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.
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.
Moet jy weer ‘n geskrewe en praktiese toets doen om jou Kode van ‘n B na EB te verander?
Ja jy moet. Jy kan nie n praktiese toets doen as jy nie n learner’s lisensie het nie. Maak nie saak watse lisensie jy al het.
hey
would i be allowed to write a learners test for the same code that i have one for, if i lost it. or would i have to write a different learners test code. i had a code 3 before it got lost, it costs more to replace than to rewrite the test.
thank you
Haha, strange that a new licence is cheaper than a reprint. Are you including the fee you need to print your learner’s licence?
But yes, you should be allowed to redo your learner’s for the same code.
yes, it costs twice as much to get a replacement. including printing and even transport to get there lol.
Hi, I use to have a Code 14 license and a Code A license, but because of an accident I lost all sight in my left eye. The last time I renewed my licenses they instructed me to write an affidavit, stating that I’m not using the Code 14 license anymore and want to change it to a Code 8 license. They also said that if I do not provide them with this affidavit they will not renew my license.
Is this correct, I can ride a bike, drive a car with a caravan hooked to it but not a 4 or 8 ton truck?
It looks that way. If they’re saying you’ll be downgraded to a code 8, it will be a vehicle up to 3.5 tons with a caravan. And if you get to keep your code A then you’ll still be able to drive a motorbike.
Hello sir I’m mohammed yusuf I would like to know if I’m 16 what code lisence can I get for a motorcycle and do you have to go for a drivers test before getting a lisence thanl you
Hi Mohammed. If you’re 16 you can only get a learner’s licence for a motorbike. And with it you are only allowed to drive motorcycles up to a 125cc. When you turn 17 you can do your A1 licence which allows you to drive a motorcycle up to 125cc. When you turn 18 you can do your A licence which lets you drive any motor cycle.
Hi, I wrote a code 10 learners & passed it, but now i a need to know will i be able to do a code 8 drivers license? or do i need to go back & write a code 8 learners? in order to do a code 8
You can’t do a code 8 (LMV) with a code 10 (HMV) learner’s licence. Rather just get a code 10 licence. If you get a code 10 licence then you’re allowed to drive a code 8 vehicle as well.
Edit – Apparently with a code 10 learner’s licence you can do a code 8 driver’s licence.
Hi Gareth.
I would like to know the EC1 equivalent in the old licence code system (i.e. codes 8, 9, 10 and 11. Can someone with an EC1 license drive a double diff HMV?
Hi Pat
Whether the truck is double or single dif is irrelevant. EC1 allows you to drive a vehicle up to GVM of 16 tons with a trailer. I’m not 100% sure on the old licence equivalent, I think it’s code 12
Hi im jomo and i dnt hav a driver’s license,i would like you to clearify the process of getting a code 14 driver’s license and also the price..thnx in advance Gareth
What do you need to be clarified?
You may apply for a code 3 learners licence and then pass the test on the day you booked for it.
Then you can book for a drivers license for an EC vehicle. Once you have passed the test you will be issued with the appropriate documentation.
If you wish to work as a driver you will additionally have to get a PRDP license.
Costs vary between provinces so I can’t help you there
Good day
I would like to know if a vehicle which weighs exactly 3500 kg is classified as a heavy vehicle and do I need a Code 10 licence to drive this? Is it possible to declare the vehicle a goods vehicle seeing that we are transporting library books to all the learners attending our after school facilities on the wine farms in the Stellenbosch area? Please let me know at your earliest convenience!! With thanks Maria
Hi Maria. What does the licence disc say the GVM of your vehicle is? If it is exactly 3500kg then you do not require a code 10 drivers licence.
Do you want to it to be a goods vehicle? If it’s a goods vehicle over 3500kg then you will also require a PrDP licence.
Hey Gareth
I wanna know if I have code 8 learner’s licence can I be able to do code 10 learner’s licence whilst my code 8 haven’t expired yet?
Hi Androy
Yes, you can write your code 10 learner’s at any time, regardless of whether your code 8 learner’s licence is valid or not.
Hi
I am in possession of code 10 driver’s license that I got recently , Is it possible to use my learners license since is not yet expired to book for code 14 or I need to redo learners first.my learner’s expire on 2015 oct
If you still have your learner’s licence it should be possible to book for a new driver’s licence with it.