traffic act refers to a “Driver’s Licence” makes it imply that it is referring a Driver’s Licence Card, although it does refer to these separately at different times.
If your card expires, your licence expires, however you can be issued a new driver’s licence (card) without having to redo your driver’s licence, regardless of how long ago your previous card expired.
Hi Gareth, I’ve got a “B” licence since 2003. Im upgrading to an “EB” by doing the entire process from the start. My test is Wednesday morning. My question is, when you drive back to the test station and you need to park your vehicle, how do you park if the parking is only the length of the vehicle? May your trailer stick pass or must you use the length of 2 parkings? Come to think of it, the test stations’ parking is only 1 vehicle length long.
Hey Thomas. When I did my EC licence, I ended up parking near where I started. So not in a valid parking spot. When I drove back into the yard, the examiner told me where to park. As you drive back in, just ask your examiner where to park if he doesn’t instruct you where to.