Cabinet Approves 10-Year Driving Licence Cards in South Africa

While this marks a major victory for private vehicle owners weary of frequent queues at Driving Licence Testing Centres (DLTCs), there is a critical catch every driver needs to understand: the 10-year licence is not yet active under the law.

If your licence card is expired or expiring soon, you cannot hold off on renewing it. Here is the breakdown of what has changed, who benefits, and what you must do under current traffic laws.

What has changed?

The Cabinet decision targets standard private motor vehicle operators and motorcyclists to reduce administrative pressure on licensing departments and align South Africa with international standards.

• Approved extension: The validity period for driving licence cards will double from 5 years to 10 years.

• Eligible licence codes: The extension strictly applies to light motor vehicles and motorcycles:

  • Code A & A1: Motorcycles

  • Code B: Standard light motor vehicles (passenger cars)

  • Code EB: Light motor vehicles with heavy trailers

Exclusions

The 10-year extension does not apply across the board. To maintain road safety controls on heavy traffic and public transport, shorter renewal cycles remain intact:

• Heavy commercial vehicles & buses: Remain on 2 to 5-year renewal cycles.

• Professional driving permits (PrDP): Remain on a 2-year renewal cycle.

Current legal status

Despite Cabinet’s green light, the 5-year rule remains the law of the land today.

Legislative steps remaining 

Before 10-year licence cards can actually be printed and issued, several legal hurdles must be overcome:

1. Legal scrutiny: Formal drafting and review of amendments to Regulation 108 of the National Road Traffic Regulations.

2. Public comment & Parliamentary review: Statutory process for public feedback and legislative processing.

3. Formal gazetting: The Minister of Transport must officially publish the revised regulations in the Government Gazette, specifying the exact date the law comes into effect.

Traffic law enforcement warning

The Department of Transport and provincial traffic authorities have issued a clear warning: driving with an expired licence card remains illegal.

If metro police or traffic officers stop you with an expired 5-year licence card before the new legislation is formally gazetted, you will be fined, and insurance claims could be compromised in the event of an accident.

What should motorists do today?

AutoTrader Advice: If your licence card is nearing its expiry date, book an appointment on the eNaTIS system right away. Applying for a temporary licence adds unnecessary costs if your card lapses while you wait for legislative updates that could take months to officially hit the Government Gazette.