The growing number of South Africans desiring to obtain their learners licence across the country has become alarming. This has prompted the South African government, in partnership with the Electronic National Traffic Information System (eNatis) and other relevant stakeholders, to come up with an all-inclusive solution in the learners licence application system.
This system has made it simple and convenient for any qualified applicant who wishes to obtain a learners licence to be able to get the licence anywhere in the country by simply obtaining the application from selected driving licence testing centres across the country or through the online licence booking. This effort is aimed at ensuring safety and order on all roads within the country to minimize the occurrence of accidents.
What Is A Learners Licence and What Rights Does It Bestow On A Holder?
A learner’s licence serves as a permit that proves that the holder of the licence has obtained the basic knowledge of a motor vehicle, and the rules of using the road. Nevertheless, after obtaining the learners licence, it is expected to be valid for a period of 24 months only. This validity period cannot be extended.
As a holder of a learners licence in South Africa, today, you are allowed to drive only under the supervision of a licensed driver. Meanwhile, if the category of vehicle you are driving requires a professional driving permit, the supervising licensed driver must equally hold a professional driving permit.
Different Categories Of Learners Licence
There are different categories of learner’s licence a person can obtain, depending on one’s age within the period of the application. These include:
- Code 1: This is mostly applicable for a motorcycle, with or without a sidecar, motor tricycle, or quadruped cycle. To be qualified for this category, applicants must be 16 years and above, on the date of the test. That is only if the motorcycle’s engine in question does not exceed 125 ccs. Applicants must be 18 years or older if the engine exceeds 125 ccs.
- Code 2: This is issued for a motor vehicle, including a goods vehicle, minibus, or a bus, with a gross vehicle mass not exceeding 3,500kg. For this category, applicants must be 17 years old or above, on the date of the test.
- Code 3: This is also applicable for a motor vehicle, with a gross vehicle mass that exceeds 3,500kg. To be eligible for this, applicants must be 18 years old and above, on the date of the test.
Requirements For The Application Of A Learners Licence
To be qualified to apply for a Learners Licence, applicants must possess the following:
- An identity document (ID)
- Receipt of the booking fee
- Two identical black-and-white ID photographs (to be on the safer side, confirm the number of photos needed with the DLTC)
- Proof of postal and residential address using a utility bill. (Note: If the utility bill is not in your name, the owner of the bill must make an affidavit, declaring that you live at the address, and the utility bill must be attached to the affidavit).
- A confirmation letter with an official date stamp, from the ward councilor to confirm your postal and residential address (only for those who stay at an informal settlement).
- Completed Medical Certificate Form (for persons 65 years or older)
Step By Step Procedure For Booking and Testing
Booking a test is quite an easy process in obtaining your learners licence. All you need to do is to visit the nearest driving licence testing centre, to book and confirm a testing date.
Booking
Step 1
The first step in the application process is paying your booking fee. This could be done at any of the aforementioned approved centres. After making the booking fee payment, you will be issued a receipt, as well as a confirmation of your testing date.
Step 2
Present the necessary documents, such as your booking receipt, identity document (ID), black-and-white ID photographs, proof of postal and residential address using a utility account, and Medical Certificate Form if you are 65 years old and above. (These must all be presented on the day of testing).
Step 3
- Completing the application form for the Learners License test (LL1 form), which is given at the driving licensing testing centres.
- Some of the details to fill on the form include identification details. Under this, you are required to specify whether you are using your foreign identification documents or your South African identification details.
- Specify your country of origin if you are a temporary resident in South Africa.
- Complete an eye test, which is conducted by a licenced optometrist.
- After completing the necessary information required in the form, you will then submit it to the testing centre.
Testing
All applicants are required to study all road signs and safety rules before sitting for the test, as a sound knowledge of the signs and motor vehicles is not negotiable. If you pass the test satisfactorily, you will be required to pay the issue fee, which is mostly determined by the MEC of the Province where you are applying for the licence.
Having completed all of these processes successfully, the Learners Licence will be issued on the same day. However, the Learner’s Licence is expected to expire after 24 months.
Note: Residents of Gauteng are permitted to book and apply for a test online without necessary visiting any DLTC. Those living outside Gauteng can visit the nearest Driving Licensing Testing Centre (DLTC) to book their test date and confirm their booking.
List Of Approved Driving Licence Testing Centres Across The Country
- Limpopo municipalities: For a list of centres click here
- Western Cape municipalities: click here for a list of centres
- Free State municipalities: For a list of centres click here
- Johannesburg: click here for a list of centres
- City of Tshwane: For a list of centres click here
- City of Cape Town: click here for a list of centres
- Nelson Mandela Bay: For a list of centres click here
- Eastern Cape municipalities: For a list of centres click here
- KwaZulu-Natal municipalities: click here for a list of centres
- Mpumalanga municipalities: For a list of centres click here
- North West municipalities: For a list of centres click here
- North Cape municipalities: click here for a list of centres
How Much Does It Cost To Do A Learner’s Licence?
As aforementioned, there be no uniformity with regards to the Learner’s Licence booking fee as the fee differs from one region to another and is usually determined by the MEC of the particular province where you applied for the Licence. However, it is estimated to cost between R55 and R213.
Online Application Of Learners Licence
There has been a special consideration by the National Traffic Information System of Polokwane, given to residents of Gauteng, which enables them to apply online for their Learners Licenses.
Documents Required for the Online Application
The documents required for the online application are not any different from those of the offline application. They include:
- Completed Medical Certificate Form (for persons 65 years or older)
- Identification document
- Photographs in black and white (as instructed)
- Receipt of the booking fee
- Proof of postal and residential address (Utility bill)
- Affidavit confirming the applicant’s residence (in case of lack of utility account)
- Confirmation letter from ward councilor (in case of informal settlements)
Step by Step Process For The Online Application of Learners Licence
The processes for Learners License online application are as follows:
- Visit the official portal and click on the option at https://online.natis.gov.za/#/
- Click on the “Book now for Learner’s License Test”. After clicking on that option, you will be redirected to a page where you can apply for a Learner’s license test.
- The next step requires you to fill all the fields under the tabs “License Type and category” and “Identity of Applicant”.
- After this, click on the “Next” button to proceed. In the further steps, follow the prompts to schedule a date and time for the license test.
- The next step is to submit your application and pay the required fees, after which your application for booking a test date for the Learner’s license will commence and once it is completed, you will be given the test date, as well as, your receipt for the payment.
Note: You must be present at the DLTC, on the specified date and time of the test.
At the test venue, you must present your booking payment receipt and Identification Document. After this, you will undergo an eye test, and a written test will be conducted, to assess your basic knowledge of motor vehicles and road signs. Upon passing the test, you will be required to pay the fees for the issuance of the Learner’s license after which you will be issued with the Learners license on the same day. Also, the online Learners Licence is expected to be valid only for a period of 24 months.
