Motorists have been advised to continue renewing expired driver's licence cards for light motor vehicles and motorcycles until a new law extending the validity period from five to 10 years comes into effect.
This follows Cabinet's approval of the extension of the validity period for driving licences for Codes A, A1, B and EB, a decision welcomed by Transport Minister Barbara Creecy and Deputy Minister Mkhuleko Hlengwa.
“The Cabinet approval serves as an endorsement for the draft notices for the extension of the driving licence validity period to be submitted to the Shareholders Committee and also to the Secretary of Parliament for public comments, and also to the office of the State Law Adviser for legal scrutiny.
“Motorists must therefore continue to renew expired driving licence cards until the new law takes effect,” the Department of Transport said in a statement on Thursday.
According to the department, the implementation of the extension requires the amendment of regulation 108 of the Road Traffic Regulations by the amendment of paragraph (a) of sub-regulation (5) of the following: (5) (a) Subject to regulation 101(2) -
- a driving licence card for codes A1, A, B, and EB licence shall expire [five] 10 years from the date on which it has been ordered from the Card Production Facility; and
- a driving licence card for codes C1, C, EC1, and EC licence shall expire five years from the date on which it has been ordered from the Card Production Facility.
“The 10-year renewal period will apply only to light motor vehicles. Heavy commercial and public transport vehicles will remain subject to the existing five-year renewal cycle, and Professional Driving Permits (PrDPs) will remain on a two-year renewal cycle.
“The change was informed by a study undertaken by the Road Traffic Management Corporation, which recommended that extending the validity period would align with international best practice, enhance administrative efficiency, reduce the frequency of renewals for motorists, and ease service demand pressures within the licensing system,” the department explained. – SAnews.gov.za
