A learner’s licence is a permit that proves you have basic knowledge of a motor vehicle and the rules of the road. It lets you drive only when a licensed driver supervises you. You get it by booking and passing a test at a Driving Licence Testing Centre (DLTC), and it is valid for 24 months and cannot be extended.
There is no educational requirement: you do not need matric or any school subjects. What you need is to meet the minimum age for the vehicle code, pass an eye test, bring the right documents and pay the fees. Details below are from the gov.za learner’s licence service page and, for fees, the Western Cape and City of Cape Town pages.
Entry Requirements at a Glance
The minimum age is measured on the date of your test and depends on the code you apply for.
- Code 1 (motorcycle, with or without sidecar, tricycle or quadricycle): 16 if the engine does not exceed 125 cc, 18 if it exceeds 125 cc
- Code 2 (vehicles including a minibus, bus or goods vehicle with a gross vehicle mass not exceeding 3 500 kg): 17
- Code 3 (gross vehicle mass exceeding 3 500 kg): 18
- An identity document, two identical black-and-white ID photographs, proof of address and a booking fee (see below)
- An eye test, done at the testing centre or by a qualified optometrist
The Western Cape page now uses newer code names (A1, A, B, EB, C1, C, EC1, EC) and lists age 18 for Code B, which covers passenger cars. Naming and ages can differ from the gov.za page, so confirm the code and age with your DLTC before you book.
Academic and Minimum Admission Requirements
There is no academic requirement. A learner’s licence is not a school or university qualification, so no matric result, subject or APS applies.
Applicants who cannot read or write can apply for an Oral Learners Licence, where the answers are spoken. The City of Cape Town requires a sworn SAPS affidavit for this. Ask your DLTC how it handles oral tests and which languages it offers.
Subjects, APS and Qualification Requirements
There are no school subjects or APS points. The test covers three areas: the rules of the road, road traffic signs and markings, and the controls of a vehicle. The 2005 National Road Traffic Act regulations set a separate minimum mark for each area (22, 23 and 6 respectively), and later amendments may have changed these figures, so ask your DLTC for the current pass marks before you book.
While you hold a learner’s licence you may drive only when supervised by a licensed driver. The City of Cape Town notes that with a Code 1 (motorcycle) learner’s licence no licensed driver needs to be present.
Documents and Application Requirements
Take the following to the DLTC. Lists differ slightly between provinces and centres, so confirm with your centre when you book.
- Your identity document
- Two identical black-and-white ID photographs (confirm with the DLTC how many it needs before you have them taken)
- Proof of postal and residential address, such as a utility account; if the bill is not in your name, an affidavit, and for informal settlements a letter from the ward councillor
- Form LL1 (Application for learner’s licence), completed at the DLTC
- Form MC (Medical certificate), in addition, if you are 65 or older
- The booking fee
In the Western Cape the photographs must be 35 mm x 45 mm, proof of address must be not older than three months, and applicants under 18 need an adult’s affidavit confirming their address, according to the Western Cape Government. Forms are available at any DLTC and on eNaTIS.
Selection, Intake and Eligibility Considerations
There are no intakes or selection. You book a test date at a DLTC. Gov.za says Gauteng residents should apply online through eNaTIS; elsewhere you book in person at the nearest DLTC.
In the Western Cape, tests run on the Computerised Learners Licence Testing (CLLT) system: you submit your documents and LL1, pay the fee and receive an appointment date. You can cancel only for illness, a funeral or exams, and the fee is not refunded.
On test day, take your booking receipt and ID. If you pass and pay the issue fee, the licence is issued the same day.
Fees are set locally. The Western Cape lists R68 for the test or application and R33 to issue the licence after you pass, and the City of Cape Town lists R68 per code and R33 for the issue. Elsewhere, ask your local licensing office.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a learner’s licence?
It is a permit proving basic knowledge of a motor vehicle and the rules of the road. It allows you to drive only when supervised by a licensed driver.
How long is a learner’s licence valid?
24 months, and it cannot be extended.
Do I need matric to get a learner’s licence?
No. There is no educational requirement. You must meet the minimum age for the code, pass the test and provide the required documents.
How old do I have to be for a learner’s licence in South Africa?
On the test date you must be 16 for a motorcycle up to 125 cc, 18 for a motorcycle over 125 cc, 17 for a light vehicle (Code 2) and 18 for a heavy vehicle (Code 3).
How much does a learner’s licence cost?
Fees are set locally. In the Western Cape it is R68 for the test and R33 to issue the licence after you pass. Ask your local licensing office for the fee in your area.
Can I drive alone on a learner’s licence?
No. You may drive only when supervised by a licensed driver, except on a motorcycle (Code 1) in the City of Cape Town, where no licensed driver needs to be present.
Confirm current ages, fees and documents with your Driving Licence Testing Centre or provincial licensing authority before you apply. See admission requirements and browse all education requirements.