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If you have not renewed your expired vehicle licence, you're going to face hefty penalties

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Image: Wheels24/Janine Van der Post
Image: Wheels24/Janine Van der Post
Janine Van der Post

Deadline for expired vehicle licences ends on Tuesday (22 September 2020).

Motorists who have not renewed their expired licence will pay about 10% penalty fees for each month.

Traffic officials could also hand out fines up to R1000 for an expired vehicle licence disc.

For more motoring stories, go to www.Wheels24.co.za

The vehicle licence renewal ends on Tuesday, and motorists who have not yet renewed their lockdown expired licence will be facing fines and hefty penalties.

Vehicle licences which had expired between 26 March and 31 May 2020, had been given several opportunities to renew with three extended grace periods. And, if you're reading this right now, and have not yet renewed your vehicle licence in time, it might just be too late as queues are expected to be endless today.

According to an online post by the Road Traffic Management Corporation, motorists who fail to renew vehicle licences by the end of business on Tuesday (22 September) will incur additional costs for late renewal. 

Penalties are calculated at 10% of the annual licencing fees per month, according to the RTMC, and they also run the risk of receiving traffic fines of up to R1000 if stopped by traffic officers while operating an unlicensed motor vehicle on a public road.

The RTMC further says: "Acting according to the Disaster Management Act, the Minister of Transport in July gazetted an extension in the validity period of all whose motor vehicle discs, permits and roadworthy certificates that expired during the period commencing from 26 March to 31 May for a period ending 31 August. 

"Beyond this period, motorists were entitled to 21 days in which to renew the vehicle discs without incurring late payment costs. 

"The extension affected 2 465 439 motorists whose vehicle discs expired during the total lockdown period. A total of 1 701 724 (69%) had taken advantage of the extension and renewed their licences by the end of last week.

"The RTMC is satisfied with the public's response to the extension and calls on those who have not yet renewed to take urgent steps to comply and save money."

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Image: Wheels24 / Charlen Raymond

I am also still receiving numerous queries regarding licence extensions, so it is important to note there are no more grace periods for vehicle licences. If your vehicle licence expires in October, there is no more 90-days grace to renew.

We urge motorists to try and pay these vehicle licences as soon as possible to avoid any more penalties, as well as the risk of being fined by traffic officials. 

If you are elderly, or suffer from comorbidities and still feel unsafe to venture outdoors or risk being exposed to the coronavirus, please rather stay safe. Instead, if you are based in Gauteng or the Free State, you can contact ChatBack via WhatsApp to have your licence renewed on your behalf, or you can get someone to do it for you - a relative or friend. If you're depending on the latter, you would need to give them a permission letter, a copy of your ID, their ID and your proof of address, and your previous vehicle licence disc or reminder slip to renew on your behalf.

The only grace period which is still valid is the one for learner or driver's licence card renewals. Licences which have expired between 26 March and 31 August have until 31 January 2021 to renew. However, if you can do so, please try and renew your driver's licence as soon as possible.

Although we understand the system is under severe pressure due to the backlog, we are also aware of the constant battle Gauteng residents are facing trying to get online appointments booked on the eNatis system. We have contacted the RTMC and will publish any feedback as soon as we receive a response. 

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Janine Van der Post is the editor of Wheels24. If you have any queries, you can email her here. Image: Calvin Fisher

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