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Code 8 vs Code 10 vs Code 14: which licence do you need?

South Africans still use the old code numbers, the cards print the new letters, and the DLTC forms use both. Here's the translation table and what each code actually lets you drive.

The codes, translated

  • Code 8 (B) — light motor vehicles up to 3 500 kg GVM: normal cars and bakkies, trailer up to 750 kg. EB covers heavier trailers. This is the licence most people mean by "a driver's licence". Learner's from age 17.
  • Code 10 (C1) — goods vehicles between 3 500 and 16 000 kg GVM: delivery trucks, larger minibuses and small rigid trucks. Learner's from age 18. A Code 10 licence also covers what Code 8 covers.
  • Code 14 (EC) — articulated and combination vehicles above 16 000 kg: truck-tractors with semi-trailers, the big rigs. Learner's from age 18. Professional drivers usually also need a PrDP (professional driving permit).

Motorcycles are separate

Motorcycle licences don't stack with car codes — a Code 8 does not let you ride. Code A1 covers motorcycles up to 125 cc (learner's from age 16); Code A covers anything bigger (from 18, or 17 for a licence limited to certain power classes — confirm current rules with your DLTC). Motorcycle learners may not carry any passenger.

Which learner's licence to book

The learner's test itself comes in three classes: Code 1 for motorcycles, Code 2 for light vehicles up to 3 500 kg (the future Code 8 driver), and Code 3 for heavy vehicles (the future Code 10/14 driver). Book the learner class that matches the driving licence you're working toward — the theory overlaps heavily, but the vehicle-controls questions differ by class.

Studying for a specific code

Most study apps only cover cars. K53 Mentor has dedicated question banks, flashcards and scenarios for motorcycle (A1/A) and heavy-vehicle (Code 10/14) learners — air brakes, tail swing, lane positioning, helmet law and the rest — served automatically when you pick your code during onboarding.