No renewal notice in the post?
South African Post Office delays mean many motorists never receive their MVL2 renewal notice. Don't worry — you can still renew. Here's exactly what to do.
First — when does your licence actually expire?
The renewal notice is a reminder, not the licence itself. Your renewal date is on the disc on your windscreen and on your eNaTIS record. If you have the disc, you already have what you need — the date is printed on it. The 21-day grace period after expiry still applies whether you received a notice or not.
The solution — Form MVL1 (ALV)
If your renewal notice (MVL2) never arrived, you renew using Form MVL1, also known as the ALV (Application for Licensing of a Motor Vehicle). It does the same job as the renewal notice — it's the official application form for renewing your licence.
Download Form MVL1 (ALV) PDF →
Step-by-step
- Download Form MVL1 using the button above and print it. Pick up a copy at any post office or DLTC counter if you can't print.
- Fill it in by hand. You'll need your vehicle's registration number, vehicle identification number (VIN), tare weight, and the registration certificate (RC1) number. All of these are on your current disc or RC1.
- Bring it to a participating post office or DLTC together with:
- Your South African ID (or passport plus permit)
- Proof of residence not older than three months
- Your current licence disc (so the clerk can confirm details)
- Payment — most branches accept card; a few smaller ones may be cash-only
- Pay the licence fee. The fee depends on your province and the tare weight of your vehicle — see our fees page for the current schedule.
- You receive your new disc on the spot.
Why didn't the notice arrive?
- Address out of date — if you've moved and not submitted Form NCP (Notification of Change of Particulars), notices go to your old address.
- Post Office delays — South African Post Office delivery times have lengthened in recent years; notices sometimes arrive after the expiry date or not at all.
- System lookup issue — occasionally eNaTIS misses sending a notice. The renewal is still due.
Update your address while you're there
If your address has changed, also download Form NCP (Notification of Change of Particulars) from our forms library and submit it at the same counter.
The faster way — WhatsApp
Our partner ChatBack renews vehicle licences entirely over WhatsApp — no driving to a branch, no form to print. Learn more about WhatsApp renewals →