Many people confuse renewing a driver’s licence with renewing the licence disk for their vehicle, but they are two separate things. To renew your vehicle’s licence disk, visit your local Post Office, Vehicle Licensing Centre, online and on some banking apps like Capitec. You’ll need your vehicle’s registration number or vin number and your ID.
When Should You Renew Your Driver’s Licence?
It’s important to renew your driver’s licence at least two weeks before it expires. If you miss the deadline, you’ll need to get a temporary driver’s licence, which costs extra, but at least it will be issued immediately.
How to Book Your Driver’s Licence Renewal
Before making a trip to your local (DLTC) Drivers Licence Testing Centre, call ahead to make sure they are open. If they are, you can book your appointment either over the phone or through the NaTIS website.
What You Need for the Appointment
Here’s what to bring along to renew your licence:
- Eye Test: You can get your eye test done at the DLTC for free, but it’s often quicker to have it done by an optometrist beforehand and bring the results with you.
- ID Copy: Don’t forget a copy of your South African ID.
- ID Photos: While most DLTCs will take your photo on-site, it’s smart to bring some black-and-white ID photos just in case.
How Much Will It Cost?
The cost for renewing your licence can vary by municipality, but you can expect to pay around R250. Most DLTCs no longer accept cash, so be sure to bring your credit or debit card.
How Long Will It Take?
Thanks to ongoing backlogs, it could take anywhere from four weeks to six weeks for your new driver’s licence card to be ready. You can check the status online through NaTIS, or opt to receive SMS updates. When it’s ready, bring your ID and reciept to the DLTC to collect your new card.
Lost or Stolen Licence Card?
If your driver’s licence card has been lost or stolen, you’ll need to fill out a Declaration of Lost Documents Form along with a Driver’s Licence Application Form (DL1). You still have to make an appointment for this—walk-ins aren’t accepted.
Online Driver’s Licence Renewal
You can renew your licence online through the NaTIS website.