Start free

Rules of the road · about 4 min read

Rules in detail: Vehicle licences, permits and offences

Disc validity, grace period, permits and who is responsible.

What you will learn

  • State how long a vehicle licence and disc last and from when they count
  • Explain the 21-day period of grace and the 14-day change of address rule
  • Describe the duties of owners and the professional driving permit rule

Validity of the vehicle licence and licence disc

What the rule says. A motor vehicle licence and licence disc are valid for 12 months, counted from the first day of the month in which they were issued. The date of expiry must be shown on both the motor vehicle licence and the licence disc.

Why it matters. The expiry date on the disc lets you and traffic officers see at a glance whether the vehicle is licensed.

In practice. If a vehicle licence is issued on 20 May, the 12 months are counted from 1 May, not from 20 May. Read the expiry date on your disc before it passes.

Key idea: A vehicle licence and disc last 12 months from the first day of the month of issue.

Period of grace after expiry

What the rule says. A motor vehicle may be operated on a public road within a period of 21 days after the date of expiry. This applies while the licence number allocated to the vehicle and the licence disc that was issued before the licence became null and void are displayed in the manner prescribed.

In practice. If your disc expired 10 days ago and the old number and old disc are still displayed, you are inside the 21 days. If it expired 25 days ago, the period of grace has passed and the rule no longer protects you.

Key idea: Up to 21 days after expiry, with the old number and disc displayed.

Change of address within 14 days

What the rule says. If you hold a licence to drive a motor vehicle issued under the National Road Traffic Act and you change your place of residence permanently, you must notify the registering authority in whose area you ordinarily live, within 14 days after the change. You notify it in the prescribed manner, and you give your new residential address and your new postal address.

In practice. Sipho moves house permanently on 1 March. He must notify the authority by 15 March. A temporary stay elsewhere does not start the 14 days, because the rule is about a permanent change.

Key idea: Tell the registering authority within 14 days of a permanent move.

Not letting unlicensed people drive

What the rule says. No person who is the owner or operator of a motor vehicle, or who is in charge or in control of it, may employ or permit another person to drive it on a public road unless that other person is licensed under the National Road Traffic Act to drive that vehicle.

In practice. A company manager who lets an unlicensed employee take the company car on a public road breaks the rule. A friend with no licence who asks to drive your car must be refused. Check that the person holds a licence for that vehicle before you hand over the keys.

Key idea: Never employ or allow an unlicensed person to drive your vehicle.

Professional driving permits

What the rule says. No person may drive a motor vehicle of a prescribed class on a public road except in accordance with the conditions of a professional driving permit issued under the National Road Traffic Act, and unless the permit is kept with the driver in the vehicle. An exception applies to the holder of a learner's licence who drives such a vehicle while accompanied by a person registered as a professional driver for that class of vehicle. The professional driving permit must still be kept in the vehicle.

In practice. A learner driving a vehicle that needs a permit must have a registered professional driver for that class beside them.

Key idea: Prescribed vehicle classes need a professional permit kept in the vehicle.

Owner's responsibility for offences

What the rule says. The owner of a vehicle is also responsible for all offences committed with the vehicle on a public road, if the owner permitted the use of the vehicle.

Why it matters. Lending your vehicle means you share the consequences of how it is used.

In practice. You lend your car to a colleague who is then fined for an offence on a public road. Because you permitted the use of the vehicle, you may be held responsible as well as the colleague. Before you hand over the keys, think about whether you are happy to share the blame if something goes wrong.

Key idea: If you allowed the use, you share responsibility for offences with your vehicle.

The expired disc

Naledi notices her car's licence disc expired a few days ago. She also lent the car to her cousin last week.

  1. She checks the expiry date on the disc and keeps the old number and disc displayed while she renews, because she is still inside the 21 days.
  2. She renews as soon as possible rather than waiting for the grace period to end.
  3. She makes sure anyone she lends the car to is licensed, since she shares responsibility for offences if she permitted the use.

Quick recap

  • Vehicle licence and licence disc are valid for 12 months from the first day of the month of issue
  • The expiry date must be shown on the licence and on the disc
  • Period of grace: 21 days after expiry, with the old number and disc displayed
  • Permanent change of address: notify the registering authority within 14 days
  • Do not employ or permit an unlicensed person to drive your vehicle
  • Prescribed vehicle classes need a professional driving permit kept in the vehicle
  • An owner who permitted use is also responsible for offences on a public road

Practice questions on rules in detail: vehicle licences, permits and offences

1 How soon must you notify the registering authority after permanently changing your place of residence?

  1. Within 30 days
  2. Within 7 days
  3. Within 14 days
Show the answer

Answer C: Within 14 days

The licence holder must give notice within 14 days after the permanent change.

Memory tip: Move house, tell them in fourteen.

All vehicle codes

2 Who must you tell when you permanently move house, as a licence holder?

  1. The vehicle's previous owner
  2. The registering authority for your area
  3. The nearest police station
Show the answer

Answer B: The registering authority for your area

The notice goes to the registering authority in whose area you are ordinarily resident.

Memory tip: Tell the registering authority.

All vehicle codes

3 Which details must be given to the authority after a permanent move?

  1. New residential and postal address
  2. New workplace address only
  3. New telephone number only
Show the answer

Answer A: New residential and postal address

The holder must notify the new residential and postal address.

Memory tip: Residential and postal address.

All vehicle codes

4 Sipho moved permanently on 1 March. By which date must he notify the authority?

  1. By 15 March
  2. By 31 March
  3. By 8 March
Show the answer

Answer A: By 15 March

The notice is due within 14 days of the change, so 1 March plus 14 days gives 15 March.

Memory tip: Fourteen days from the move.

All vehicle codes

Part of the guide: Learner's licence requirements

More rules of the road chapters

Sources: NaTIS Rules of the Road, June 2012, sections 5.8, 1.1, 5.5, 5.6, 5.7, 5.9 (every figure and exception taught here is stated there); The 2012 text has drafting errors; passages that were unclear were left out. Current-law review is still outstanding..

AceK53 is an independent study aid based on public road traffic manuals and is not an official test. Always confirm requirements with your driving licence testing centre.