Code 8 / Code B Drivers Licence: Complete Guide, Cost & Requirements 2026
A Code B drivers licence, what most South Africans still call 'Code 8', is the standard licence for cars, bakkies and SUVs up to 3,500 kg GVM. Getting it in South Africa costs roughly R4,000–R8,000 including lessons, government fees and the K53 test, and requires a Code 1 learner's licence first. 'Code 8' is the old number; 'Code B' is what's printed on your licence card today.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Some content may be AI-assisted. Regulations and fees change regularly. Always verify details with your local DLTC or Department of Transport before making decisions. Full disclaimer
A Code B drivers licence, the licence nearly every South African driver holds, is what most people still call "Code 8". It's the standard licence for cars, bakkies and SUVs. If you're booking your first driving lessons, trying to work out whether "Code 8" and "Code B" are the same thing, or checking exactly what you're allowed to drive, this is the complete guide.
Is Code 8 the Same as Code B?
In everyday use, yes, but the detail is worth getting right, because your licence card and older documents can say different things.
- Old name: Code 8 (from the numbered system used before 1998)
- Current name: Code B (the letter code printed on your card today)
- Vehicle class: Light motor vehicles with a GVM of 3,500 kg or less
The one nuance: when South Africa switched from numbers to letters in 1998, the old "Code 08" specifically referred to a light vehicle towing a heavy trailer, which became Code EB. The plain light-vehicle licence became Code B. In real life almost nobody uses "Code 8" that precisely. When a South African says "I've got my Code 8", they mean the ordinary Code B car licence. If you actually need to tow a trailer over 750 kg, that's Code EB, covered lower down.
What Can You Drive with a Code 8 / Code B Licence?
A Code B licence covers any motor vehicle with a GVM of 3,500 kg or less. In practice that's almost everything on South African roads that isn't a truck or motorcycle:
- Cars: every hatchback, sedan and SUV
- Bakkies: Hilux, Ranger, D-Max and every other popular single- and double-cab (all under 3,500 kg GVM)
- Vans and minibuses: most panel vans and minibuses, as long as they stay under the 3,500 kg limit
- A light trailer: up to 750 kg GVM behind your vehicle
The only everyday vehicles that fall outside Code B are heavy commercial vans like the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 5t and VW Crafter 50, which exceed 3,500 kg. For the exhaustive breakdown with real GVM figures for every model, see the full Code 8 vehicles list.
Thinking about a bakkie or minibus taxi specifically? Whether you can drive one privately versus commercially comes down to a Professional Driving Permit (PrDP), not your licence code. The details are in can I drive a bakkie or taxi with Code 8.
What You Cannot Drive with Code B
Code B stops at 3,500 kg GVM. Beyond that you need a heavier licence:
- Vehicles over 3,500 kg (medium trucks, small buses): you need Code C1 (Code 10)
- A trailer over 750 kg: you need Code EB
- Motorcycles: you need Code A or A1
- Articulated and heavy trucks: you need Code EC1 or Code EC (Code 14)
Code 8 / Code B Cost in South Africa (2026)
Here's a realistic breakdown to get a Code B licence in 2026. Costs vary by province and by how many lessons you need.
Government Fees
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Learner's licence (Code 1) test | ~R110 |
| Learner's licence issue | ~R55 |
| Code B driving test booking | ~R170–R325 |
| Driving licence card issue | ~R250 |
| Total government fees | ~R400–R660 |
Driving School Costs
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Lesson hourly rate | R250 – R400 / hour |
| 10-lesson package | R2,500 – R3,500 |
| Test-day vehicle hire | R400 – R800 |
Total Estimated Cost
R4,000 – R8,000 depending on lessons needed, manual vs automatic, and your province.
Manual lessons are cheaper per hour than automatic, but automatic restricts your licence to automatic vehicles only. For a full price breakdown by province and package, see how much driving lessons cost in South Africa.
How to Get a Code B Licence: Step-by-Step
Step 1: Get a Learner's Licence (Code 1)
You need a valid Code 1 learner's licence before you can take driving lessons on public roads or book your Code B test. You can apply from age 17, and the test covers road signs, rules of the road and vehicle controls.
Step 2: Find a Driving School
Book lessons with a registered instructor. Find a driving school near you that offers Code 8 (Code B) car lessons in manual or automatic.
Step 3: Take Driving Lessons
Most learners need 10–15 lessons before they're test-ready. You'll learn the K53 pre-trip and in-car inspections, controlled clutch and gear work (if manual), and the yard manoeuvres.
Step 4: Pass the K53 Yard Test
The Code B yard test includes the pre-trip inspection, an incline (slope) start without rolling back, alley docking, a three-point turn, and parallel parking, all to K53 standard.
