The Learner’s License is only valid for 24 months and cannot be extended. A learner’s licence is a permit that indicates you understand the fundamentals of driving and the regulations of the road.

If you have a learner’s permit, you may drive only while accompanied by a licensed driver. If the sort of vehicle you’re driving requires a professional driving permit, the licensed driver must also have one.

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

1. Go to the nearest driving licensing testing centre (DLTC) to book a test date and confirm the booking.
2. 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
3. All Gauteng residents should apply online for their learners licence: https://online.natis.gov.za/#/
4. Complete the Application for learner’s licence form (LL1), which is available at the DLTC. If you are 65 years or older, you must also complete a Medical certificate form (MC), which is also available at the DLTC.
5. You will go for an eye test at the testing centre or you may have an eye test performed by a qualified optometrist and submit the form at the testing centre.
6. Before you write the learner’s licence test, you must study road signs, motor vehicle controls and road rules to have a basic knowledge of a motor vehicle and road signs.
7. On the day of the test you must submit the following:
   • the booking receipt
   • your ID.
8. If you pass the test you must pay the issue fee.

Forms to complete

• Application for a learner’s licence form (LL1)
• An applicant over 65 years of age or older requires a Medical certificate form (MC)

These forms are available at any driving licence testing centre and on eNatis.

What You Need To Know To Pass Your Learners The First Time Around

It is very important to note that passing your learners is in your hands. You need to have a thorough understanding of the rules of the road, road signs and markings and vehicle controls is essential.

The test is written in multiple-choice format whereby you will be given a book of questions, an answer sheet, a chart of road signs and a book showing various road layouts as well as pictures of the controls of a vehicle.

To Pass The Exam You Need To Know:

• Rules of the road 
• Road signs, road markings, and traffic signals 
• Vehicle controls and their uses 
• K53 defensive driving system 

Important Tips:

• Be Prepared For Your Learner’s License Test
• Go through practice papers to familiarize yourself with the type of questions that can be asked
• Repeat the signs, car controls and road markings as you observe them on the road or when you sitting in the car

Each question has at least three multiple choice answers from which to select the correct answer. For some questions only one answer is the correct one while for others there may be more than one option is correct and you must specify which they are. 

Goodluck!