Licence renewal requirements in South Africa depend on which licence is expiring. Most drivers deal with three renewals: the vehicle licence disc, renewed every year at a registering authority or online; the driving licence card, renewed at a driving licence testing centre (DLTC) with an eye test and fingerprints; and, for professional drivers, the professional driving permit (PrDP), which runs for 24 months.
All three need your ID, proof of address and the prescribed fee. The rest differs: a renewal notice or form ALV for the disc, form DL1 and an eye test for the card, and form PD1 with a fresh medical certificate for the PrDP. This page sets out the requirements for each licence renewal side by side, including renewing for a company or through someone else.
Driver or Vehicle Requirements at a Glance
- Vehicle licence disc: renew every 12 months (every six months for buses). There is a 21-day grace period after the disc expires. Take your ID, proof of address and the renewal notice (MVL2) or form ALV to a registering authority, or renew online at online.natis.gov.za. Processed on the same day.
- Driving licence card: renew at a DLTC at least four weeks before the expiry date on the card. Take your ID, the old card and proof of address, complete form DL1, and do an eye test. The new card takes four to six weeks.
- Professional driving permit: valid for 24 months. Reapply on form PD1 at a DLTC with a medical certificate on form MC no older than two months. Your fingerprints are taken again for the police check.
- Fees: each renewal has its own prescribed fee, set by the province. Disc fees also depend on the vehicle’s category and tare mass.
Licence and Eligibility Requirements
Vehicle licence: the registered owner is responsible for renewing it before it expires. If you miss the 21-day grace period, you pay late licensing penalties and arrears on top of the renewal fee. Vehicles used for public transport, and heavy load vehicles, also need a valid roadworthy certificate before the disc can be renewed.
Driving licence card: you keep your licence codes, and there is no driving test. You must pass the eye test, though. If your sight has worsened, conditions such as wearing glasses are added to the licence. There is no grace period for driving on an expired card: if you renew after the expiry date, you also need a temporary driving licence, at an extra cost, to drive while the new card is made.
PrDP: renewal is a full reapplication. You must still meet every original condition: a valid driving licence for the vehicle, medical fitness, and no disqualifying convictions in the past five years (for example, drunk or reckless driving). If you apply on or before the expiry date, the National Road Traffic Regulations keep your current permit valid until the new one is issued, for up to four months after expiry. Renewing your driving licence card does not renew your PrDP, and renewing your PrDP does not renew your card. Each has its own expiry date.
Vehicle, Inspection and Safety Requirements
Only the vehicle licence involves the vehicle itself. A privately used car does not need an inspection to renew its disc. Buses, public transport vehicles and heavy load vehicles need a current roadworthy certificate. Buses renew every six months because their roadworthy certification is only valid for six months.
For the driving licence card, the safety check is the eye test. You can do it at the DLTC, or see an optometrist first and hand in the report. For the PrDP, it is the medical examination on form MC, done by a registered medical practitioner or occupational health practitioner. Because the form MC certificate is only accepted for two months, book the medical close to your DLTC visit.
Documents, PrDP or Supporting Evidence
Documents required for licence renewal, by licence:
Vehicle licence disc (vehicle in your name):
- Your ID
- Proof of residential address, such as a utility account. If it is not in your name, the account holder must attach it to an affidavit confirming you live there. In an informal settlement, bring a dated, officially stamped letter from your ward councillor
- The renewal notice (MVL2), or form ALV (application for licensing of motor vehicle) if you did not receive a notice
- A roadworthy certificate, for public transport and heavy load vehicles
- The licence fee, plus any penalties and arrears
Vehicle registered to a company or organisation (eNaTIS proxy):
- The business registration certificate of the company or organisation
- The ID of the company’s proxy, the person nominated to act for it
- A letter of proxy
- The renewal notice (MVL2) or form ALV, and the fee
Someone renewing a disc for you: they need a letter from you giving them permission to renew the licence, a certified copy of your ID, their own ID, and the fees. The Western Cape Government lists these requirements, and some registering authorities ask for more. For example, the letter may need to name the vehicle’s registration number and the person you are authorising. Check with your office before sending someone.
Driving licence card and PrDP: both need your ID, proof of address and ID photographs if your centre still uses printed ones. The card also needs form DL1 and your current card. The PrDP also needs form PD1, form MC, your driving licence and any training certificate required for a dangerous goods permit.
Registration or Application Process
Online licence renewal for your vehicle licence disc:
- Register a profile, or log in, at online.natis.gov.za, the Road Traffic Management Corporation’s official eNaTIS site. Your profile needs your name, ID number and address.
- Select “View Motor Renewals” and choose the vehicle.
- Pay by bank card on the site.
- The new disc is couriered to your address.
At the counter: take the documents above to your municipal registering authority. Government also lists selected Post Office branches for disc renewal, so confirm that yours still offers it. The application is processed on the same day. In the Western Cape, renewal notices are no longer posted. You receive them by SMS or email, or can download them from the RTMC website. Without a notice, complete form ALV at the counter.
Licence renewal forms: forms ALV and DL1 are free at registering authorities and DLTCs, and the PrDP forms PD1 and MC are available at DLTCs and on the eNaTIS website. Do not pay a third-party site for a licence renewal form or for a booking.
Driving licence card: book your renewal on online.natis.gov.za where your DLTC uses online booking, then attend in person for the eye test, photograph and fingerprints. For the full step-by-step card process, the documents in detail and what happens if your card has already expired, see our guide to requirements for drivers licence renewal.
PrDP: apply at a DLTC with form PD1 and form MC. Gauteng residents are directed to apply online first. Government says the new card can take up to 12 weeks, so start well before the 24 months are up.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a grace period for licence renewal?
For the vehicle licence disc, yes: 21 days from the expiry date before penalties and arrears are charged. The driving licence card has no grace period for driving, so renew at least four weeks before it expires. For a PrDP, applying on or before expiry keeps your permit valid for up to four months while the new one is processed.
Can I do my licence renewal online?
You can renew a vehicle licence disc fully online through online.natis.gov.za, and the disc is delivered to you. A driving licence card renewal can only be booked online, because the eye test, photograph and fingerprints must be done in person.
What documents does a company need to renew a vehicle licence on eNaTIS?
The company’s business registration certificate, the ID of its registered proxy, a letter of proxy, and the renewal notice or form ALV. The proxy, or a representative the company authorises, handles the transaction. Check with your registering authority what it needs from a representative who is not the proxy.
Can someone else renew my licence for me?
Yes for the vehicle licence disc, with a signed letter from you, a certified copy of your ID and their own ID. No for a driving licence card or PrDP, because your fingerprints, photograph and eye test must be taken in person.
How much does licence renewal cost?
Fees are set by each province. Government’s guidance is to contact your local licensing office. Vehicle licence fees depend on the vehicle’s category, description and tare mass, and late renewal of a disc adds penalties and arrears.
What happens if I renew my driving licence card late?
You need a temporary driving licence, at an extra cost, to drive legally while the new card is produced. You do not have to retake the driving test.
Renewal rules, forms and fees are set by the Department of Transport, the Road Traffic Management Corporation and your province, and they change. Confirm the current requirements on gov.za’s pages for renewing a motor vehicle licence and renewing a driving licence, or with your registering authority or driving licence testing centre, before you go. Browse all driving and transport requirements.
See also rideshare driver requirements.