Driver’s licence: New vs old licence cards compared
We look at the key differentiators between the old and the new SA driver’s licence cards issued by the Department of Transport.
It doesn’t take a genius to spot key differences between the current vs. new SA driver’s licence cards. The Department of Transport (DOT) pilot program for the new SA driving licence cards is meant to start this month, according to its own communiques.
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This is in the lead-up to going public sometime before the end of March 2024. There is no more concrete information on its roll-out than that, we’re sorry to report. The current cards have been produced since 1998 and our ailing card printer is due for decommissioning soon.
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CURRENT VS. NEW SA DRIVER’S LICENCE CARDS
What you’ll notice is nuanced visual changes between current vs. new SA driving licence cards. The new SA driving licence card promises to be more space efficient in its execution. You’ll note the old card squeezes all the information into a tighter space than is required with unnecessarily small font.
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Similarly, the ID photo changes position between current vs. new SA driving licence cards. From top tight to top left. This makes practical sense as your eye travels from left to right and more often than not you’ll search for the ID photo of a person instead of the name.
PERSONAL INFORMATION ON YOUR DRIVER’S LICENCE
The card’s barcode can store 710 bytes of data, and this includes the holder’s initials, surname, identity number, driver’s license number, date of issue and expiration date. You’ll also note a watermark of the king protea and a reflective security strip across the front of the card that reads South Africa. These are safety mechanisms to stop counterfeits.
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Around the back, the barcode is still prominent. However, the space for the usually unidentifiable fingerprint has now been removed when you compare current vs. new SA driving licence cards. These are all positive adaptations for new driving licence cards.
BEHIND THE SCENES
As reported by Business Tech, the major changes will come in the form of new technology behind the plastic, so to speak. This also coincides with the department’s one Driver’s Licence Card printer being decommissioned between now and the introduction of the new cards.
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Crucial for current vs. new SA driving licence cards are improved security features, including biometric data and holograms. An entirely new electronic licence system will be linked to your own personal licence account. It’s said this will make renewing and any interactions with the department much quicker and easier as it will be entirely paperless.
DRIVER’S LICENCE CARD ACCOUNT (DLCA)
This is where the real improvements should appear. Upcoming Driving License Card Accounts (DLCAs) will make ‘smart’ enrolment system quick and easy for motorists renewing their driving licences online. There is no confirmation yet on when the digital-first DLCA system will be ready for rollout.
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What do you think of the current vs. new SA driving licence cards? Be sure to share your thoughts with our audience in the comments section below. And don’t forget to follow us @TheSANews on X and The South African on Facebook for the latest updates.