About a learner’s licence

If you hold a learner’s licence you are allowed to drive only when you are supervised by a licensed driver. If the category of vehicle you are driving requires a professional driving permit, the licensed driver must also hold a professional driving permit.

A learner’s licence is a permit that proves that you have basic knowledge of a motor vehicle and the rules of the road. The learner’s licence is valid for 24 months and cannot be extended.

Different learner’s licences are issued for the various categories of motor vehicle:

Code 1:

This is for a motor cycle with or without a sidecar, motor tricycle or quadrucycle. You must be 16 years or older on the date of the test in order to apply if the motorcycle’s engine does not exceed 125 cc and 18 years or older if it exceeds 125 cc.

Code 2:

This is for a motor vehicle, including a minibus, bus or goods vehicle, with a gross vehicle mass not exceeding 3 500kg. You must be 17 years or older on the date of the test in order to apply.

Code 3:

This is for a motor vehicle with a gross vehicle mass exceeding 3 500kg. You must be 18 years or older on the date of the test in order to apply.

What you should do

Go to the nearest driving licensing testing centre (DLTC) to book a test date and confirm the booking.

Take the following with you:

an identity document (ID)

two identical black-and-white ID photographs (before you have photographs taken you should confirm with the DLTC how many photos they require)

a booking fee.

Proof of postal and residential address e.g. utility account. If the utility bill is not in your name, the of owner of the bill must make an affidavit declaring that you live at the address and the utility bill must be attached to the affidavit.

If you stay at an informal settlement, you must bring a letter with an official date stamp from the ward councillor confirming your postal and residential address