A PDP is valid for 24 months, and you renew it the same way you first applied: at a driving licence testing centre with a fresh medical certificate, a new fingerprint check, and the fees. There is no grace period for driving on an expired PDP, so start early, because the new card can take up to 12 weeks to arrive. A temporary permit covers you while you wait.
Quick facts: PDP renewal
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Validity | 24 months |
| Where to renew | Driving licence testing centre (Gauteng online via eNatis) |
| Medical needed | Yes, no older than two months |
| Fingerprint check | Yes, repeated at renewal |
| Card wait | Up to 12 weeks |
| Driving on an expired PDP | Not allowed |
When to renew
Your PDP expiry date is printed on the front of your driving licence card. Because the process involves a fresh criminal record check and a new card that takes weeks to produce, do not leave it until the last minute. Starting six to eight weeks before expiry gives the checks and card production time to complete so you are never left unable to drive legally.
How to renew, step by step
Renewal follows the same path as a first application. Get a new medical certificate on the official form, no older than two months. Go to your driving licence testing centre and complete the PD1 form, or apply online through eNatis if you are in Gauteng. Your fingerprints are taken again and checked by Afiswitch against the SAPS criminal records database. You pay the application and Afiswitch fees, collect a temporary permit valid for 6 months, and then collect your new card when it is ready. The documents and the full step by step are the same as a first application, set out on the how to get a PDP page, and the fees are on the PDP cost page.
Driving on an expired PDP
Unlike a vehicle licence disc, a PDP has no grace period. The moment it expires, you are no longer authorised to drive professionally, and driving a vehicle that requires a PDP without a valid one is an offence that can carry a fine and put your commercial driving at risk. This is why the temporary permit matters: apply in good time, drive on the temporary permit while the card is produced, and you never have a gap.
Why the medical is repeated
The medical is not a formality carried over from your first permit. A PDP can be refused or cancelled if you become medically unfit, so each renewal requires a current medical certificate confirming you are still fit to drive. Conditions that develop over time, affecting your vision, heart or neurological health, are exactly what the renewal medical is there to catch.
How we worked this out
The renewal process on this page is based on the professional driving permit rules under the National Road Traffic Act 93 of 1996, including the 24-month validity, the requirement to reapply in the same way as a first application, the repeated medical certificate and criminal record check, and the card production timeline. This page is general information, and you should confirm the current requirements and fees at your own driving licence testing centre.
Frequently asked questions
How often do you renew a PDP? Every 24 months. The expiry date is printed on the front of your driving licence card.
How do I renew my PDP? The same way you first applied: complete the PD1 form at a driving licence testing centre, submit a fresh medical certificate, have your fingerprints checked, pay the fees, and collect a temporary permit while your card is made. Gauteng residents renew online through eNatis.
Is there a grace period for an expired PDP? No. Once a PDP expires you may not drive professionally until it is renewed. Apply early and use the temporary permit to avoid a gap.
Do I need another medical to renew? Yes. Each renewal needs a current medical certificate, no older than two months, confirming you are still medically fit to drive.
How long does PDP renewal take? The new card can take up to 12 weeks. You drive on a temporary permit, valid for 6 months, in the meantime.
