The Department of Transport has confirmed a significant policy shift: South Africa will move from a five-year to an eight-year validity period for standard driver’s licence cards. This decision, announced by Director-General Mathabatha Mokonyama in December 2025, responds to widespread public frustration with the administrative and financial burden of frequent renewals.
However, motorists must temper their expectations. The transition is mired in procedural delays and unresolved financial assessments, meaning the five-year cycle remains in force for the immediate future.
South Africa’s validity versus the rest of the world
### The Decision and Its Stumbling Blocks
While the political will for an eight-year licence is clear, the path to implementation is not. Department spokesperson Collen Msibi confirmed to MyBroadband that a crucial **cost-benefit analysis**, mandated by Minister Barbara Creecy, remains incomplete. This analysis is vital to understand the impact on the **Driving Licence Card Account (DLCA)**, the self-funding entity that relies on renewal fees for its operations. Extending validity periods could create a substantial revenue shortfall, potentially affecting service delivery and infrastructure if not managed correctly.
The project is already behind schedule. The department missed its own deadline to publish a draft notice in the Government Gazette for public comment in the second quarter of the 2025/26 financial year. This delay jeopardises the entire legislative timeline, pushing back the date when Parliament might even consider the proposal. **Practical takeaway:** Even after parliamentary approval, system updates, public awareness campaigns, and the printing of new card stock mean implementation could be 12-18 months away.
### Nuances in the Proposed Policy: Not a Universal Eight Years
Minister Creecy’s earlier comments reveal an important nuance often lost in headlines. The eight-year validity is intended for **”ordinary citizens”** with standard vehicle licences. A different, stricter standard is proposed for drivers of heavy goods vehicles and passenger vehicles (like buses and taxis), who may face a **two-year renewal cycle**. This aligns with international best practice, recognising the greater risk and responsibility associated with operating larger vehicles. This tiered approach aims to balance convenience for the general public with enhanced road safety oversight for professional drivers.
### South Africa in a Global Context: Where Do We Stand?
MyBroadband’s comparison of 33 nations reveals that South Africa’s current five-year validity is an outlier—and not in a good way.
* **The Outliers:** Only **Egypt and Kenya** have shorter validity periods. Several countries with a nominal five-year term, like Argentina and Nigeria, often issue three-year licences in practice.
* **The Common Standard:** The **most common validity period globally is 10 years**, adopted by nations including Australia, Brazil, Spain, and the United Kingdom. This is the benchmark South Africa is still falling short of, even with the proposed eight-year extension.
* **The Leaders:** Many European nations, such as **France, Germany, and Denmark, issue 15-year licences**. In **Singapore and Switzerland**, licences are valid for life until drivers reach 65 and 70 years of age, respectively, after which shorter, medically-reviewed terms apply.
* **Age-Based Systems:** Countries like Japan and Portugal use a **sliding scale based on age**. A Japanese driver might hold a five-year licence until age 70, after which renewals require a medical exam and are granted for shorter periods (3-4 years). This model efficiently focuses resources on higher-risk demographics.
| Country | Validity period | Exceptions/limits |
| Egypt | 1 or 3 years | None |
| Kenya | 1 to 3 years | None |
| Argentina | 3 or 5 years | None |
| Mexico | 3 to 5 years | Ages 60 to 80: 5 years Ages 80+: 1 year |
| Nigeria | 3 or 5 years | None |
| Botswana | 5 years | None |
| Japan | 5 years | Age 70: 4 years Ages >70: 3 years |
| Portugal | 5 years | Ages 70+: 2 years |
| South Africa | 5 years | None |
| China | 6 years | No driving for people aged 70+ |
| Korea | 7 years | Ages 75+: 3 years |
| United States of America | 4 to 8 years | Varies per state |
| Canada* | 2 to 10 years | Varies per province. Motorists over a certain age may require a medical certificate. |
| Australia | 5 to 10 years | Varies per state |
| Belgium | 10 years | None |
| Brazil | 10 years | Ages 50 to 69: 5 years Ages 70+: 3 years |
| Ireland* | 10 years | Ages 75+: 1 or 3 years |
| Israel | 10 years | Ages 70 to 80: 5 years Ages 80+: 2 years |
| Italy | 10 years | Ages 50 to 69: 5 years Ages 70+: 3 years |
| Netherlands* | 10 years | Ages 70 to 75: 5 years |
| New Zealand | 10 years | Ages 75 to 80: 5 years Ages 80+: 2 years |
| Russia | 10 years | None |
| Spain | 10 years | Ages 65+: 5 years |
| Sweden | 10 years | None |
| United Arab Emirates | 10 years | Ages 65+: 3 years |
| United Kingdom | 10 years | Ages 70+: 3 years |
| Denmark | 15 years | Ages 70+: 2 years |
| France | 15 years | None |
| Germany | 15 years | None |
| Norway | 15 years | Ages 80+: 3 years |
| India | 5 to 20 years | Ages 50+: 5 years |
| Singapore | Until 65 years old | Ages 65+: 3 years |
| Switzerland* | Until 70 years old | Ages 70+: 2 to 5 years |
| * Canada, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Switzerland require motorists over a certain age to conduct a medical exam. This determines the validity period of their next licence. | ||
### The Road Ahead: What Drivers Should Do
Until the new legislation is gazetted and enacted, **the five-year renewal rule remains law**. Drivers should:
1. **Check their licence expiry date** and renew well in advance to avoid the last-minute rush and potential backlog at Driving Licence Testing Centres (DLTCs).
2. **Ignore rumours of an immediate change.** The process will be publicly communicated with a clear transition plan for those with existing cards.
3. **Advocate for systemic improvement.** While a longer validity period is welcome, the real value for motorists will come from concurrent reforms to the notoriously inefficient DLTC booking and card production systems.
The move to an eight-year licence is a positive step toward modernisation and reducing citizen burden. However, its delayed rollout underscores the challenges of reforming entrenched bureaucratic systems. The ultimate success of the policy will depend not just on the extended timeframe, but on the Department of Transport’s ability to execute the change efficiently and sustainably.