Online car licence renewal the way to go

Noticing that your car licence disc is on the brink of expiry causes instant anxiety.

Especially so when you realise you need to stand in a long queue from before dawn at your local licensing centre to have it renewed.

Then there is the risk of being told ‘come back tomorrow, we are offline’, or the dreaded possibility of loadshedding suspending renewal applications for the day.

This continues to be the case for many North Coast motorists.

Recent reports of poor and slow service at the Ballito licensing offices prompted a look at alternatives for motorists who do not have the time to queue for an entire morning.

In some cases, people waiting at the licensing offices reported spending more than four hours queuing before being processed.

But you can cut out the queues and have your licence disc delivered to your door within 10 business days with online renewal platforms.

This can be done in as little as five minutes, needing only an internet connection and your registration number.

From Pick n Pay to the National Traffic Information System (NaTIS), there are several options to consider.

Giving NaTIS a try, this journalist was able to renew his licence disc in under five minutes after registering a profile at online.natis.gov.za.

After providing some basic information, the system automatically detected the car, and all that was left to do was the payment.

There was no need to provide proof of residence, or any other documentation, only the car’s registration number.

Seven days later the licence disc arrived via courier at an additional delivery fee of R99 and a R79 service fee.

You also receive an SMS informing your when your licence is again up for renewal a month before expiry.

While NaTIS has received praise countrywide for its efficiency in car licence disc renewals, other services which have proved effective include Pick n Pay and, oddly, the South African Post Office.

With Pick n Pay it is as simple as registering with your cell phone at pnp.claimexpert.site/register, setting up your profile and then completing an online payment (R250 admin fee and R79.99 delivery fee).

You will need to upload several documents, which include a clear copy of your ID, existing licence disc, proof of residence for the area in which your car is registered (not older than three months) and you may need to sign a consent letter if sent to you.

Expect a turnaround time of 10 business days.

With no need for an administration fee when processing your online renewal, the Post Office remains the cheapest at only R75 for delivery.

You need to provide the typical supporting documents though when renewing at sapomvl.co.za.

After completing the renewal process, select your delivery address or opt to collect your disc at your nearest post office, in which case the R75 delivery fee falls away.

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