A temporary driving licence is a document issued by a licensing authority that permits you to drive while your card is being produced, replaced or renewed. It is not a lesser licence — it is the licence, in a different form, for a limited period.
It exists precisely because card production takes time, and knowing about it prevents the period of driving unlicensed that many people fall into.
Driver or Vehicle Requirements at a Glance
What a temporary driving licence generally requires.
- An existing valid or recently expired driving licence, or a completed application for one
- A valid South African ID, or a valid passport with the appropriate permit
- Proof of residential address in the prescribed form
- A completed application form in the current version
- Payment of the prescribed fee
- A photograph, where the authority requires one
- Attendance in person at a driving licence testing centre
- A reason recognised by the authority — renewal under way, card lost, card not yet produced
Licence and Eligibility Requirements
Confirm the current requirements, fees and process with your licensing authority. Requirements are set in the National Road Traffic Act 93 of 1996 and its regulations and are revised, and municipal offices differ in how appointments are made.
Ask for it at the renewal appointment. The most efficient point to obtain a temporary licence is at the same visit as the renewal application, because you are already there with the documents. Asking afterwards means a second trip.
It has its own validity period. Confirm how long it is valid for and what happens if the card is still not ready when it expires — in most cases another can be issued, at the prescribed fee.
Carry it as you would the card. It is what you produce at a roadblock, and it should be with you whenever you drive.
It does not extend an expired licence indefinitely. It bridges a gap in a process that is under way; it is not a substitute for completing the renewal.
Check whether it is accepted where you need it. Car rental companies and some employers have their own policies on temporary licences, and a rental company that will not accept one is a problem to discover before the counter.
Vehicle, Inspection and Safety Requirements
Driving without a valid licence is an offence, and it can also affect your insurance position after an accident. That second consequence is usually the more expensive one, and a temporary licence is a small fee against it.
Abroad, a temporary licence is likely to be a problem. An International Driving Permit is generally issued against a valid driving licence card, and foreign authorities and rental companies may not accept a temporary document. If you are travelling and driving, resolve the card position before leaving.
Keep the receipt and the renewal reference alongside the temporary licence. Together they show the process is under way.
Track the card using your authority’s status check where one exists, and follow up if production exceeds the stated period.
Collect the card promptly when it is ready. Uncollected cards are held for a period and the process can become complicated afterwards.
Documents, PrDP or Supporting Evidence
What to bring.
- Your existing driving licence card, where you have it
- A police affidavit, where the card is lost or stolen
- Your South African ID or valid passport with permit
- Proof of residential address in the prescribed form
- A completed application form, signed
- Proof of the renewal or replacement application, where one is under way
- Proof of payment of the prescribed fee
- Passport photographs in the specified format, where required
Registration or Application Process
Apply in person at a driving licence testing centre. Confirm the fee, the validity period and what documents are required with your authority before going.
Plan around the card production time rather than reacting to it. If you renew several months before expiry, a temporary licence may not be needed at all.
Never pay anyone to obtain a temporary licence outside the official process. It is issued by the licensing authority in person, and a document obtained any other way is not a licence.
Report anyone soliciting a bribe at a testing centre — it is a criminal offence for both parties.
- Ask for the temporary licence at the renewal appointment
- Confirm its validity period and what happens if it expires first
- Carry it whenever you drive — it is what you produce at a roadblock
- Keep the receipt and renewal reference with it
- Check whether a rental company or employer accepts it
- Resolve the card position before travelling and driving abroad
- Track the card and follow up if production is slow
- Collect the card promptly when it is ready
- Renew early enough that a temporary licence may not be needed
- Never obtain a temporary licence outside the official process
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a temporary driving licence for?
It permits you to drive while your card is being produced, replaced or renewed. It is the licence in a different form for a limited period, not a lesser one.
When should I apply for one?
At the renewal appointment, while you are already there with the documents. Asking afterwards means a second trip.
Will a rental company accept it?
Not always. Rental companies and some employers have their own policies on temporary licences — check before you need it rather than at the counter.
Can I drive abroad on one?
Probably not. An International Driving Permit is generally issued against a valid card, and foreign authorities and rental companies may not accept a temporary document.
Temporary licence provisions, validity periods, fees and acceptance are set by the licensing authorities under the National Road Traffic Act framework and are revised. Confirm current requirements with your licensing authority.