Vehicle licence renewal problems in South Africa

[Geoff.D]

Does this country enjoy being stuck with hysterically out dated processes and poor service delivery? Serious question, though said in jest.
Why must we have a new piece of paper stuck to our dash boards every year and for the most part encounter hours to weeks or even months of frustration trying to renew it?
Why do we simply not, at a minimum, get a unique license disk when the car is first registered in your name, transferred to you etc and then simply renew this online when required? No new piece of paper annually etc, simply an update to the system that indicates your unique license is up to date and valid. (presuming no details of changed..owner, address etc)
The only time you'd need a new license disk etc would be when the vehicle is sold, transferred to a new owner, it's gets water damaged etc.
This way, reduced waste of unnecessary paper, no need to waste time and energy queuing to pay and simplicity for all.
Or is it about having menial jobs throughout the chain that stop this kind of service simplification? Genuinely, it seems ridiculous that simple solutions to this mess are not being applied. Make it easy for people to renew and people will.
Bonkers.

The existing system already is barcoded. I am sure IF someone bothers to look, they will see that the system can easily be implemented to simply renew after payment.
All the cops have now been issued with barcoded readers to verify licences anyway.

I see WC is taking the lead (why am I surprised) to see if they can move to such a system.

 

[bwana]

Does this country enjoy being stuck with hysterically out dated processes and poor service delivery? Serious question, though said in jest.
Why must we have a new piece of paper stuck to our dash boards every year and for the most part encounter hours to weeks or even months of frustration trying to renew it?
Why do we simply not, at a minimum, get a unique license disk when the car is first registered in your name, transferred to you etc and then simply renew this online when required? No new piece of paper annually etc, simply an update to the system that indicates your unique license is up to date and valid. (presuming no details of changed..owner, address etc)
The only time you'd need a new license disk etc would be when the vehicle is sold, transferred to a new owner, it's gets water damaged etc.
This way, reduced waste of unnecessary paper, no need to waste time and energy queuing to pay and simplicity for all.
Or is it about having menial jobs throughout the chain that stop this kind of service simplification? Genuinely, it seems ridiculous that simple solutions to this mess are not being applied. Make it easy for people to renew and people will.
Bonkers.

A non paper license would involve extra infrastructure they don't have and can't afford?

 

[ld13]

Also sitting with a licence that is up for renewal in the coming months, but you wont catch me in a queue anytime soon. Also have documents that need to be certified, but there is no way I am going into a post office/police station. Everything is just hanging. Welcome to 2020/21.

Why do we simply not, at a minimum, get a unique license disk when the car is first registered in your name, transferred to you etc and then simply renew this online when required?

R9000+ Billion tender idea right there.

 

[Ecko_1]

My car disc expired 31 Dec. Went to Westville PO at 10am yesterday. Was done in 10 minutes, after standing in the wrong line for 5 minutes.

 

[ToxicBunny]

Also sitting with a licence that is up for renewal in the coming months, but you wont catch me in a queue anytime soon. Also have documents that need to be certified, but there is no way I am going into a post office/police station. Everything is just hanging. Welcome to 2020/21.



R9000+ Billion tender idea right there.

For documents that need certifying, find the nearest really small post office that doesn't do vehicle licensing or grant payments. Then you can get that stuff done in seconds at least

 

[ToxicBunny]

My car disc expired 31 Dec. Went to Westville PO at 10am yesterday. Was done in 10 minutes, after standing in the wrong line for 5 minutes.

You're lucky, Westville is hugely hit and miss. Some days its 10 minutes, other days its a full day affair.

 

[freematrix]

FNB APP worked for me for my personal and paycity for my company van. There is a convenience fee.

 

[wingnut771]

I need to change ownership, so think I'm screwed. Dbn based. Hell if I'm spending days at lic depart.

 

[Ecko_1]

You're lucky, Westville is hugely hit and miss. Some days its 10 minutes, other days its a full day affair.

Yeah. I've been checking in occasionally between Westville and hyper by the sea po for the last month as I am near these most days. Took a chance yesterday. My friend spent an hour in December at Westville po

 

[HumanShield]

Found one of those queue for you places. Lady told me that it will take longer than usual because of the backlog and all that. Took about week. The cost of convenience I suppose.

