If your driver’s licence card is lost, stolen or damaged, you replace it at a driving licence testing centre with the DL1 form and an affidavit. You do not have to redo any test. For a lost card you need an affidavit from a commissioner of oaths, and for a stolen card an affidavit from the police. You are given a temporary driving certificate on the spot so you can keep driving legally, the card costs about R140, and the new card takes about 4 to 6 weeks.
Quick facts: replacing your licence card
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Where | Driving licence testing centre (Gauteng online via eNatis) |
| Form | DL1 (application for a driving licence) |
| Affidavit | Commissioner of oaths if lost, police if stolen |
| Re-test needed | No |
| Temporary licence | Issued the same day, valid 6 months |
| Card fee | About R140 |
| Temporary fee | About R40 to R95 |
| Card wait | 4 to 6 weeks |
When you need a replacement
You apply for a replacement when your licence card is lost, stolen or physically damaged, or when the plastic has simply cracked or worn out. This is a separate and faster process from renewing an expiring licence or applying for a first licence. Importantly, you do not have to sit the learner’s or driving test again, because your licence itself is still valid; you are only replacing the card.
What to bring
Take the following to the driving licence testing centre:
- The DL1 form, available at the centre or from the eNatis website. You complete the replacement section.
- Your affidavit. If the card was lost, get an affidavit from a commissioner of oaths stating that it is lost. If it was stolen, get an affidavit from the police stating the circumstances.
- Your ID and a copy, or a valid passport and copy.
- Proof of residential address, dated within the last three months.
- ID photographs. Confirm with your centre how many they need before you have them taken.
The affidavit you need
The affidavit is the step people forget. For a lost card, a commissioner of oaths can sign the affidavit. For a stolen card, you go to a police station and have the affidavit made there, stating how it was stolen. Sort this out before you go to the testing centre, because you cannot submit the replacement without it.
Step by step
Complete the DL1 form and, if your details have changed, the notification of change form (NCP). Submit the form with your affidavit and supporting documents. Your fingerprints are taken. An eye test is usually waived for a replacement, because a valid eye test is already on file, though a few centres do it anyway as standard practice. You pay the fees, and the examiner issues your temporary driving certificate immediately. Gauteng residents complete the process online through eNatis.
Your temporary driving certificate
Because the new card takes weeks to arrive, you are issued a temporary driving certificate, sometimes called an interim token, on the day you apply. It is a paper certificate that confirms you are a legal driver, valid for up to six months, and it is accepted by traffic officers, car hire companies and insurers. It covers you for the full waiting period.
What it costs
The replacement card itself costs about R140, set nationally by the Department of Transport. The temporary certificate is about R40 to R95; some centres include it in the card fee and others charge it separately. Most centres accept card payments now, but it is safest to carry cash in case the machines are down.
Collecting your new card
The new card is printed centrally and returned to the centre where you applied. Production takes about 4 to 6 weeks, sometimes faster, and longer during national backlog periods. You collect it from the same testing centre. Some centres send an SMS when it arrives, while others expect you to phone and check, so it is worth following up. Take your ID when you collect. As with all licence cards, do not leave it uncollected indefinitely, since cards left uncollected for an extended period can be destroyed.
How we worked this out
The process on this page is based on the published procedure for replacing a lost, stolen or damaged driving licence card under the National Road Traffic Act framework, including the DL1 form, the affidavit requirement, the temporary driving certificate, the card fee, and the card production and collection timelines. The online route applies to Gauteng residents through eNatis. Fees are the current national amounts and can vary slightly. Confirm the current fee at your own centre before you go.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to redo my test to replace a lost licence? No. Your licence is still valid, so you only replace the card. There is no learner’s or driving test to redo.
What affidavit do I need to replace my licence? For a lost card, an affidavit from a commissioner of oaths. For a stolen card, an affidavit from the police stating the circumstances.
How much does it cost to replace a driver’s licence card? About R140 for the card, plus roughly R40 to R95 for the temporary certificate, which some centres include in the card fee.
Can I still drive while I wait for the new card? Yes. You are issued a temporary driving certificate on the day you apply, valid for up to six months, which is accepted by traffic officers, car hire firms and insurers.
How long does the replacement card take? About 4 to 6 weeks. It is returned to the centre where you applied, and you collect it there, so follow up if you are not notified.
