Driving Licence Lifespan in SA Set to Grow: Department Moves on 8-Year Plan

After years of delays and debate, South Africans could soon be renewing their driving licences less often

If you’ve ever waited in line for hours at a licence testing centre or dealt with the chaos of production backlogs, there’s finally a silver lining on the road ahead. The Department of Transport (DoT) has revived plans to extend the validity period of South Africa’s driving licence cards from five to eight years, a move that could bring massive relief to motorists and the overburdened system alike.

The department laid out its roadmap for the proposal in its 2025/26 Annual Performance Plan, indicating its intent to push the long-discussed change through Parliament by the end of the financial year.

A Familiar Proposal Finds New Momentum

This isn’t the first time the idea of an extended licence validity has surfaced. Former Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula made headlines in October 2022, promising a shift to eight years based on research conducted by the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC).

But the change never materialised.

In fact, in 2024, the very same RTMC backtracked, claiming that health concerns like eye conditions and disease warranted more frequent renewals—despite the agency’s earlier findings that supported an extension.

Outa (Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse) wasn’t buying it. The civil group criticised the RTMC’s flip-flopping and called out the lack of transparency. Their efforts finally yielded the 2022 research, but when they asked for the “new” research justifying shorter renewal cycles, the RTMC admitted it didn’t exist.

What’s the Timeline?

The DoT’s latest plan outlines a four-phase process to get the extension over the line by Q4 of the 2025/26 financial year:

• Quarter 1: Internal consultations with EXCO, COTO, and provincial MECs

• Quarter 2: Public consultation via a draft notice published in the Government Gazette

• Quarter 3: Stakeholder and shareholder engagements

• Quarter 4: Submission of the final proposal to Parliament for endorsement

If all goes according to plan, South Africans could be renewing their licences less often by 2026.

Why It Matters: More Than Just Convenience

Beyond the frustration of red tape, there are serious systemic issues that make this change not just desirable, but necessary.

South Africa relies on a single, aging licence card printer, which has frequent breakdowns. The most recent failure, in February 2025, created a backlog expected to take up to six months to clear.

With over 2 million cards needing renewal annually, every extra year added to a licence’s lifespan reduces strain on both the system and motorists.

Outa’s Wayne Duvenage said the move to eight years would be a welcome first step, but insists that 10 years should be the goal.

“It’s a norm around the world,” Duvenage said. “Extending validity reduces pressure and saves money for both government and citizens.”

South Africa Lagging Behind the World

A 2025 MyBroadband analysis comparing licence validity across 32 countries found that South Africa is an outlier. Only two countries had shorter validity periods than our current five-year standard.

Extending to eight years would bring South Africa in line with global peers and help modernise an outdated and overstretched system.

Public Sentiment: Relief and Frustration

Motorists on social media have welcomed the proposed extension, with many echoing Outa’s call for a full 10-year validity.

One Twitter user wrote:

“Five years is ridiculous. Other countries don’t even make you test your eyes that often. About time they fixed this.”

Another added:

“Now just fix the online booking system and the machines, then we’ll be cooking.”

What Happens Next?

The next key milestone will be the publication of the draft notice in the Government Gazette, expected in Q2 of 2025/26. This will open the door for public input, and based on past backlash, South Africans are likely to be vocal.

Long Overdue, But Still Not Enough

Extending the driving licence validity is a step in the right direction, but it won’t fix all the problems plaguing the DoT. Still, with fewer trips to testing centres, shorter queues, and less pressure on a fragile production system, the change could mark the start of a more functional era in transport administration.

Now, it’s up to Parliament to make it official and maybe even stretch it to ten years, like many South Africans are hoping.

{Source: My Broad Band}

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