A code 14 licence is now called Code EC. It lets you drive an articulated heavy vehicle, such as a truck-tractor drawing a semi-trailer, with a gross combination mass above 16,000 kg, or a combination of a bus or goods vehicle over 16,000 kg. To get one you must be at least 18, pass a code 3 learner’s licence, then pass the Code EC driving test at a driving licence testing centre (DLTC).
If you will drive for an income, which is why most people want a code 14, the licence alone is not enough. You also need a Professional Driving Permit (PrDP), which has its own age, medical and criminal record requirements.
Business Requirements at a Glance
- Licence code: Code EC (old code 14). The Western Cape Government lists the other old codes as Code B (old code 8, light vehicles up to 3,500 kg) and Code C1 (old code 10, 3,500 kg to 16,000 kg).
- Code 14 licence age: 18 years or older for the learner’s licence and the driving licence.
- Learner’s licence: code 3, for vehicles with a gross vehicle mass over 3,500 kg.
- Driving test: booked and taken at a DLTC in a vehicle of the Code EC class.
- PrDP: needed to carry goods, passengers or dangerous goods for reward. Minimum age 18 for goods, 21 for passengers and 25 for dangerous goods.
- Renewals: the licence card every five years, the PrDP every two years.
Registration and Legal Requirements
Driving licences and PrDPs are issued under the National Road Traffic Act 93 of 1996 and its regulations, through DLTCs run by municipalities and provinces.
Code 3 learner’s licence
The code 3 learner’s licence in South Africa covers any motor vehicle with a gross vehicle mass above 3,500 kg, and you must be 18 or older on the date of the test. According to the government learner’s licence guide, it is valid for 24 months and cannot be extended, so you must pass the Code EC driving test within that time. While learning, you may only drive under the supervision of a licensed driver, and because a truck of this size needs a PrDP, the supervising driver must hold a PrDP too.
Code EC driving licence
The government driving licence guide defines Code EC as an articulated heavy motor vehicle (a heavy vehicle drawing one or more trailers) with a gross combination mass over 16,000 kg, or a combination of a bus or goods vehicle over 16,000 kg. The minimum age is 18. If your truck-and-trailer combination is between 3,500 kg and 16,000 kg, the matching code is EC1, not EC.
Professional Driving Permit
The PrDP is issued in addition to the licence. The government PrDP guide says you need one to drive goods vehicles over 3,500 kg, buses, breakdown vehicles, dangerous goods vehicles and any vehicle with an operating licence for an income. There are three categories: G (goods, 18+), P (passengers, 21+) and D (dangerous goods, 25+). Category D also requires certification by an approved training body.
Documents and Ownership Information Required
Each stage has its own document list. Confirm with your DLTC how many photographs it wants before you have them taken.
- Learner’s licence: your ID, two identical black-and-white ID photos, proof of residential address, the booking fee and the LL1 application form.
- Driving licence: your learner’s licence, your ID, four identical black-and-white photos, proof of residential address, the booking fee and the DL1 form.
- PrDP: your ID or driving licence card, four identical black-and-white photos, a valid Code EC licence, a medical certificate no older than two months, a training certificate (category D only), any other PrDP you hold, proof of postal and residential address, the fee and the PD1 form.
If the utility bill you use as proof of address is not in your name, the account holder must make an affidavit confirming you live there and attach the bill. If you live in an informal settlement, bring a letter from your ward councillor with an official date stamp. Gauteng residents apply online through eNaTIS for all three.
Ownership matters for PrDPs. The owner or operator of a vehicle that requires a PrDP may not let anyone drive it on a public road unless that person holds a valid PrDP for the right category.
Tax, Licence and Compliance Requirements
The PrDP is where most compliance problems arise. You cannot get one if, in the past five years, you were convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or of driving with a blood or breath alcohol level above the legal limit. For P and D permits, a conviction for an offence involving violence in that period also disqualifies you. The government guide lists previous licence suspensions and other convictions or admission-of-guilt fines as further grounds, so ask your DLTC how your record will be assessed before you pay.
After you pay for the PrDP, the DLTC refers you to a police station for a conviction report, or sends the request electronically if it has a live capturing unit. A private criminal record check, such as the one sold at PostNet, is not valid for PrDP applications.
To stay compliant once you are licensed:
- Renew your Code EC licence card every five years. A government proposal to extend card validity to 10 years applies only to light vehicle codes (A1, A, B and EB); heavy codes stay on five years.
- Renew your PrDP every two years. Check the renewal documents, including whether a new medical certificate is needed, with your DLTC.
Fees for learner’s licences, driving tests, licence cards and PrDPs are set by provinces and municipalities and are not published nationally. Ask your DLTC for its current tariffs.
Process, Deadlines and Ongoing Obligations
- Book and write the code 3 learner’s test at your DLTC, including the eye test. If you pass and pay the issue fee, the learner’s licence is issued the same day.
- Practise under supervision, within the 24-month validity of the learner’s licence.
- Book the Code EC driving test and complete the DL1 form. On the day, the DLTC checks your receipt and learner’s licence before the test.
- If you pass, your fingerprints are taken, you do the eye test (or submit an optometrist’s report), and you pay for a temporary licence, issued immediately. The card should be ready in four to six weeks, for collection at the same DLTC.
- Apply for your PrDP with a medical certificate completed on the MC form. The permit may take up to 12 weeks, and cards not collected within 120 days are destroyed.
Build the timeline backwards from any job offer: a learner’s licence that lapses before you pass means starting again, and the PrDP can take up to three months after the licence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Code EC the same as a code 14 licence?
Yes. Code EC is the current name for the old code 14, covering heavy articulated vehicles and heavy combinations over 16,000 kg.
What is the minimum age for a code 14 licence?
18 for both the code 3 learner’s licence and the Code EC driving licence. To drive for reward you also need a PrDP: 18 for goods, 21 for passengers and 25 for dangerous goods.
What is the difference between a code 8 licence and a code 14?
A code 8 licence, now Code B, covers vehicles with a gross vehicle mass up to 3,500 kg, including cars, light minibuses and light goods vehicles. A code 14 (Code EC) covers heavy articulated vehicles and combinations over 16,000 kg, needs a code 3 learner’s licence instead of code 2, and is usually used with a PrDP.
Do I need a code 10 licence before a code 14?
The government guides do not list a lower driving licence as a prerequisite. The published requirement is a valid code 3 learner’s licence and a pass in the Code EC test. Confirm with your DLTC.
Do I need a PrDP with a code 14 licence?
Only if you drive for an income, but that covers most code 14 work. Goods vehicles over 3,500 kg need at least a category G PrDP when driven for reward.
How long does it take to get a code 14 licence?
The learner’s licence is issued the same day you pass. After the driving test you get a temporary licence immediately and the card within four to six weeks. Booking waits vary by DLTC.
Licence codes, age limits, PrDP rules and fees are set under the National Road Traffic Act and administered by your provincial transport department and local DLTC. Confirm current requirements and tariffs with your DLTC before you book. Browse all business and compliance requirements, and if you plan to run your own transport business, see company registration requirements.