Motorists and aspiring drivers across Cape Town are facing widely varying delays when booking learner’s and driver’s licence tests, according to the City’s latest published waiting-time figures.
The data, released on Monday, shows that the time applicants wait for an available test slot depends heavily on the testing centre they choose, with some facilities offering appointments within days while others have backlogs stretching for several months.
Light motor vehicle tests range from one day to more than three months
Applicants seeking a standard light motor vehicle licence currently have the shortest waits at Lingelethu West and Joe Gqabi, where the listed waiting time is just one day.
The situation is considerably different at New Ottery, which records the longest delay at 94 days. Parow follows with a 72-day wait, while Goodwood applicants are currently facing a 63-day delay.
Across the 18 listed testing centres, the average waiting period for a light motor vehicle test stands at 31 days.
Full waiting times for driver’s licence tests
The City’s figures show the following waiting periods for light motor vehicle licence tests:
| Traffic centre | Waiting time |
|---|---|
| Atlantis | 58 days |
| Brackenfell | 32 days |
| Durbanville | 23 days |
| Eastridge | 7 days |
| Elsies River | 35 days |
| Fish Hoek | 12 days |
| Goodwood | 63 days |
| Gordon’s Bay | 30 days |
| Hillstar | 15 days |
| Kuils River | 9 days |
| Lingelethu West | 1 day |
| Joe Gqabi | 1 day |
| New Ottery | 94 days |
| Bellrail | 26 days |
| Gallows Hill | 42 days |
| Milnerton | 8 days |
| Parow | 72 days |
| Somerset West | 21 days |
The combined total of the listed waiting times is 549 days, producing an average of 31 days.
City says backlogs can be difficult to avoid
The City of Cape Town said delays at testing centres can sometimes be linked to applicants failing to attend scheduled appointments.
“Sometimes we cannot prevent a backlog, often due to people not arriving to take their tests,” the City said.
The explanation comes as waiting periods remain uneven across the metropolitan area, meaning applicants may encounter substantially different appointment availability depending on the centre they use.
Learner’s licence applicants also face lengthy delays
The disparity is also evident among people waiting to write their learner’s licence tests.
Kuils River currently has the longest listed waiting period, at 110 days. Milnerton has the second-longest delay, with applicants waiting an estimated 72 days.
At the opposite end of the scale, New Ottery has a waiting time of just four days.
The average waiting period for a learner’s licence test across the listed centres is 44 days.
Learner’s licence waiting times by centre
The latest figures for learner’s licence tests are:
| Traffic centre | Waiting time |
|---|---|
| Atlantis | 28 days |
| Brackenfell | 49 days |
| Durbanville | 44 days |
| Eastridge | 77 days |
| Elsies River | 25 days |
| Fish Hoek | 29 days |
| Goodwood | 39 days |
| Gordon’s Bay | 30 days |
| Hillstar | 28 days |
| Kuils River | 110 days |
| Lingelethu West | 60 days |
| Joe Gqabi | 66 days |
| New Ottery | 4 days |
| Bellrail | 25 days |
| Gallows Hill | 28 days |
| Milnerton | 72 days |
| Parow | 45 days |
| Somerset West | 29 days |
The total waiting time across the listed centres is 788 days, resulting in an average of 44 days.
Applicants may face months of waiting depending on their centre
The figures highlight the substantial differences in appointment availability across Cape Town’s testing network.
While some applicants can secure a test within a matter of days, others may have to wait more than three months, particularly for certain learner’s or light motor vehicle licence tests.
For anyone planning to apply for a licence, checking the latest waiting times before selecting a testing centre could therefore make a significant difference to how soon they are able to take their test.
