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.
Hello Gareth, I’m living in Cape Town for 9 years, my international driver’s license is already expired and my Argentinian driver’s license as well, I’m waiting for the renewal of my Temporary Residence when i got it that , am i allowed to apply a SA drivers license or any kind of permission to drive? Thank you very much
Hi Gabriel
If you have a passport and proof of residence, you are able to apply for a Traffic Register, which allows for the SA traffic system to identify you. This then allows you to apply for a South African driver’s licence.
Hi Gareth! I want to do my learners and this is my first time but I choose to do the code 10 than code 8, in future am I going to be able to drive a small car with my code 10 license or I must also do the code 8?
Hi Rachel. You can drive code 8 vehicles with a code 10 licence
Gareth
I want to know if I have south african driver’s licence can I get a job in zimbabwe or I’m going to conviety to be a zimbabwe drivers licence
Hi Andrew. I don’t know the Zimbabwean system but for the first 6 months you should be able to drive with your south African licence
Hey Gareth
I am 17 years old and turning 18 in August ,I would like to know if I can book for my drivers test , I already have a learners licence for code B
You can book before you turn 18 but only for a date after your birthday
Hi,
My girlfriend is a tour guide, and is doing driver/guide jobs (combined!), and as a result, whilst driving (less than 11pax), collecting fines (over the speed limit?), due to pointing out tourist sights, on route? Is there any law in this country (South Africa) that states the Tour Operator has to provide a Driver and a Guide for said tours (no matter what the pax?), so that the Driver(/Guide), does not take his/her eyes off the road to accommodate the Tourists product- sights, whilst driving? I mean, if a pedestrian steps into the hi-way, like most deaths on the road in this country, often happens, and she kills a human, due to pointing out attractions for tourists, would she be liable, or the Operator?
In other words, she has a PDP licence, and a Guide licence, and is being asked to accommodate both jobs, saving the Operator the Driver fees, and is she liable to pay the fines, if said Operator is breaking the SA traffic laws, by doing both jobs, and accumulating fines?
I would have thought that the law clearly states: Driver needs to watch the road 100% of the time, and not be side tracked (at 120km/hr), to point out certain attractions, en route? I have googled all angles of eNatis, Guide/Driver pdp road law, and amongst heaps of literature, nowhere do I see that this is acceptable or illegal?
Please give me a link, or direction.
Thanks,
Concerned.
Ok, this is an unusual question. Firstly I doubt that there’s any law that states that one has to have a driver and a tour guide in one vehicle. The way the Road Traffic Act is written doesn’t exactly cover that situation.
However, one could interpret what your wife is doing to be reckless or negligent driving, which is illegal. This leaves your wife in one of those unfortunate positions where she has to convince her bosses that she can’t do her job properly by herself and that it is dangerous to her and her passengers to continue like this. She either has to put down an ultimatum (which is crappy because the alternative is finding another job) or figure out a workaround.
Ideally your wife would pull-over whenever there is something she wants to show them.
If something happened while she was driving, much like the fines she already has, she as the driver is ultimately responsible.
hi i would like to ask how much is to book for license test, code 10.
thanks
contact your local traffic department, prices differ over time and location.
Thanks Gareth,
I was hoping you would find a legal quote, either in the SA Roads Act, or Tourism Board, Guides Association or PDP sectors. But I Hear you, and I had assumed the same, in our country today- the vagueness…
I tend to be one sided, obviously, but will advise accordingly- like you say, the only alternative (besides looking for another job), is to pull over each time, thus extending a direct route by double time, but safety first hey?
Thanks again.
hi Gareth
i would like to ask if there are any requirements besides the learners for obtaining a code 14 licence and that if you are being tested will you be using a truck with a trailer?.
thank you.
Hi Prince
When you take the licence, you have to have a valid learner’s licence and be driving in a vehicle that qualifies for code 14. So it will oftne be an unloaded articulated vehicle
Hi I will like to know if you have a code 10 drives license you can drive a Buse or not and what code should u have
If the bus is less than 16 tons GVM and you have a PrDP then you can drive the bus.
my name is Brian and from Lesotho l went to book for my learners licence at one of the license office here in Sa.. l went with my valid traffic register and my valid passport and l was told to go back and get poof of address and proof of employment the same thing l provided when applying for my traffic register. would like to knw if l bring those documents will l be able to book the same day. or l will be told to come back again after verification.
Hi Brian, I honestly don’t know. I thought if you have your traffic register and your passport you shouldn’t need anything else. I can’t say what’s going to happen when you go back.