Step 5: Pass the Road Test
The examiner takes you onto public roads to assess your observation, following distance, gear changes and overall control in real traffic.
Step 6: Receive Your Code B Licence Card
Pass and you'll get a temporary licence immediately, with the card following in 4–6 weeks. The card is valid for 5 years, then renewed; the licence code itself doesn't expire, only the card.
Code B vs EB: Do You Need to Tow?
Code B lets you tow a light trailer up to 750 kg. The moment your trailer's GVM goes over 750 kg (a caravan, boat trailer or horsebox), you need Code EB, which is a separate learner's and driving test on top of your Code B. If towing is on your radar, read how to get an EB licence in South Africa before you buy the trailer.
Should You Upgrade Beyond Code B?
Code B is all most drivers ever need. You'd move up if you want to:
- Tow something heavy → Code EB
- Drive a medium truck or small bus for work → Code C1 (Code 10)
- Drive articulated / long-haul trucks → Code EC (Code 14)
For most people, though, a Code B licence covers the car, the bakkie and the family SUV, and that's the whole job.
Related Guides
- Code 8 Vehicles List: Every car, SUV and bakkie you can drive with Code B, with real GVM figures
- Old vs New Driving Licence Codes: The full conversion table: is Code 8 really Code B?
- How Much Do Driving Lessons Cost?: 2026 pricing by province and package
Find a Driving School Near You
Ready to get your Code 8 (Code B) licence? Find a registered driving school offering car lessons in manual or automatic.
Frequently Asked Questions
QIs Code 8 the same as Code B?
In everyday use, yes. 'Code 8' is the old numbered code most South Africans still use for the standard car licence, and 'Code B' is the current letter code printed on your licence card. Strictly, the 1998 conversion mapped old Code 08 (light vehicle with a heavy trailer) to Code EB, and the plain light-vehicle licence to Code B, but almost everyone saying 'Code 8' today means the ordinary Code B car licence. If you need to tow a trailer over 750 kg, you want Code EB.
QWhat is a Code B drivers licence?
A Code B drivers licence is the standard South African licence for driving light motor vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) of 3,500 kg or less. It covers cars, hatchbacks, sedans, SUVs, bakkies and most panel vans and minibuses. It also lets you tow a trailer up to 750 kg. It is the licence the vast majority of drivers hold and the one you get after passing the standard K53 driving test in a car.
QWhat vehicles can I drive with a Code 8 (Code B) licence?
A Code B (Code 8) licence covers any motor vehicle with a GVM of 3,500 kg or less: every common sedan, hatchback, SUV and bakkie (Hilux, Ranger, D-Max), plus most panel vans and minibuses. You can also tow a light trailer up to 750 kg. The only everyday vehicles that fall outside Code B are heavy commercial vans like the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 5t and VW Crafter 50, which exceed 3,500 kg GVM.
QHow much does a Code 8 / Code B drivers licence cost in South Africa?
The total cost to get a Code B licence in South Africa in 2026 is roughly R4,000 to R8,000. This covers government fees (about R400–R660 for the learner's test, driving test booking and card), a driving lesson package (R2,500–R3,500 for 10 lessons at R250–R400 per hour) and test-day vehicle hire (R400–R800). Manual lessons are cheaper than automatic, and the total depends on your province and how many lessons you need.
QWhat is the minimum age for a Code B licence in South Africa?
The minimum age for a Code B drivers licence is 18 years old. You must first hold a valid Code 1 learner's licence, which you can obtain from age 17. There is no requirement to hold any other licence first; Code B is where most drivers start.
QWhat is the difference between Code B and Code EB?
Code B lets you drive a light vehicle (up to 3,500 kg GVM) and tow a trailer up to 750 kg. Code EB is the same light vehicle but allows you to tow a heavier trailer, over 750 kg, such as a caravan, boat trailer or horsebox. If you only drive a car or bakkie, Code B is all you need. If you tow something heavy, you need to upgrade to Code EB with a separate test.
QDo I need a Code B licence before I can get Code 10 or Code 14?
No, it is not a legal requirement; you can technically go straight to a heavy-vehicle licence from age 18. In practice almost everyone gets Code B first, because it teaches the road skills the heavier tests build on and because a heavy learner's licence is a separate application. Most people hold Code B for a while before upgrading to Code C1 (Code 10) or Code EC (Code 14).
QIs Code 8 the same as EB?
This is the most common point of confusion. Historically the old numbered 'Code 08' was the light-vehicle-plus-heavy-trailer class, which converted to Code EB in 1998. But in everyday South African speech, 'Code 8' just means the standard car licence, which today is issued as Code B (without a heavy trailer). So if someone says 'I have a Code 8', they almost always mean a plain Code B car licence, not the EB trailer licence.
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