Licence Disc Renewal in South Africa: Online, Grace Period and Penalties

By SA Gov Info

The licence disc is different from your driving licence card. The disc shows that the vehicle is licensed. The driving licence card shows that you may drive. To renew the card, see our guide on how to renew a driving licence.

Licence Disc Renewal at a Glance

When Must You Renew Your Licence Disc?

The law requires every vehicle on a public road to be licensed every year. The expiry date is printed on the disc on your windscreen.

You may renew before the expiry date, and it is best to do so, because:

• the 21-day grace period is only for renewing without penalties, and
• online delivery takes a few working days.

The 21-Day Grace Period Explained

You have 21 days after the expiry date to renew the licence without paying a late penalty. For example, if your disc expires on 31 October, you can renew without penalty until 21 November.

Two things to remember:

1. The grace period protects you from late renewal penalties. Traffic officers may still treat an expired disc as an offence, so do not drive around for three weeks on an expired disc if you can avoid it.
2. After the 21 days, penalties are added for every month the licence is late, plus the licence fees for the months that were missed.

How Much Are Late Licence Disc Penalties?

Penalties are worked out by your province. Motoring reports describe the penalty as about 10% of the annual licence fee for each month the licence is late, plus arrears.

The longer you wait, the more you pay. If a vehicle has not been licensed for a long time, you may also have to pay the arrears for all the unlicensed months before a new disc is issued.

How to Renew Your Licence Disc Online

The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) runs an online renewal service on the NaTIS portal. It has processed millions of licence discs since it started in 2022.

1. Go to online.natis.gov.za.
2. Register a profile with your ID number and contact details. Registered users can also receive renewal notices.
3. Choose the option to renew a motor vehicle licence.
4. Select the vehicle and check that the owner and address details are correct.
5. Pay the licence fee, any penalties and the service and delivery fees online.
6. Wait for the disc to be delivered. The RTMC says delivery usually takes 3 to 5 working days.

Keep proof of payment in the car until the new disc arrives.

Online renewal fees

On top of the licence fee for your vehicle, online renewal includes a transaction fee and a delivery fee. Reports on the NaTIS online service list a legislated transaction fee of about R72 and a courier fee of about R99. The exact total is shown before you pay.

City of Cape Town online renewal

City of Cape Town residents can also renew a vehicle licence through the City’s own online forms. The City emails a reference number and banking details, and you pay by EFT using the reference number. For help, the City’s line is 0860 103 089.

How to Renew Your Licence Disc in Person

With a renewal notice

Take these to your registering authority (licensing office):

• your renewal notice, also called the MVL2 (Assessment for Renewal of Motor Vehicle Licence),
• your ID, and
• the fee, plus any penalties and arrears.

Without a renewal notice

If you did not get a notice, ask the licensing office for form ALV (Application for Licensing of a Motor Vehicle) and take:

• the completed form ALV,
• your ID, and
• the fee, plus any penalties and arrears.

If someone renews it for you

Another person can renew the disc for you if they take:

• a signed letter from you giving them permission,
• certified copies of your ID and their ID, and
• the fee, plus any penalties and arrears.

Renewal Notices Are No Longer Posted in Some Provinces

In the Western Cape, renewal notices are no longer posted. They are sent by SMS or email, or you can download them from the RTMC’s online service. Notices are sent to the contact details on the NaTIS system, so keep your address, cellphone number and email up to date. You can update them at the licensing office whenever you do a vehicle or driving licence transaction.

Not receiving a notice does not give you extra time. You still need to renew before the expiry date.

How Much Does a Licence Disc Cost?

There is no single national price. The licence fee depends on:

• your province, because each province sets its own fees,
• the vehicle’s tare, which is its weight without passengers or load, and
• the type of vehicle.

Provinces publish their fee schedules every year. In the Western Cape, for example, the 2026 fees were published in a provincial gazette and started on 1 July 2026. Your renewal notice shows the amount due, and the NaTIS online portal shows it before you pay.

Can Traffic Fines Stop You From Renewing?

In areas that use the AARTO system, an enforcement order for an unpaid traffic fine can stop a licence disc or driving licence from being issued until the fine is dealt with. It is a good idea to check for outstanding fines before you renew. See our guide on how to check traffic fines online.

Do You Need a Roadworthy Certificate to Renew?

Not for a normal yearly renewal. A roadworthy certificate is needed in specific situations, for example when a used vehicle is registered in a new owner’s name, or when a vehicle has been declared unroadworthy. See our vehicle registration guide for those cases.

What If You Lost Your Licence Disc?

If your disc is lost, stolen or damaged, apply for a duplicate at your registering authority. Take your ID and the vehicle’s details, and pay the duplicate fee. If the disc was stolen, report it to the police and keep the case number.

Licence Disc Renewal Questions

How long is the licence disc grace period?

21 days after the expiry date. After that, late penalties are added.

Can I renew my licence disc online?

Yes. Register on online.natis.gov.za, pay online and the disc is delivered to you, usually within 3 to 5 working days.

What do I need to renew my licence disc?

Your renewal notice (MVL2) or form ALV, your ID, and the licence fee plus any penalties and arrears.

Can I renew my licence disc without the renewal notice?

Yes. Complete form ALV at the licensing office and take your ID.

Why did I not receive my licence renewal notice?

Some provinces no longer post notices and send them by SMS or email instead. If your contact details on NaTIS are out of date, the notice may go to the wrong place.

Is the licence disc the same as a driving licence?

No. The licence disc is for the vehicle. The driving licence card is for the driver and has its own renewal process.