Driver’s licence renewals: The backlog, the fixes – and your options

South Africa’s driving licence card system is once again under strain, with the country’s sole card-printing machine – now more than 26 years old – continuing to break down and pushing production backlogs into the tens of thousands.

THE BACKLOG EXPLAINED

The current crisis traces back to a failed procurement process.

The Department of Transport tried to replace the ageing printer, but the Auditor-General flagged serious irregularities in the tender – including a budget that ballooned from R486 million to R899 million – and found that winning bidder Idemia had failed to meet key technical requirements.

The Pretoria High Court set the tender aside in January 2026, leaving South Africa reliant on the same unreliable machine six months later.

This echoes February 2025, when a similar breakdown created a backlog of over 750 000 renewal applications that took until January 2026 to clear.

As of mid-2026, production turnaround has improved only slightly, dropping from 23 working days to 19, with backlog periods still stretching renewal waits to 10 to 14 weeks in the worst cases.

THE ATTEMPTED FIXES FOR DRIVER’S LICENSE DELAY

Government has laid out a phased response.

The Driving Licence Card Account (DLCA) plans to cut standard production time to just seven working days by 2028/29, and has extended operational hours at renewal centres to help clear the queue.

Longer term, Cabinet approved in July 2026 a proposal to extend the validity of light-vehicle licences (codes A, A1, B and EB) from five years to eight – even 10, per some drafts – cutting how often motorists need to renew at all.

Minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said the change would ease demand pressure and bring South Africa in line with international norms, though it still needs legislative amendment and isn’t expected to take effect before 2027/28.

WHAT ARE YOUR OPTIONS?

If your licence is due, book your renewal at least three months ahead of expiry through NaTIS Online or your local DLTC, since several provinces have now integrated with the online booking system.

Once you’ve applied, you’ll receive a Temporary Driving Licence valid for six months – keep it, along with your renewal receipt, since this protects you from fines while your card is in production.

If more than three months pass without an SMS update, contact the DLCA call centre on 012 999 5200 or check your status via NaTIS Online directly.

Did you know only 40% of people pass their learner’s license in South Africa? Take a look here.