A temporary driving licence lets you keep driving legally while your licence card is renewed or replaced. According to gov.za, you can apply for one if you have applied to renew an expired licence or you have lost your driver’s licence. It is valid for six months and is issued on the same day at a driving licence testing centre (DLTC).
There is no single national price for it. The government tells you to ask your local licensing office, and fees differ between provinces and municipalities.
Driver or Vehicle Requirements at a Glance
- Who qualifies: you have applied to renew an expired licence, or you have lost your driver’s licence.
- Validity: six months.
- Where: a DLTC, in person. Gauteng residents are directed to apply online at online.natis.gov.za.
- Turnaround: issued on the same day.
- Cost: the prescribed fee, which your local licensing office confirms.
Licence and Eligibility Requirements
A temporary licence is not a separate type of licence. It covers the gap while the card is replaced or produced, so you must already hold a driving licence, or be in the middle of getting one.
- Expired licence: if you renew after the date on the card has passed, a temporary licence is required, at an additional cost, while the new card is produced.
- Lost licence: you can apply for a temporary licence if your licence is lost.
- New licence: after you pass the driving test and pay the issuing fee, you receive a temporary licence immediately. You use it while the ordered card is made.
Vehicle, Inspection and Safety Requirements
The check that applies to a temporary licence is the eye test, which you can take at the DLTC or with a qualified optometrist. If you use an optometrist, submit the form at the centre.
Documents, PrDP or Supporting Evidence
Take these to the DLTC:
- A certified copy of your ID, or your temporary ID
- Proof of postal and residential address
- Four identical black-and-white photographs. Confirm with the DLTC first how many it requires
- The prescribed fee
If the utility bill is not in your name, the owner of the bill must make an affidavit that you live at the address, with the bill attached. If you live in an informal settlement, bring a date-stamped letter from your ward councillor.
If your licence was lost, stolen or destroyed, the Western Cape Government lists a police affidavit and proof of address no older than three months among the documents. Other provinces may differ, so ask your DLTC.
Registration or Application Process
- Complete form DL1 (application for a driving licence). Use form NCP if your address or particulars changed.
- Do the eye test at the DLTC, or at a qualified optometrist.
- Hand in your documents, photographs and the fee at the DLTC.
- Collect the temporary licence on the same day.
Your permanent card is ordered separately. See the official temporary licence page for the current process.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a temporary drivers licence?
The government publishes no national amount and says to contact your local licensing office. The Western Cape Government lists R45 for a temporary driving licence, and says to confirm costs with the testing centre. Langeberg Municipality lists R140 for the temporary licence issued when a new licence card is ordered after passing the test. Treat these as examples, not national fees.
How long is a temporary drivers licence valid?
Six months. If your card has still not arrived, ask your licensing office what to do before it runs out.
Can I get a temporary drivers licence if my licence expired?
Yes. When you renew after the card’s expiry date, you must apply for a temporary licence at an additional cost while you wait for the new card.
Is the temporary licence period going to change?
Draft amendments to the National Road Traffic Regulations, published on 17 August 2026, propose a grace period of up to three months after expiry for existing five-year cards in codes A1, A, B and EB. They are only a draft and not confirmed in force, so keep to the current rules.
Confirm the current fee and process with your local licensing authority or DLTC. See the driving and transport requirements hub, and our guide to rideshare driver requirements if you drive for a living.