License and registration, please
The first formal car license was issued in 1888 to Karl Benz in Germany. After complaints about noise and smell, he had to obtain a permit from the Grand Ducal of Baden District Office to operate his car. This was a specific permit, not a mandatory license, and regulations gradually evolved. The Motor Car Act introduced the compulsory first driver's license requirement in the United Kingdom in 1903.
Related: How much are car license renewal fees?
Here in South Africa, vehicle licenses were first issued in 1903, although they weren't legally required until January 1, 1904. While the exact date for the very first license is unknown, it was issued in the last few months of 1903. Since then, it has been mandatory for your car to have a legal and valid license to operate on SA roads. The process for licensing and registering your car may seem daunting, but it is actually a relatively easy process today.
How to register a new car
Buying from a dealer
This is by far the easiest way to do this, as the dealer will usually take care of everything. All you need to supply is a copy of your ID and driver's license, recent proof of address, and a signed registration request form. The dealer will then submit all the relevant paperwork on your behalf, and when you collect your car, it will be licensed and ready to go.
Buying privately
There will be a little more running around on your part here as you will need to submit some paperwork to your local registering authority. If you buy a car privately, you can ask the seller for a valid roadworthy certificate, or you will need to take the vehicle for a roadworthy assessment within 21 days of the sale.
Armed with a valid roadworthy certificate, you can approach your registering authority for the change of ownership or re-registration form, a certified copy of your ID, a copy of your driver's license, proof of address and a bill of sale from the seller. You submit all these forms, make the required payment, and you will be issued a license disk for the vehicle, valid for 12 months from the issue date.
The seller should already have the re-registration forms, as they will most likely require your signature and details to remove the car from their name. The cost of the license will depend on the region or municipality where it's being licensed, as different regions charge different prices depending on weight.
You can now renew your car license online
The hassle of taking the day off to visit your nearest DLTC is no longer necessary because eNATiS has stepped up and is now offering online renewals! You can click here to go to the eNATS online renewal portal.
Just sign in and follow the prompts to get or renew your license quickly and easily!
