Renew Drivers License

[DaveM]

I see I need to renew my drivers license in the next few weeks. Anyone know what I need to take with me and the process in doing this, cost and so on.

I want to have all my ducks in a row before I go there so I can get it over with ASAP

 

[CarlS]

A sufficient bribe?

 

[DaveM]

No that is how you get your drives licence the first time this is just to renew it

 

[CarlS]

 

[Gromit]

Old license, actual ID book, certified copy of your ID book -in Joburg we don't do photos because it's bio-metric (take 2 colour photos with just in case) so they take the photo and do the fingerprints electronically too - fill out the form and get in the queue!

I took R500 cash and had a heap of change - don't know the exact tariff.

 

[DaveB]

I did it last month.



You need

• 4 photos, black & white, normally obtainable from the photographer's van outside the licensing dept.
• Cash for the photos (+ R50) & for the licence fee (I think it's R216 for E. Cape if your licence heasn't expired)
• Your existing driving licence
• ID Document
• Photocopy of ID (I did mine at Centurion and they didn't require a certified copy)
• Completed Form DL1 http://www.enatis.com/newsite/ , click on the link: Application for driving licence

They do your eyesight test and take your thumb prints inside the Licensing Centre when you submit your application.

They give you a receipt and it should take 4 - 6 weeks .

DaveB.

 

[Rocky]

I don't know how they do it over there, but here it's a pretty simple process; pay the fee; have your picture taken; wait a few minutes for it to process, and Bob's your uncle.
True story:
Last year I had to renew my licence too and went through the usual routine.
I went to a waiting area with several other folks (all much younger than I) to wait for the laminated licence to be printed.
As each one was finished the young lady would call out George, Susan, Walter, David, etc., and they walked up to the counter to pick up their new licence, sign for it, and off they went.
When she came to me she called out, "Mr. Rockwell."
I thought that was funny and was a little amused at the sudden show of respect
Maybe I am an old fart after all

 

[Rocky]

I did it last month.

You need

• 4 photos, black & white, normally obtainable from the photographer's van outside the licensing dept.
• Cash for the photos (+ R50) & for the licence fee (I think it's R216 for E. Cape if your licence heasn't expired)
• Your existing driving licence
• ID Document
• Photocopy of ID (doesn't have to be a certified copy)
• Completed Form DL1 http://www.enatis.com/newsite/ , click on the link: Application for driving licence

They give you a receipt and it should take 4 - 6 weeks .

DaveB.

Wow, that sure is an exercise in inefficiency Check my reply above to see how painless it is for us.

 

[Gromit]

I did it last month.


You need

• 4 photos, black & white, normally obtainable from the photographer's van outside the licensing dept.
• Cash for the photos (+ R50) & for the licence fee (I think it's R216 for E. Cape if your licence heasn't expired)
• Your existing driving licence
• ID Document
• Photocopy of ID (I did mine at Centurion and they didn't require a certified copy)
• Completed Form DL1 http://www.enatis.com/newsite/ , click on the link: Application for driving licence

They do your eyesight test and take your thumb prints inside the Licensing centre when you submit your application.

They give you a receipt and it should take 4 - 6 weeks .

DaveB.

At Langlaagte and Marlboro I definitely did not need photos but I did need a certified copy of my ID - got mine back in 10 days.

It would appear that the process differs slightly from licensing depot to depot - much like what I deal with daily in Home Affairs.

 

[Rocky]

Here in Canada each province has their own system, but they are basically all the same.
I would assume that SA also has provinces or states with differing systems? I'm showing my ignorance now

 

[Gromit]

We have provinces but certain government functions are supposed to be standard across the country - like licensing, all civic (and immigration) processes, education, welfare - but the same standard or criteria is definitely not practised countrywide.

PS: DaveM = Langlaagte even have a 'drive-thru' facility to collect your license when it's ready.

 

[DaveM]

Thanks Dave that's the info I was looking for

 

[The Seeker]

Wow....they really make it hard don't they?

I get a letter in the mail from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania saying it's time to renew my license with a little card inside.
I send the card signed back to the DMV with a check for $35.00 (good for 4 years)
They send me back another card with a miniature of the original card.
I take that to a Driver's License building (one or two in every County in Penna.)
I take a number if they are busy (not usually) and they call me inside a room where they snap my picture
In about 2-4 minutes they hand me my new license and send me on my way.

 

[Rocky]

Wow....they really make it hard don't they?

I get a letter in the mail from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania saying it's time to renew my license with a little card inside.
I send the card signed back to the DMV with a check for $35.00 (good for 4 years)
They send me back another card with a miniature of the original card.
I take that to a Driver's License building (one or two in every County in Penna.)
I take a number if they are busy (not usually) and they call me inside a room where they snap my picture
In about 2-4 minutes they hand me my new license and send me on my way.

That's pretty much what happens here; a letter in the mail reminding you of the expiry date; you go in to DMV, pay your fee; have your picture taken; wait a few minutes and then out the door. On an average day, it's less than 30 minutes and you're good for five years.
DMV moved out on the edge of town in an industrial park which is much easier to get to and park, but it now takes longer to drive out and back than the process of getting the licence
I renew all my plates (tags to some) online.

 

[The Seeker]

Renewing our plates (tags) here is super-easy.

We get an envelope from the DMV stating that it's time to renew.

We sign the form, enter our insurance policy number and company name, enter our mileage and include a check.

I get an envelope back with a new registration card and a sticker to put on the license plate.

Done.

 

[Rocky]

Renewing our plates (tags) here is super-easy.

We get an envelope from the DMV stating that it's time to renew.

We sign the form, enter our insurance policy number and company name, enter our mileage and include a check.

I get an envelope back with a new registration card and a sticker to put on the license plate.

Done.

Exact same thing here. I could send a cheque or do it online with a credit card. Online saves me a trip.

 

[DaveM]

We don't renew plates they stay with the vehicle unless you change provinces then you need to change them to your new province plate. Not sure how those personalized ones work this side though

 

[Rocky]

We don't renew plates they stay with the vehicle unless you change provinces then you need to change them to your new province plate. Not sure how those personalized ones work this side though

We own the plates here too and they can be moved to a new/another vehicle. You keep the plate and only pay for the new registration.
Each vehicle has a plate and it must stay with that vehicle unless it's sold or you move out of province for good, then you have to register and get a new plate for that province.
Switching plates between multiple vehicles you may own is forbidden.

 

[CarlS]

That's pretty much what happens here; a letter in the mail reminding you of the expiry date; you go in to DMV, pay your fee; have your picture taken; wait a few minutes and then out the door. On an average day, it's less than 30 minutes and you're good for five years.
DMV moved out on the edge of town in an industrial park which is much easier to get to and park, but it now takes longer to drive out and back than the process of getting the licence
I renew all my plates (tags to some) online.

It works pretty much the same in Florida - except if you are a Safe Driver, you can renew your license on line via the DMV website. I just did that because I am changing my residence address. We can also renew our tags on line, by mail , or at the local Tax Collector's Office.

 

[hemibee]

Texas allow X number of on line renewals, I can't remember how many but I think on my next one I will have to do in person. Walk in with proof of financial responsibility, look into the eye sight machine, get your picture taken and pay the $35.00 fee.

For license plates you can do on line, by mail, trip to tax office or stop in at a local grocery store with your renewal notice and proof of financial responsibility. You can do this for 5 renewals then you have to go to the tax office to pick up a new plate when your current one has been in use for 7 years. We no longer get stickers for the plates, they are too easy to steal, the renewal sticker goes on the inside of the windshield. We also don't carry registration papers in the vehicle, the window sticker serves as the registration papers.