How to quickly get your driving license renewed in South Africa

The Society for Road Traffic Management [RTMC]which launched its online system to allow South Africans to renew their vehicle registration or driver’s license, encourages the public to use its services, despite being more expensive than some third-party systems.

The RTMC reported that more than 1,300 people have successfully completed online transactions since the system went live.

The Department for Transport has indicated that the March 31 deadline, introduced to compensate for the closure of driving test centers during the hard lockdown, will no longer be extended.

South Africa’s Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula said motorists driving beyond that date with expired licenses could face fines and possible prosecution.

To use RTMC’s new service, drivers must:

• Log in NaTIS platform
• Select “Show Engine Extensions”
• Choose the license disc/car
• Enter card data from the respective bank and pay

Once payment is made, drivers have the choice of having the license plate disc sent by courier to the address of their choice, or having it printed out at the nearest driver’s license testing office.

What you need to renew

Most third-party renewal procedures and traditional procedures require motorists to provide:

• a license disc,
• a copy of your ID
• proof of address [no older than 3 months]
• Approval letters if you are applying for someone else

When registering for companies, all of the above are required, as well as a certificate of registration number.

Third Party Offers

To help people avoid long lines, companies have turned vehicle license renewals into a business. Online systems like Chatback do not require any physical interaction with humans at all, but they come at a price. Delivery fees vary depending on the third party carrier, with the South African Postal Service offering the lowest rates due to its wide network of couriers.

All costs shown in the table below are added to the actual government mandated license plate renewal fees, which are unique to each vehicle’s weight.

Here are some other places where you can get a license without visiting a branch. Days refer to working days