How much does a driver’s license cost?
As much as we’d all like to have that little piece of freedom-enabling plastic glistening in our wallets, it comes at a price. You can’t just ‘get’ your license. It’s a process, and it costs a bit of money. It also depends which province you call home - prices differ. In Gauteng it can be almost twice as expensive as the rest of SA.
Ready to take to the roads? You'll soon be able to legally drive a car, but only if you take the correct route. Before you can start driving your friends and siblings around, you need to go through the ropes first to earn your stripes!
Three types of learners licenses, explained
Step 1: Getting your learner's licence
The old adage "the greatest journey starts with a single step" is true, especially in this instance!
The current cost of booking the written test for your learner's licence (Code 3—your ‘everyday’ car) ranges from between R85 and R170 or even more, depending on which province you're in; as such, it is best to call the relevant testing centre beforehand to find out what the exact costs are.
For testing centres in the Western Cape, click here. Johannesburg residents, you can click here for the complete list.
As for the rest of South Africa, you will find where you need to go below:
- City of Tshwane
- City of Cape Town
- Nelson Mandela Bay
- Eastern Cape municipalities
- Free State municipalities
- Gauteng municipalities
- KwaZulu-Natal municipalities
- Limpopo municipalities
- Mpumalanga municipalities
- North West municipalities
- Northern Cape municipalities
- Western Cape municipalities
There are licence-issuing fees as well
On top of that, it can cost anything between R55 and R100 for the licence issuing fee if you pass your test. Your driving instructor should also be able to answer any cost-related questions. But we still recommend calling first to find out the exact cost so you don't go to all that trouble and pitch up with too little cash.
And yes, we recommend cash because sometimes the credit card machines are offline. Imagine having taken a day off work to arrive with the incorrect amount of money or a credit card, only to find that it costs significantly more, or there's a power outage of some sort!
According to SA Learners these are the latest prices (but please leave some room for error, as prices can go up without prior notice):
Province
| Booking fee | Issue fee | |
| Eastern Cape | R162 | R51 |
| Free State | R95 | R65 |
| Gauteng | R95 | R55 |
| KwaZulu-Natal | R115 | R55 |
| Limpopo | R135 | R55 |
| Mpumalanga | R120 | R35 |
| Northern Cape | R85 | R50 |
| North West | R95 | R55 |
| Western Cape | R95 | R55 |
Related: Top 3 things you need to know about the new Hyundai Atos
Let's recap - here's what you'll need to get your licence:
- Your ID or passport;
- Two to four recent ID photos (also have them taken beforehand so you don't need to do it there);
- The completed LL1 form (if you plan on skipping at least one queue);
- Your glasses, or if you wear contact lenses, ensure you are indeed wearing them;
- Proof of residence;
- The receipt of the payment made when booking the test;
- Your own pen and some hand sanitiser, just in case.
*Please note that you can have your eye test done at a registered optometrist. Bring the results with you in order to save yourself some time.
Good luck!
Step 2: Getting your driver’s license
Once you’ve had your K-53 driving lessons and are nearly ready to hit the road to independence, you can undergo the driving test. The application (driving test) is R200 in Cape Town (Code B, a car no more than 3500kg), and the issue of the licence itself will set you back another R140.
In Johannesburg, expect to pay R288–R300 for the licence itself and R228 for the issuing fee, but yet again, we recommend calling in advance just to be sure, as prices may go up without prior notice.
Related: How much are monthly car repayments for the new Suzuki S-Presso?
Learning to drive? AutoTrader's free K53 Help Guides: We've got you covered!
AutoTrader has created an entire microsite to aid you in your quest to become a licenced driver, whether you're planning on driving. For our free downloadable help guides and our informative videos on how to ace that parallel parking the first time 'round (as well as many more tips and tricks), click here!
Reputable driving schools
*We spoke to Ken from Ken's Driving School in Johannesburg, as well as He & She Driving School which operates in both Cape Town (Parow) and Kempton Park. Click on the links and give them a call if you're interested in lessons.
Recommended next
Looking for a good, used car? Read the following articles:
Safest small cars for new drivers
The re-incarnation of the Hyundai Atos
An alternate view on the Datsun Go, Renault Kwid, Hyundai Atos, Nissan Micra
Mahindra KUV100 vs Datsun GO vs. Suzuki Celerio
