New rules for South Africans with expired driving licences
This has come as the country continues to deal with a massive backlog in printing new cards caused by repeated breakdowns of its only licence card printer.
According to the notice published on Friday, 26 September 2025, motorists whose licences have expired will have a three-month grace period during which their expired card remains valid, as long as they can prove they applied for a new one before it expired.
This is not a new concession but part of standard procedure, as highlighted previously by the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA), which informed drivers that their licence remains valid for three months if renewal is done on time.
To make use of this grace period, drivers must carry both their expired licence card and the official receipt showing that they have applied for renewal.
If the licence had already expired before the application was submitted, the rules are stricter. In such cases, motorists are required to apply for a temporary driving licence at the same time, which remains valid for six months or until the new card is issued.
Airlines have been instructed to accept expired licences under these conditions, easing travel disruptions for South Africans still waiting for their cards.
The problem comes from the country’s ageing driving licence card printer, which broke down in February 2025 and remained out of service until early May.
During this period, the backlog ballooned to over 700,000 licence cards, leaving many drivers in limbo.
By mid-September, the backlog stood at 336,028, although this represents significant progress compared to earlier in the year.
The machine, which is more than 25 years old, has broken down more than 160 times over its lifetime, repeatedly plunging the system into crisis.
Concerns remain
The Driving Licence Card Authority (DLCA) has been forced to run 24-hour shifts since its restoration in May, with the goal of reducing the backlog to manageable levels before the end of the year.
Officials remain cautiously optimistic that the backlog could be fully cleared by December, potentially giving motorists long-awaited relief just in time for the holiday season.
To avoid similar disruptions in the future, the Department of Transport has been working on an interim solution.
In July, Transport Minister Barbara Creecy announced a memorandum of understanding with the Department of Home Affairs to establish a backup system through the Government Printing Works.
Since this state-owned facility already prints passports and Smart ID cards, it was considered a logical choice to help ease the burden of producing driving licences.
The interim printing system is expected to be operational in October, offering a measure of stability while longer-term reforms are considered.
Despite these measures, concerns remain. Civil rights group AfriForum has warned that ongoing failures in the system could lead to a collapse in compliance, similar to what was seen with the failed e-toll scheme and the TV licence system.
AfriForum campaign officer Louis Boshoff argued that it is unreasonable to expect motorists to comply with renewal obligations if the government cannot ensure a reliable system.
“History teaches us that civil non-compliance occurs when unreasonable obligations are imposed by the government,” Boshoff said.
He warned that driving licence renewals could become the next flashpoint for public resistance. Regardless, the gazetted rules provide some relief to motorists caught in the backlog, particularly those needing to travel or verify their identity.
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