A learner's licence is valid for 24 months from the day it is issued. If you have not passed your driving test in that window, the learner's licence lapses and you write the theory test again from scratch.
Two years sounds like plenty. It usually is not.
The theory is the quick part. What eats the two years is the driving test: lessons take months to fit around work or school, and driving test slots are booked out even further ahead than learner's slots in the metros.
A sensible rule is to book the driving test long before you feel ready, because the date you are given will be far enough out that you will be ready by then. You can always move it; you cannot conjure an earlier slot.
What you may do with a learner's licence
- Drive on a public road, provided a licensed driver is with you in the vehicle.
- Drive on a freeway, on the same condition — a learner is allowed there when accompanied.
- Drive the class of vehicle your learner's licence covers, and only that class.
What you may not do
- Drive alone. This is the one that gets people fined, and it is not treated lightly.
- Carry passengers other than your accompanying licensed driver, in most circumstances.
- Drive a class of vehicle your code does not cover.
The exact conditions on supervision and passengers are set in national regulations and enforced provincially. If you are unsure about a specific situation, confirm with your DLTC rather than relying on what a friend told you.
Minimum ages, by code
| Code | Vehicle | Minimum age |
|---|---|---|
| A1 | Motorcycle of 125 cc or less, without a sidecar | 16 |
| B / Code 8 | Light motor vehicle up to 3 500 kg | 17 |
| A | Motorcycle of any engine capacity | 18 |
| C / EC — Code 10 & 14 | Heavy and extra-heavy vehicles | 18 |