Driving licence backlog: What South African drivers should know

South African motorists are in for more delays when it comes to obtaining a new driving licence card. The country’s ageing driver’s licence card printing system has left a backlog of over 539,000 licence cards, pushing the expected turnaround time to eight to nine weeks—well above the standard two-week period.

The Root of the Problem: An Ageing System

South Africa relies on a 26-year-old licence card printing machine that has become increasingly unreliable. Since its installation, it has broken down at least 160 times, with 38 working days lost to malfunctions in 2025 alone. Repairs this year have cost the Department of Transport (DoT) R12 million, with an additional R4.4 million spent on overtime to keep the system running.

Even with the machine operating 24/7 and output boosted from 7,440 to 22,320 cards per day, the daily demand of 10,500 to 11,000 new orders means the backlog is only slowly shrinking. At the current catch-up rate of roughly 2,187 cards per day, clearing the backlog would take over eight months, assuming no further breakdowns occur.

Delays Stretching Into 2026

Initially, the Department of Transport had hoped to clear the backlog between November 2025 and January 2026. However, with the current machine under pressure and continued high demand, delays may now stretch well into the second half of 2026.

For context, in June 2025, motorists were waiting four to six weeks for a card. Now, the waiting time has doubled to eight to nine weeks, a significant increase for anyone applying for a new licence.

Temporary Relief Measures

To ease some of the inconvenience, the DoT has:

• Waived fees for temporary driving licence cards
• Suspended penalties for expired licences

These measures provide motorists some relief while the backlog persists.

New Printing Machines Stalled

The long-term solution was to modernise the system with new, secure printing machines maintained locally. A contract worth R900 million was awarded to a company earlier in 2025, but investigations by the Auditor-General over tender irregularities have stalled procurement.

Transport Minister Barbara Creecy confirmed that the department has applied to the High Court for a declaratory order, seeking legal clarity before proceeding with the acquisition of new machines. Until the court rules, South Africa remains dependent on the old, unreliable printer.

The Need for a Backup Printer

Recognising the risk of relying on a single machine, the DoT has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Government Printing Works (GPW) to deploy a backup printer. Transport Minister Creecy indicated that this device should be operational by October 2025, providing some hope for a faster turnaround in the future.

The Automobile Association has questioned why the GPW, already capable of printing smart ID cards, could not have been used for driving licence cards sooner.

What This Means for Motorists

Motorists should plan for longer waiting times when applying for a new driving licence card. Key takeaways include:

• Expect a turnaround of 8–9 weeks for a new card
• Temporary cards are available to avoid penalties
• Backlog clearance may extend into mid-2026
• New machines and a backup printer are planned, but delays remain likely

South Africans applying for new driving licence cards should be prepared for continued delays while the Department of Transport navigates repairs, legal proceedings, and system upgrades.