License, please
Outside of the run-ins with traffic officers, there is only one other subject on the minds of South African motorists: the drama of renewing your driver's license card. This subject fills even the most hardened driver with angst and has had many seeing red for months now.
Related: Validity of expired drivers licenses extended
Well, it's time for us to share our experience as this journalist has recently had to undergo the process, and we have a few tips and tricks to make the process as seamless as possible.
The dreaded booking
Well, this one is aimed at our Gauteng motorists and is probably the most rage-inducing part of the process. The online booking process has been a sticking point for well over a year now and is the first hurdle that you will have to overcome on the journey to a fresh new card. Unfortunately there is no way around this, and you will need to make a booking if you haven't received an SMS from the DLTC (Drivers License Testing Centre).
Our first piece of advice is to register on the eNatis site, this tells them that you ready and waiting for a slot, ensure that your personal details are up to date and then check for a slot. If there aren't any available you will need to check back periodically during the release times. Updating your contact details also ensures that the DLTC can contact you if your card has already expired and make a booking for you.
After a few months of blindly navigating the system, unsuccessfully we might add, we succumbed and asked for help and within a few tries we secured our booking. Our advisor also recommended reading the instructions on the website as these are not just there for laughs - they do actually make the process easier. Keep an eye on release times!
Patience is a virtue
This is where you can make your experience easier by being well-prepared on the day. As mentioned before, take the advice from the website to heart. We downloaded our booking confirmation printed, and we also downloaded the DL1 form that is available in PDF format. The website advises bringing a copy of your ID so get one of those made.
Some DLTC's have minimal equipment and staff on hand so 2 x ID photos (R30) can be added to your pack. Now although the DLTCs have eye testing equipment on site, you can expedite the process by getting a certificate from your local optometrist for a small cost (R50 - R85) this speeds up the process and in today's times, it means you won't have to touch a machine with any part of your face!
We also highly advise checking if you have any outstanding warrants or fines that could block your license from being issued. No point in going through this whole process only to be told that you have fines blocking your license issue!
- Get your booking
- DL1 Form
- Copy of your ID book
- Optometrist certificate
- 2 x ID Photos
- Clear all the fines attached to your ID number and driver license
So armed with your paperwork it's time to get down to some serious waiting! And wait, you will. The website advises that you should arrive at the DLTC about one hour to an hour and thirty minutes before the time. Just check with the friendly security guard which queue you should join (as there may be more than one), and get comfy.
At this point it is important to remember that each centre is only allowed a certain amount of persons inside, so they will usher groups of people into the building to be processed. Remember patience is the key here.
The centres are running overtime, are short-staffed, and everyone's nerves are frayed. Sometimes all it takes is a positive word of encouragement, a smile and a heartfelt thank you to the staff behind the glass, to make it better.
The final stretch
You've finally made it into the building, your paperwork has been checked, you've handed in your eye test or had one done on site, had your fingerprints digitally captured. You are almost done, and now you just need to figure out if you are going to need a temporary license.
If your current card expired before 31 December 2020, it is still valid until end August 2021, and it is worth keeping in mind that you are going to be waiting a little while longer for your fresh new card; approximately 8 weeks. In our case, our new card will arrive before the deadline, so no temporary permit was needed, but if you are one of the unlucky ones whose card expired in 2020, you will need to request a temporary license. That is where the other ID photo comes in. Just note that there will be a small cost for the paperwork.
So with your receipt and freshly-minted temporary license, you are free to hit up the highways and byways legally, and hopefully by the time you need to take on this mammoth task again in 5 years, it won't be so nerve wracking!
