The Ugly Truth about Vehicle License Renewal
Let us be honest, vehicle license renewal is tedious. Who enjoys waking up before the sun, to stand in a queue to get your license disc renewed? Not me. And if you’re the average Joe, you’ve forgotten when it’s due. Fortunately, there is more than one way for license disc renewal. Each option comes with its pros and cons though. Some are not as efficient or straightforward as you may think. I’ve explored all these options and want to share my findings with you. Below is a summary of the most popular options for Vehicle License Renewal.
I’ve considered:
- cost,
- the time it takes from submitting your documents to getting your license disc
- and also looked at the actual process involved.
Comparison of Vehicle License Renewal Service Providers
|
Service Provider |
|
FNB |
|
|
|
|
How |
Register with Cell Number either: |
Sign into the FNB app and Register your Vehicle |
Visit your nearest Traffic Department with the required documents |
You cannot renew your car’s license at any post office in Cape Town.
|
|
|
Who can use this Service? |
Personal or Business, who resides in the Cape of Cape Town |
Anyone with a cellphone. |
Service only for Personal Account Holders |
Anyone |
Anyone |
|
Can my License have expired? |
Yes, but if there’s a penalty*, this will need to be paid before the new disc can be applied for. |
No |
No |
Yes, if there’s a penalty*, this will need to be paid before the new disc can be applied for. |
No, Applications should be made a month prior to the expiry date. |
|
Documents to Submit: |
a) Copy of your ID b) Picture of your Driver’s License c) Picture of the Licence Disc (on vehicle) d) Proof of residential address (e.g., utility account, bank statement) |
a) a clear image of your ID document or card b) a copy of your existing vehicle licence disc c) proof of residence (no older than 3 months) |
a) Manually register vehicle details, or scan the bar-code on a current, non-expired licence disk
(ID & POA established when bank account opened). |
a) Your ID b) Your Driver’s License c) Proof of residential address (e.g., utility account, bank statement) d) Renewal notice or Application for Licensing Form |
a) Proof of residence; and b) a copy of your ID. |
|
Added Wait Time: |
None |
You need to wait for the renewal cost to be updated on the portal before setting up a payment..1-7 business days confirmation |
Confirmation of Document Approval |
Ave. Queue Time ( – incl possible NaTIS downtime) approx 2-3 hours |
None |
|
Admin Cost (excl License Fee) |
R 200 |
R 250 |
Included in Monthly Bank Fee |
None |
None |
|
Delivery Cost |
Free within City of Cape Town |
R 99.99 |
R 199 |
None |
None |
|
Delivery Time: |
Within 2 business Days of receiving New License Disc |
10 business Days |
10 business Days |
Receive Upon Application |
14 Business Days after the payment has been received. |
|
Total Time for Renewal |
7 – 10 business Days |
13 Business Days |
10 business Days |
A few Hours |
14-16 Business Days |
Post Office
PROS & CONS ABOUT VEHICLE LICENSE RENEWAL SERVICE PROVIDERS
After trying out a few methods and researching others, these were my thoughts:
SPEEDY BOBS:
PROS: I chatted with the owner, who confirmed the documents I sent were correct and valid. (I could have just emailed though). Delivery of my documents was to my door at no extra cost within 7 days of having submitted them. Payment options were easy and transparent.
CONS: The admin fee is R200. I thought this was entirely worth it the fact that I didn’t need to leave my house at all.
PICK N PAY:
PROS: Honestly, the only pro I could think of was “there’s a Pick ‘n Pay in every neighbourhood.”
CONS: There’s a registration process. Before you can make a payment, you need to wait 3 business days for the fees to be confirmed. The Admin Fee!! The extra Delivery Fee is on top of the admin fee.
FNB:
PROS: You can register your vehicle in the app. You have access to a few other services like renewal reminders etc. . Given that the application and payment is made from your app, the delivery fee is reasonable,
CONS: You have to have a personal bank account with FNB (My Business Account didn’t allow me access to the service.)
TRAFFIC DEPARTMENT:
PROS: No fees for admin and I walked away with my new License Disc immediately. The actual process once I made it to the front desk was quick (approx 30 mins)
CONS: I needed to wake up at an ungodly hour to be in a queue to be assured of being served early. I was lucky that the NaTIS server was only offline for about 45 mins after they opened. So my wait time was only 90 mins.
POST OFFICE
PROS: As the line at our post office was always long, this never seemed like a viable option. But, when I investigated, I discovered that you can’t renew your license here if you live in the Western Cape! You get referred to the Online Government portal.
The portal is an online version of the traffic department. This means there are no extra fees and it can be done from your home
CONS: There was a waiting period while the uploaded documents were verified. The delivery of my license took approximately 21 days.
SUMMARY :
“And the runners up are…"
The Traffic Department:
Online Government Portal
“A clear Winner!"
Speedy Bobs Vehicle Licensing Service
The information I have shared is available on each of the providers platforms. While my experiences with each provider was uniquely my own, I have tried to provide an accurate and honest comparison. I was looking for a solution that saved me time and was convenient. Obviously, these may not be the same traits you are looking. Nevertheless, the comparative table is a great guide for Vehicle License Renewal.