The online service dominating licence disc renewals in South Africa

Since its launch, the National Administration Traffic Information System’s (Natis) online platform has processed over two million licence disc renewal transactions.

This makes it the country’s most popular online licence disc renewal service. It is also one of the cheapest renewal services in South Africa.

A spokesperson for Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) told MyBroadband in early June 2024 that the platform had processed more than two million transactions for licence disc renewals.

The service launched in February 2022.

In comparison, FNB said its service — only available to FNB customers — has processed around 465,000 online licence disc renewal transactions since November 2016.

“FNB customers have had the ability to renew their car licence online and address other car maintenance needs through nav» Car on the mobile app since November 2016,” said Sizwekazi Mdingi, FNB’s head of external communications and public relations.

“Customer uptake of licence disc renewal transactions with FNB has been encouraging.”

Mdingi added that licence disc renewal transactions through FNB have been accelerating at a rate of more than 71% year-on-year.

MyBroadband also asked the South African Post Office (Sapo) how many licence disc transactions had been processed through the SapoMVL system.

It hadn’t answered our questions by the time of publication.

The RTMC said it launched the Natis online platform to enable South African motorists to renew their vehicle registration and pay without leaving their homes.

This eliminates the frustration of queueing at the Department of Transport’s Driving Licence Testing Centres (DLTCs).

It also offers other services like driver’s licence card renewals.

“The system is going to be easier from now on,” said RTMC CEO Makhosini Msibi.

“We are making it easy for all South Africans to conduct this business in the comfort of their homes, without having to queue at the DLTCs.”

Motorists who use the platform can pay for renewals via a credit card, debit card, or electronic funds transfer (EFT).

“You’ll pay using a credit card to renew a driver’s licence, and also be provided with a variety of options,” said Msibi.

These options relate to whether you want to collect the card from a DLTC or deliver it to your home.

The RTMC has launched the platform in partnership with First National Bank, which provides the online payment gateway.

For a while, the Natis Online system was the most affordable option for South Africans to renew their vehicle’s registration.

It doesn’t charge an admin fee, only the cost of the renewal itself and a R99 delivery fee if the motorist opts to have their renewed disc delivered.

Currently, FNB is the cheapest option for motorists renewing a single vehicle’s registration.

Its service was initially priced at R199 per renewal. The price was cut to R99 per renewal in 2023.

FNB then announced a promotional price cut to R69 per vehicle renewal in March 2024, initially set to expire on 30 June 2024.

However, the company recently told MyBroadband that it had extended the promotion until December 2024.

The R69 fee covers the service and delivery charge. Customers will be charged a vehicle licencing cost, which varies based on the weight of their vehicle and the province of registration.

FNB noted that the R69 fee is per vehicle and not per basket, unlike the Natis Online service.

For example, motorists can renew licence discs for multiple vehicles on the Natis system and only pay the delivery fee.

However, FNB charges per vehicle and the R69 fee is only applicable to customers who renew their licence disc before the expiry date.

The SapoMVL service is the next-most affordable option after FNB and Natis Online.

The Post Office charges an admin fee of R72. Customers can opt to have their renewed disc delivered to their home or office for an added fee of R75.