Licensing department

by on Apr.29, 2010

The other day I made a trip to the aforementioned department in order to renew my driver’s license (which had already expired). Not having had any interaction with them since initially obtaining my license 5 years ago, I was quite pleasantly surprised by the improvements in the meantime. A brief summary:

  • Long queue (1 hour+) for the eye test, no real surprise there.
  • The eye test is all computer-driven.
  • Your photo is taken (digitally) at the same time as the eye test; your signature is also taken down digitally using a tablet / stylus.
  • For a temporary license, you will need to supply one photo which will be affixed to the license document, but you can get the document immediately; bring the photo with you, rather than trying to have one taken on the premises.
  • Apparently you need a photocopy of your ID, which can be obtained on the premises, but it’s probably easier to bring your own.
  • Bring your own pen; if you don’t, you’ll probably have to buy one from somebody.

Note that the above applies to the Sandton / Marlboro license department in Johannesburg; YMMV in other locations.


  • http://27.am/ Ashley

    Talk about polar opposites.

    Last Monday, I went to the Greenpoint, Cape Town traffic department in the afternoon, which proved fruitless – they refused entrance to anyone after 14:10, despite only closing at 15:30.

    I returned on Wednesday morning, queuing from 07:30 until opening time a few minutes after 08:00, after which we got to queue for another 15 minutes because none of the tellers/cashiers had opened their booths yet.

    * Requesting license application/renewal forms required black&white photos up front – if you don’t have them already, you can go across the road to a conveniently located kiosk, but then you get to queue all over again.

    * Your ID is photocopied for you by the teller while you wait, and is attached with your photos to the form.

    * Your signature is done on the form itself, and yes, you will need your own pen to fill it out.

    * The queue for the eye test wasn’t too long – 20 minutes, if that.

    * The eye test is manual, run by a guy surprisingly proficient in local languages. That probably worked out to my benefit, because he gave me 4 chances to get the correct answer on my left eye, which is apparently terrible.

    YMMV indeed. :)

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