 

[grok]

I've renewed in the beninging of Dec 2019 but never collected the card due to having a temp license for 6 months which expired in lockdown. I must go check how long my international driving licence is valid for.

Haven't been a problem thus far and they must maar fine me if they want to, not planning to go to that Covid breeding ground & hive of corruption any time soon as well.

 

[Utterly Confused]

Does this country enjoy being stuck with hysterically out dated processes and poor service delivery? Serious question, though said in jest.
Why must we have a new piece of paper stuck to our dash boards every year and for the most part encounter hours to weeks or even months of frustration trying to renew it?
Why do we simply not, at a minimum, get a unique license disk when the car is first registered in your name, transferred to you etc and then simply renew this online when required? No new piece of paper annually etc, simply an update to the system that indicates your unique license is up to date and valid. (presuming no details of changed..owner, address etc)
The only time you'd need a new license disk etc would be when the vehicle is sold, transferred to a new owner, it's gets water damaged etc.
This way, reduced waste of unnecessary paper, no need to waste time and energy queuing to pay and simplicity for all.
Or is it about having menial jobs throughout the chain that stop this kind of service simplification? Genuinely, it seems ridiculous that simple solutions to this mess are not being applied. Make it easy for people to renew and people will.
Bonkers.

Answer! We live in a third world country run by morons.

 

[Rocket-Boy]

You're lucky - between the vehicle licenses, social grants, and now fishing licenses there are massive queues at our local POs here in PE. Unfortunately the PO is the only place to get it done.

There is literally no way to get into a PO in EL at the moment, there are queues at least 50 long outside each of them from early in the morning related to grants.
The PO's cant keep up and its only a matter of time before they start a strike.

 

[bwana]

FNB APP worked for me for my personal and paycity for my company van. There is a convenience fee.

Unfortunately that doesn't work in the EC.

There is literally no way to get into a PO in EL at the moment, there are queues at least 50 long outside each of them from early in the morning related to grants.
The PO's cant keep up and its only a matter of time before they start a strike.

Check - they might have different queues for different services.

 

[BTTB]

As Licence Renewal needs to be done in person, think of the mothers out there with babies.
My daughter is breastfeeding our grandson, the little guy demands food all the time.
There is simply no way my daughter can stand in a queue with a baby for any length of time. Even going out with a child requires a mother to pack up the kitchen sink with her for any eventualities.
My daughters drivers licence has expired.
COVID regulations makes none of this any easier.

 

[RedViking]

Nevermind that the municipality that runs on skeleton staff, closes for a couple of days every time 1 out of the 2 staff members gets COVID.

Edit: just got a message that the municipality is open again from next week, and for your convenience until 14:00 only.

 

[fruitbat]

Stood in the queue in august for wifes car. Took 5hrs to get done.
My car - used paycity site. Think it cost me R99 or R199 service fee. And it arrived via courier in a few days.
I do like to save cash, however that service fee was def worth it!
I recommend it if they do service your area. You just need to make sure your docs are uploaded onto the portal before starting the process.

 

[ld13]

For documents that need certifying, find the nearest really small post office that doesn't do vehicle licensing or grant payments. Then you can get that stuff done in seconds at least

Yep, that was the plan, but the closest 'small one' was closed in September already. Was a nice one, even though they never had stock of any stamps or other post office type of consumables. Remainder are all bigger ones. Also no CA's around etc. Might have to bypass the requirement by going to the institution and showing them the original and giving them a copy or something.

 

[ToxicBunny]

There is literally no way to get into a PO in EL at the moment, there are queues at least 50 long outside each of them from early in the morning related to grants.
The PO's cant keep up and its only a matter of time before they start a strike.

Queues 50 long for grants?

You have it good in EL then, all the POs in DBN that do grants have queues in the hundreds long and that wrap around blocks.

 

[Dan C]

There is literally no way to get into a PO in EL at the moment, there are queues at least 50 long outside each of them from early in the morning related to grants.
The PO's cant keep up and its only a matter of time before they start a strike.

The Beacon Bay one has different queues. But still very long.