Share

Driving with J9 | If your vehicle licence expires after August, there's no 90 days grace

accreditation

  • Motorists have until end of August to renew lockdown expired vehicle licences. 
  • Learners and driving licence cards which expired from 26 March up to and including 31 August 2020, have until January 2021 to renew.
   
  • Motor trade number licences grace period extended to end of November 2020.

There's just one week left to go before the end of August, so I am anticipating vehicle licence queues to be exceptionally long these next few days. There are literally only five working days left to count.

There also still seems to be massive confusion about vehicle licence renewals and grace periods.

I've received a whole bunch of new queries from readers during this past week, and it's safe to say it's more than disconcerting, so let's explain it again.

Last week we discussed renewing your vehicle licence via a third-party company which operates via WhatsApp in Gauteng and the Free State, but even if you use this alternative option, it's cutting it rather short.

If you live in Gauteng, Eastern Cape, North West, Free State, or KwaZulu-Natal, you can also renew your vehicle licences at selected South African Post Offices.

If your vehicle licence expired any time from 26 March, up to and including 31 May, these licences would be valid up to 31 August. This means motorists have until this date to renew without being penalised or charged arrears fees.

However, I have also heard from motorists who say some of them have been charged penalties, and as soon as I have clarification on this matter, I'll inform all of our readers. It will also be interesting to see just how much those motorists who have been unable to renew their vehicle licences in the extended period would be charged when renewing from September onwards.

However, if your licence expires 31 August or after that, technically the 21-day grace period should still apply. It's important to note that there will no longer be a 90-day grace period after 31 August as most readers seem to believe.

The 90-day grace period was given after the hard lockdown restrictions were lifted and was initially only for licences which expired during the lockdown between 26 March and 31 May. This was then extended until the end of August for vehicle licence renewals.

The January 2021 extension also only applies to expired learners or drivers' licences which have expired during 26 March and 31 August 2020 and does not apply to vehicle licences. 

So to iterate, here's what you need to know:

All learners licences, driving licence cards, temporary driving licences and professional driving permits that expired from 26 March up to 31 August 2020 are extended to 31 January 2021.

All motor vehicle licence discs, temporary permits, and roadworthy certificates that expired during the period that commenced from 26 March 2020 up to and including 31 May 2020 are deemed to be valid and their validity period is extended for a further grace period ending on 31 August 2020.

Motor trade number licences that expired during the period that commenced from 26 March 2020 up to and including 31 May 2020 are deemed to be valid and are extended for a further grace period ending on 30 November 2020.

toyota supra janine

Janine Van der Post is the first female editor of a mainstream motoring publication. If you have any queries, you can email her here.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE