To get a learner’s licence in South Africa you must be old enough for the code you want on the day of the test, bring your ID, photographs, proof of address and the booking fee, complete form LL1, and pass an eye test and the learner’s test at a driving licence testing centre (DLTC). If you pass and pay the issue fee, gov.za says the licence is issued on the same day.
A learner’s licence is valid for 24 months and cannot be extended. There is no national price published on gov.za, so ask your DLTC for the fees that apply where you live.
Driver or Vehicle Requirements at a Glance
- Minimum age: 16 for Code 1 up to 125 cc, 17 for Code 2, 18 for Code 3 and for Code 1 above 125 cc. Your age is counted on the test date.
- Documents: ID, two identical black-and-white photographs, proof of postal and residential address, and the booking fee.
- Form: LL1, available at the DLTC and online. Applicants aged 65 or older also submit the medical certificate form (MC).
- Tests: an eye test and the learner’s test at a DLTC.
- Validity: 24 months, not extendable.
Licence and Eligibility Requirements
There are three learner’s licence codes. Your minimum age depends on the code:
- Code 1: motorcycles, motor tricycles and quadricycles. You must be 16 or older on the test date if the engine does not exceed 125 cc, and 18 or older if it exceeds 125 cc.
- Code 2: motor vehicles including minibuses, buses and goods vehicles with a gross vehicle mass up to 3 500 kg. You must be 17 or older on the test date.
- Code 3: vehicles with a gross vehicle mass exceeding 3 500 kg. You must be 18 or older on the test date.
A learner’s licence is not a driving licence. Rules for learners include that a licensed driver must accompany you at all times, except on a motorcycle, and a learner may not carry another person on a motorcycle.
Vehicle, Inspection and Safety Requirements
The check at the DLTC is the eye test, which you can take at the DLTC or with a qualified optometrist. The test covers the rules of the road, road markings and road signs, and the controls of a vehicle. The Western Cape Government says all its tests are done on the computerised system.
Documents, PrDP or Supporting Evidence
- Your ID
- Two identical black-and-white photographs. Confirm with the DLTC how many it requires
- Proof of postal and residential address
- The booking fee
- A completed form LL1
- Form MC as well, if you are 65 or older
If the utility bill is not in your name, the owner of the bill must make an affidavit that you live there, with the bill attached. In an informal settlement, bring a letter from your ward councillor. In the Western Cape, an applicant under 18 needs an adult to confirm the address in an affidavit stamped by SAPS or a Commissioner of Oaths, and proof of address must be no older than three months.
Registration or Application Process
- Book a test date at a DLTC. Gauteng residents apply online at online.natis.gov.za.
- Complete form LL1.
- Do the eye test at the centre or with a qualified optometrist.
- On test day, bring your booking receipt and ID.
- Pass the test and pay the issue fee to receive the licence on the same day.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a learners licence in South Africa?
The government publishes no national amount and tells you to contact your local licensing office. In the Western Cape, the Western Cape Government lists a test or application fee of R68 plus an issue fee of R33 once you pass, which is R101 in total. Those fees are subject to change, and other provinces may differ.
How much does it cost to write the learners test?
In the Western Cape the test or application fee is R68, and a further R33 issue fee applies if you pass. Ask your DLTC for the amount in your area.
What is a code 1 learners licence?
Code 1 covers motorcycles, motor tricycles and quadricycles. You must be 16 if the engine does not exceed 125 cc, or 18 if it is larger, on the date of the test.
What does the learners test cover?
The rules of the road, road markings and road signs, and the controls of a vehicle.
Can I drive on a learners licence?
Yes, but only with a licensed driver accompanying you, except on a motorcycle.
Does a learners licence expire?
Yes. It is valid for 24 months and cannot be extended. Draft amendments to the national road traffic regulations published in August 2026 would keep that 24-month period.
Can I apply for a learners and drivers licence together?
They are separate applications. The learner’s licence is issued on the day you pass the learner’s test and pay the fee. See the official page for the driving licence for that step.
Confirm the current fees and booking process with your local DLTC. See the driving and transport requirements hub, and our guide to rideshare driver requirements.