FAQ: Are you still insured if your driver’s license has expired?
With South Africa facing a lengthy driver’s license backlog, are you still insured if your license has expired? In light of yet another breakdown of South Africa’s driver’s license printing machine, and the 350 000-applicant backlog confirmed by the Department of Transport (DOT), are you still insured if your driver’s license has expired? ARE YOU INSURED IF […]
With South Africa facing a lengthy driver’s license backlog, are you still insured if your license has expired?
In light of yet another breakdown of South Africa’s driver’s license printing machine, and the 350 000-applicant backlog confirmed by the Department of Transport (DOT), are you still insured if your driver’s license has expired?
ARE YOU INSURED IF YOUR LICENSE HAS EXPIRED?
After a two-week journey for replacement parts to arrive from Germany, and another two-week delay as the license card printing machine is tested, there will be inevitable delays to the reissuing of South African drivers’ licenses.
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Even if you renew yours today, there are already 350 000 people ahead of you in the queue. Which begs the question, if your driver’s license is close to/or has already expired, are you still covered by your insurance?
THE INSURANCE EXPERTS SPEAK
We asked insurance comparison experts, Hippo, and there is some good news. Head of Auto & General Insurance, Ricardo Coetzee, says if you have paid-up car insurance but you don’t have a valid driver’s license at the time of a loss/accident, the expired license will not impact their insurance claim.
Wynand van Vuuren, Client Experience Partner at King Price Insurance, agrees. “The short answer is that an expired driver’s license due to your renewal being delayed by the backlog will not affect your cover,” he says.
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There is one crucial caveat, however, this will only apply if your expired license was ONLY as a result of a delayed administrative process – and can be proven as such – by you.
So, if you dawdled and simply did not renew your driver’s license in time, that’s on you. If the Department of Transport (DOT) delays are to blame, you will still be insured in the event of an accident/loss.
IT’S ALL ABOUT RISK ASSESSMENT
“We look at risk when assessing a claim, and an administrative delay does not increase or decrease your risk in operating a vehicle. We do however urge customers to continue in their efforts to renew these licenses as soon as possible, as it is legally required for you to be on the road,” said head of Auto & General Insurance, Ricardo Coetzee.
WHAT IF THE BACKLOG ISN’T TO BLAME?
If you cannot prove your expired driver’s license has anything to do with the DOTs backlog, you must apply for a temporary driving license. You can download the form HERE.
The cost is R90 and it is valid for six months. Temporary driving licenses are processed right away at your closest Driver’s License Testing Centre (DLTC) follow the links below to find the most convenient one nearest you:
- City of Johannesburg
- City of Tshwane
- City of Cape Town
- Nelson Mandela Bay
- Eastern Cape municipalities
- Free State municipalities
- Gauteng municipalities
- KwaZulu-Natal municipalities
- Limpopo municipalities
- Mpumalanga municipalities
- North West municipalities
- Northern Cape municipalities
- Western Cape municipalities
This article is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial or legal advice.