Frequently asked questions
Short answers to the admin questions around the learner's licence and the written test. Where a question deserves a full page, the answer links to the guide that covers it.
The learner's licence
- How old must I be to get a learner's licence?
- It depends on the code. Code 1 for motorcycles up to 125cc: 16 years. Code 1 for motorcycles over 125cc: 18. Code 2 (vehicles up to 3 500kg, which covers ordinary cars): 17. Code 3 (vehicles over 3 500kg): 18. You must have reached the age on the date of the test, not the date you book. Licence codes explained
- How long is a learner's licence valid?
- 24 months, and it cannot be extended or renewed. If it expires before you get your driving licence, the only route forward is to apply and write the learner's test again from the beginning. Why that window is tighter than it sounds
- Can I drive alone with a learner's licence?
- No. A learner's licence only permits you to drive under the supervision of a licensed driver. It is a permit to learn, not a licence to drive independently, and the supervision requirement is a legal condition rather than a suggestion.
- What documents do I need to apply?
- Your identity document, two identical black-and-white ID photographs, the booking fee, and proof of your postal and residential address such as a utility account. If you live in an informal settlement, a date-stamped letter from your ward councillor serves as proof of address. If you are 65 or older, you also need a medical certificate (form MC). The full application process
- How much does a learner's licence cost?
- Fees change and can differ between testing centres, so no figure published on a website should be trusted. Check the current booking and issue fees with your local Driving Licence Testing Centre (DLTC).
- What happens if my learner's licence expires before I pass my driving test?
- You start over: new application, new booking fee, new written test. There is no appeal or grace mechanism. Driving test waiting lists run to months in busy areas, so book your driving test early and work backwards from that date. How to apply again
The written test
- How many questions are on the test, and what is the pass mark?
- 64 questions in 60 minutes, split into three sections: rules of the road (28 questions, pass mark 22), road signs (28 questions, pass mark 23) and vehicle controls (8 questions, pass mark 6). These figures come from the testing regulations rather than the official manuals and are widely corroborated but unofficial; if your testing centre says different, believe the testing centre. The full test structure
- Do I have to pass every section separately?
- Yes, and this is what catches most people out. Passing overall is not enough: fall one question short in a single section and you have failed the whole test, even with a strong score everywhere else. Why people fail the learner's test
- Is there an eye test?
- Yes, an eyesight screening happens at the DLTC as part of the application, before you sit the written paper. It checks whether your eyesight meets the standard for driving; it is not part of the written test itself.
Looking for the actual study material rather than admin? Every road sign, rule of the road and vehicle control is covered in its own section.
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