Learner Driver Licence Requirements

THE first step in becoming licensed to drive a car, bus or truck, or, to ride a motorcycle, is to obtain a learner’s licence. Licences of different codes are issued for the driving of light and heavy vehicles. Cars are defined as light and buses, for example, as heavy vehicles. But to qualify for a learner’s licence you need to meet certain conditions.

 

 

Learner’s licences are in three categories
  • Code 01 ­ Motor cycle
  • Code 02 ­ Light vehicle
  • Code 03 ­ Heavy vehicle
The age restrictions
  • Applicants must be 16 years and older for Code 01 "learners"
  • Seventeen years and older for Code 02
  • Eighteen years and older for Code 03
The requirements to book for a learner driver test
  • You must call personally at any one of the test centres in the province
  • You must have two colour or black and white passport size photographs
  • A bar-coded identity document or temporary ID
  • If you are a foreigner, you need a passport and a traffic register document issued in your country of origin
  • A fee of R90.00
Sound vision
  • After filling a blue LL1 application form, you will be asked to undertake an eye test. This test will be done before your booking for the learner’s licence is confirmed
  • If you fail the test, you will be asked to have your sight examined by a qualified professional and return for a re-test at no extra cost
On the day of the test
  1. You must carry a valid identity document
  2. Two passport size photographs
  3. Pay an additional R32.00 for the issue of the "learners" if you are successful

The learner’s licence must be collected within two working days from the day of the test. Failure to do this could result in your having to do another test

Remember, the LL1 form you sign, needs you to declare that you do not suffer from one of the following diseases or disabilities:

  • Uncontrolled epilepsy
  • Sudden attacks of disabling giddiness or fainting resulting from hypertension or other ailments
  • Any form of mental illness that makes it necessary for you to be detained, supervised, controlled and treated as a patient in terms of the Mental Health Act, 1973
  • Any condition that causes muscular incoordination
  • Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus
  • Defective vision or
  • Any disease or disability that is likely to make you endanger the safety of the public while driving
  • Addiction to drugs that have a narcotic effect or the excessive use of liquor

You need a certificate from a doctor on your physical and mental state if aged 65 or older.

You have to write a test to qualify for a learner’s licence. The test on your knowledge of road signs, road rules and vehicle controls, lasts for one hour. It has a total of 68 questions. You have to obtain a minimum pass of 22 out of 28 for rules; 23 out of 28 for signs; and six out of eight for vehicle controls to qualify for a learner’s licence. Testing is done at various centres in KwaZulu-Natal

All learner licences are valid for one-and-a-half years and they cannot be renewed. Books that help prepare you for a learner’s licence test can be bought at bookstores for about R50 each.

(Information from the Road Traffic Inspectorate, Rossburgh)

 
Related Topic

Requirements for a driver’s licence

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