How long a driver’s licence is valid in South Africa vs Australia, Canada, the UK, and USA
South Africa has finally gazetted a proposed extension to the nation’s driver’s licence cards, extending the validity period from 5 to 10 years.
This is something that motorists and civil action groups have been demanding for years amid growing frustrations over frequent licence card renewals.
One key reason for this complaint is that South Africa’s current 5-year validity period is below the global average, as many countries allow motorists to keep their cards for 8 to 10 years, and some only start requiring renewals once individuals reach a certain age.
The 10-year extension will therefore bring South Africa in line with international customs, a move which has been welcomed by motorists and civil groups like the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA).
OUTA has been calling for the extension for years, asking the Minister of Transport to do so after the country’s only licence card printing machine broke down again in 2025, leading to a massive renewal backlog.
“We’ve been saying to Barbara Creecy for some time, and the previous ministers: start by extending the validity period of the driver’s licences from five to ten years,” said OUTA CEO Wayne Duvenage.
“It’s the norm around the world, and that takes a lot of pressure off the department straight away.”
In August 2026, the Department of Transport officially gazetted a proposal to extend the validity period of certain licence types, including:
- A – Motorcycles
- A1 – Light motorcycles
- B – Light motor vehicles
- EB – Light motor vehicles pulling a trailer
Notably, the proposal doesn’t include licences for larger vehicles such as medium and heavy commercial transports, which still need to be renewed every 5 years.
South Africa’s licence validity period compared to other countries
TopAuto looked at the validity period of other countries around the world to see how the 5-year licence compares, and how much of an improvement the 10-year extension will be.
Right now, we have the same validity period as Canada, Botswana, and Portugal, though we don’t have any additional restrictions.
In other countries, the standard validity period is often shortened once individuals reach a certain age, usually around 65 to 70.
At this point, motorists are considered higher risk and are therefore required to renew their licence or undergo a medical exam every 2 to 3 years to determine if they are still fit to drive.
In Portugal, for example, motorists over 70 have to renew their licence every 2 years. In many countries, drivers past a certain age are also banned from operating commercial vehicles.
Australia and the United States are interesting cases, as their licence period varies depending on the state.
In the Land Down Under, licences are set at 5 years in Western Australia, while people living in New South Wales enjoy 10-year licences.
Similarly, in the US, a licence can be valid for as little as 4 years in states like Michigan, while Arizona licences are valid until the person reaches 65.
The United Kingdom has a 10-year period, while continental Europe tends to have licences between 10 and 15 years, depending on the country.
This table, compiled by our sister publication MyBroadband, shows the driver’s licence validity period for different countries around the world, and how South Africa compares to them:
| Country | Validity period | Exceptions and limits |
|---|---|---|
| Canada* | 5 years | Ages 70 to 80: 5 years Ages 80+: 3 years |
| Botswana | 5 years | None |
| Japan | 5 years | 70+: 3 years |
| Portugal | 5 years | Ages 70+: 2 years |
| South Africa | 5 years | None |
| China | 6 years | No driving for people aged 70+ |
| Korea | 7 years | Ages 75+: 3 years |
| United States of America | 4 to 65 years | Varies per state |
| Australia | 5 to 10 years | Varies per state |
| Brazil | 10 years | Ages 50 to 69: 5 years Ages 70+: 3 years |
| Ireland* | 10 years | Ages 75+: 1 or 3 years |
| Italy | 10 years | Ages 50 to 69: 5 years Ages 70+: 3 years |
| Netherlands* | 10 years | Ages 70 to 75: 5 years |
| New Zealand | 10 years | Ages 75 to 80: 5 years Ages 80+: 2 years |
| Russia | 10 years | None |
| Spain | 10 years | Ages 65+: 5 years |
| Sweden | 10 years | None |
| United Arab Emirates | 10 years | Ages 65+: 3 years |
| United Kingdom | 10 years | Ages 70+: 3 years |
| Denmark | 15 years | Ages 70+: 2 years |
| France | 15 years | None |
| Germany | 15 years | None |
| Norway | 15 years | Ages 80+: 3 years |
| India | 5 to 20 years | Ages 50+: 5 years |
| Singapore | Until 65 years old | Ages 65+: 3 years |
| Switzerland* | Until 70 years old | Ages 70+: 2 to 5 years |
| *These nations require motorists over a certain age to conduct a medical exam. This also determines the validity period of their renewed licence | ||
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Conversation
1 commentsFirstly, everyone insists on the incorrect wording … as if telling the same lie enough times makes it the truth.
This is something the ANC are masters of, and unfortunately our lazy media has always allowed them to get away with doing so (why is SA in the state it is?)
Your license does not magically “expire” after 5 years.
The thing you are expected to carry around is NOT your license…. it is a form of “proof” that you have a license.
Proof does not “expire” – if it did you would need to “renew” your ID every however many years “the government” chose.
It is a form of control, but more importantly, ongoing government revenue.
Imagine that … the government wants to control you, and make you pay them to do so.
Your ID, your license to drive and much more continue existing…. on Government computers.
So, why all the nonsense if not a government funding scheme (they do not have enough other taxes)?
Issue each government official,AUTHORIZED to demand ID or other information from you, with a simple device with a fingerprint reader and web connection.
Take your fingerprint, press a button, and the Government computer identifies you, confirms you have a license…. and can be programmed to provide other information for other uses (eg. IEC at voting station confirms you are a registered voter and are at the correct voting station)
Notice how the greedy ANC chose the few countries on the list with (5 year validity) when telling us we needed the same …. not countries with much longer validity of drivers license?
In most countries, they neglect to inform you, it does not cost much (if anything) to renew, and can be achieved almost instantaneously (often online) or without appointments, standing in queues, providing a bunch not documents, filling out their forms etc.