Where to renew driver's licence in Pretoria?

By Martin Pretorius 

In olden days, driver's licences were issued once you passed your driving test, and then stuck into your ID book (this was back in the days before ID cards came into being...) But, since 1998, a new system has replaced the old (and previously permanent) page in your ID with a card which must be renewed every 5 years. It's crucial to keep that licence up to date, because apart from the unwanted hassles you'll get from the traffic police if it's expired, many other institutions (such as banks and airport check-in counters) also won't recognise an expired driver's licence as a valid form of ID.

 Fortunately, you have a few options when it comes to licence renewals in Tshwane (the city formerly known as Pretoria). You can get it done at one of the municipal licensing centres (click here for a list of municipal centres), or at one of the privately-operated licensing centre (a quick google search will show a slew of possibilities). And according to promising news, you could also soon be able to renew your driver's licence at some bank branches, as an extension of their vehicle licence renewal service. 

What to take with

If your licence is still valid, you'll need to present the following documentation along with your application:

- Your ID book, temporary ID or passport

- A copy of your ID

- Your current driver’s license

- Four ID photos

- R228* for your renewal fee

- Proof of residence (utilities bill, telephone bill, home rental contract, or affidavit from your landlord along with their utilities bill)

If your licence has already expired, it will set you back an extra R72* for a temporary licence, along with two extra ID photos. However, if you apply for renewal before your old license expires, you won't need the temporary licence, as your old one's validity will be extended for an extra 3 months.

*Costs for temporary licences appear to vary between licensing centres throughout Gauteng, so rather take along some extra cash just to be sure. The upper limit seems to be R150, but you never know.

Pro Tips:

- Take along a black pen. It's much more convenient to have your own than needing to borrow one from a cashier.

- Be there early. As in really early: try to be in the queue by 06:00, as there will be a mass of people at all the municipal centres.

- If you can, have the eye test performed at an accredited optometrist. It will cost you a little extra, but will save you a lot of time in the queue.

- Take along a book or your tablet – you might be in for a long wait, and it's better to keep yourself occupied than to get irritated by waiting for the bureaucracy to take its course.