Driver’s Licence Confirmation Letter: All you need to know

If you want to convert your South African driver’s licence for a foreign licence abroad or obtain a new one abroad, you will have to submit a South African Driver’s Licence Confirmation Letter. This is sometimes also referred to as a Driver’s Licence Verification Certificate. The certificate proves that you are in possession of a valid South African driver’s licence.

The driver’s licence confirmation letter is issued by the South African Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) after verifying the information contained on the National Traffic Information System. In essence, this is a document you are required to submit when converting a Sout African licence card or applying for a foreign driver’s licence.

Who needs a driver’s licence confirmation letter?

As mentioned, your South African driver’s licence must be verified if you want to convert your SA driver’s licence card abroad or obtain a new foreign driving licence. This letter might also come in handy if you’re going to rent a vehicle abroad.

Keep in mind that there are countries that do not accept South African driver’s licences as valid.  Therefore, you cannot convert your SA licence card in these countries and will you will have to obtain a new licence in that country. One example of this is Spain. South Africans must redo their driving tests if they want to obtain Spanish driver’s licences since a conversion is not possible.

How do I get a driver’s licence confirmation letter?

The process of applying for and obtaining your confirmation letter is relatively straightforward. Still, since the RTMC often makes mistakes on the letters, you’d need to reapply in the event that there is an error on your certificate. This can lead to costly delays in your timeline. However, when you work with a professional document assistance service like Apostil.co.za, there won’t be any significant delays in the process since reprints can quickly and easily be issued.

Once issued, your driver’s licence confirmation letter will contain your full name and identity number, along with which type of licence you hold. It also includes information on when your licence was first issued and where it was earned.

One important step that has been introduced during 2022 is the completion of a form: Driver’s Licence Confirmation Letter Application Form (CTC RMTC – DL FORM).

Important things to note

Your South African drivers’ licence never expires. HOWEVER, your licence card expires every five years. In some countries, like Spain, it is impossible to convert your SA driver’s licence, as mentioned earlier.

The problem, however, is that the new licence will not be indicative of your actual years of driving experience since it only counts from the day it was issued. This can be burdensome for obtaining insurance for your car and other processes like renting a vehicle abroad.

To ensure your years of driving experience gets added to your new licence card abroad, it is essential to obtain a driver’s licence verification letter from South Africa so the foreign authorities can edit your details and capture the years of experience on your new licence card.

Professional assistance with driver’s licence confirmations

Apostil.co.za can assist you with obtaining your driver’s licence confirmation letter in between 4 and 15 working days. In order for us to assist you, we will need copies of the back and front of your South African driver’s licence and a clear copy of your South African ID.

Get in touch with us right now to learn more about this service. Alternatively, head over to our pricing page.