What to take to your learner's licence test

What must I take when I book the test?

The national government page lists four things to take when you book:

• An identity document (ID)
• Two identical black-and-white ID photographs
• Proof of postal and residential address, for example a utility account
• The booking fee

You also fill in the Application for learner's licence form (LL1). You get the form at the testing centre.

Some places ask for more detail. This is what their pages say:

• Western Cape Government. Your official South African identity document, two ID-sized photographs of 35mm x 45mm in black and white or colour, and proof of address not older than 3 months. Bring a pen, because the centre may not give you one.
• George Municipality. Your original ID or a valid South African passport, two recent ID photographs taken without glasses or headgear, and proof of your residential address. A post box address is not accepted.
• Mogale City, Gauteng. Acceptable identification and a copy of it, 2 ID photos, the LL1 form and an optometrist certificate.
• Greater Giyani, Limpopo. A certified copy of your ID and proof of residence. The page asks you to bring cash.

What must I take on the day of the test?

Take your ID, your booking receipt and the issue fee. The national government page says that on the day of the test you must hand in the booking receipt and your ID, and that you pay the issue fee if you pass.

The Western Cape Government and the City of Cape Town list the same three things in their own words:

• Your appointment sheet or receipt, which shows the details of your appointment
• Your official identity document
• The issue fee, which both pages give as R33 when checked in October 2026

George Municipality also asks for two colour ID photographs, taken without glasses or headgear, when the licence is issued.

A May 2026 report in The Citizen, written with Gauteng's online bookings in mind, lists an ID document, proof of address, the booking confirmation, the booking fee, and ID photographs if the testing centre requires them.

If you are not sure, take everything you used when you booked. It costs you nothing to carry it.

What extra papers do I need if I am under 18?

In the Western Cape you need an affidavit about your address. The Western Cape Government says an adult (a parent, a relative or the person you live with) must confirm your address in an affidavit that is signed and stamped at a police station or by a Commissioner of Oaths.

George Municipality puts it this way: if you are not yet 18, bring proof of residential address in the name of the person you live with, as well as an affidavit from that person confirming that you live with them at that address.

The national page does not mention this rule, so ask your testing centre if you are outside the Western Cape.

Do I need my glasses or an eye test certificate?

You will have an eye test, so take the glasses or contact lenses you normally wear. None of the official lists mention glasses, but they all require the eye test.

The national page says you go for an eye test at the testing centre, or you may have one done by a qualified optometrist. George Municipality says that if you do not pass the eye test at the centre, you must have your eyes tested by an optometrist at your own cost and bring the result back before you can book a test date. Mogale City lists an optometrist certificate as a requirement, so in that area get the certificate first.

What if I have no proof of address, or I am 65 or older?

There is an official answer for both. If you live in an informal settlement, the national page says to bring a letter with an official date stamp from your ward councillor that confirms your postal and residential address.

If you are 65 or older, you must also complete a medical certificate form (MC).

When should I arrive?

Arrive early. The Western Cape Government says to get to the venue 15 minutes before your time. The City of Cape Town says to arrive at your appointment on time. Put your ID, receipt and money together the night before so that nothing is left at home.

Sources

• Apply for a learner's licence (South African Government, gov.za)
• Apply for a learners license (national Department of Transport)
• Learner's licence (Western Cape Government)
• Apply for a learner's licence (City of Cape Town)
• Driving and learner's licensing (George Municipality)
• Licensing services (Mogale City Local Municipality)
• Traffic Department licensing (Greater Giyani Municipality)
• Learner's license: Here's everything you need to know in 2026 (The Citizen, Rekord, 18 May 2026)