How to renew your driver’s license in South Africa

It’s been a good number of years since that amazing day when you flashed your bright smile for your driver’s license pictures and you barely recognise the handsome fella staring back at you when you look at that pink card.

This is probably a sign that you need to renew your driver’s license. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Here’s a quick guide on how to renew your driver’s license in South Africa.

Check your expiry date

This might seem very obvious, but it is important to check the expiry date on your driver’s license as this is what will determine when you should go to your nearest Driving License Testing Center (DTLC).

It is recommended to renew your license at least four weeks before it expires. This will allow you to continue to drive with a valid license while waiting for your new one to be printed.

If you don’t renew in time, you may be open to traffic fines, or you will have to apply for a temporary license. This also comes with the admin of bringing an ID photo and an added cost of around R100.

The bright side is that this temporary license is available immediately.

How to book your appointment

After locating your nearest DLTC, visit online.natis.gov.za to book an appointment on a convenient day, and at a convenient time.

This new online system really simplifies the process and you’ll be ready to go pay and submit your renewal in no time.

Required documents for renewing your driver's license

In addition to packing snacks for the queue, remember to carry your original South African ID card or book (side eye!) and the renewal fee. Alternatively, you can also bring your passport.

Once you arrive, you will complete a DL1 form which is available at the DTLC. The fee you’ll need to pay is displayed on the screen after you complete your online booking. While most DTLCs accept cards, it is wise to carry enough cash to cover this cost should the system be offline.

You will also need to do an eye test, which the DTLC does for free– but don’t rely on it. Find out ahead of time if the eye test is operational and if not, you can do an eye test at your local optometrist and take that with you to your appointment.

Should your vision have worsened since the last time you renewed your license, your new license will be published with conditions.

And now we wait

After you submit your documents and remark on how surprised you are at the quick process, you can expect to wait four to six weeks for your new license.

You can check the status of your license online or opt-in for SMS updates.

When you finally go to collect your license, remember to carry your original identity document and the receipt for your renewal fee payment.

Just note that…

• The bad news is that, unlike license disks, driver’s licenses cannot be renewed by proxy, so a third party cannot do it for you, you must go in person.
• The good news is that there is a grace period of three months for driving with an expired license.
• The even better news is that your new license will be valid for the next five years, so you can save this article to read again then!

And with that, you are ready to renew your driver’s license and get one with a slightly more accurate picture– yes, we agree, they’re never a true (or flattering) reflection.