How Much Is a PrDP for Code 14? Cost, Categories and Rules (2026)
A professional driving permit costs roughly R700 to R900 all in, and the price does not change with your licence code. A Code 14 driver pays the same as a Code 8 driver, because the fee is charged per application rather than per code. What actually changes is the category you apply for: G for goods, P for passengers, D for dangerous goods. The categories carry different minimum ages, and this is what catches people out: 18 for G, 21 for P and 25 for D. A PrDP is valid for 24 months, needs a medical certificate no older than two months, and requires a clean record for the past five years on drink-driving and, for P and D, on any offence involving violence. Allow up to 12 weeks for the permit itself.
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
If you have searched for what a PrDP costs for a Code 14, you have probably noticed that nobody answers the question you are actually asking. The answer is short, and it is not what most people expect.
A PrDP costs the same whether you hold a Code 8, a Code 10 or a Code 14. The application fee is charged per application, not per licence code. There is no premium for driving a bigger truck.
What genuinely changes is the category you apply for, and the category carries an age requirement that stops a lot of applications before they start.
What a PrDP Actually Costs in 2026
Budget R700 to R900 all in. The permit fee is only part of it, and the supporting paperwork usually costs more than the permit:
| Item | Typical cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| PrDP application fee | R100 to R324 | Varies by province and testing centre |
| Criminal record check | ~R110 | Required as part of the application |
| Medical certificate | R200 to R500 | From a doctor, cheaper at a clinic |
| ID photographs | R40 to R50 | Two, standard ID size |
| Temporary permit | R64 to R85 | Optional, but useful if a job is waiting |
| Total | ~R700 to R900 |
Treat these as indicative. The South African government does not publish a national PrDP fee. Its own service page says only to contact your local licensing office to find out the cost. The figures above are what is commonly reported by drivers and operators, not a gazetted tariff, so phone your testing centre before you budget.
This is the same pattern as the learner's licence, where the fee is set locally and the licence code makes no difference to the price.
The Three Categories, and Which One You Need
You apply for the category that matches what you will carry, not the category that matches your licence code. This is the single most common mistake.
| Category | What it covers | Minimum age |
|---|---|---|
| G (Goods) | A goods vehicle with a GVM over 3,500 kg | 18 |
| P (Passengers) | Buses, minibuses designed for 12 or more people, and light vehicles carrying passengers for reward such as taxi-cabs | 21 |
| D (Dangerous goods) | Dangerous goods vehicles, for example a fuel tanker | 25 |
A Code 14 driver hauling general freight needs G. The same driver on a fuel tanker needs D. The licence is identical; the permit is not.
The age trap. You can hold a Code 14 licence at 18 and still be seven years short of the PrDP D your employer requires. If you are aiming at tanker work, check the age rule before you spend R30,000 on the licence, not after.
What You Need to Apply
Per the official requirements:
- A valid driving licence for the same code of vehicle you are applying for
- A medical certificate confirming you are fit to drive, not older than two months
- A clean record for the past five years on driving under the influence, or driving over the statutory alcohol limit
- For categories P and D, no offence of which violence was an element
- For category D, certification by an approved training body
Because a criminal record check forms part of the application, none of this is self-declared. It is verified.
Validity: The 24-Month Trap
A PrDP is valid for 24 months and renews on its own cycle, separate from your driving licence card. Your licence runs five years. Your permit runs two.
That mismatch is what catches professional drivers out. It is entirely possible to hold a perfectly valid licence and an expired permit without noticing, and driving professionally on an expired PrDP is treated as driving without one. Set a calendar reminder against the permit date itself.
Timing
Official guidance allows up to 12 weeks for the permit to be ready. Plan around that figure if a job start date depends on it, even though many applicants get theirs sooner.
Two practical points:
- Take the temporary permit if your work depends on starting soon. It costs under R100 and covers you in the meantime.
- Collect it. Permits not collected within 120 days are destroyed, and you pay the full fee again.
Do You Even Need One?
The test is the vehicle and its use, not who owns it or whether you are employed.
- Driving a goods vehicle over 3,500 kg GVM? You need G, even if the load is your own and the business is yours.
- Carrying passengers for reward, including taxi and e-hailing work in a normal car? You need P, regardless of vehicle size.
- Carrying dangerous goods? You need D.
The widespread belief that a PrDP is only for employed drivers is wrong. For goods vehicles it is the weight of the vehicle that triggers the requirement.
If you are still working out which licence code your job needs before you get to the permit, start with the Code 14 / EC guide or what you can drive on a Code 10 / C1. When you are ready to train, you can find a driving school near you.
Current as at September 2026. Category, age, validity and disqualification rules are from the South African government's published PrDP requirements. Costs are indicative rather than gazetted, because no national PrDP fee is published. Confirm with your own testing centre before budgeting.
Frequently Asked Questions
QHow much is a PrDP for Code 14 in South Africa?
Budget roughly R700 to R900 all in. The permit fee itself is commonly reported at R100 to R324 depending on your province and testing centre, and the rest is the supporting paperwork: around R110 for the criminal record check, R200 to R500 for the medical certificate from a doctor, R40 to R50 for ID photos, and an optional temporary permit at about R64 to R85. Importantly, this is the same whether you hold a Code 8, Code 10 or Code 14 licence, because the application fee is charged per application and not per licence code.
QDoes a PrDP cost more for a higher licence code?
No. The licence code you hold does not change the price. This surprises people because heavy vehicle licences themselves cost far more to obtain than a car licence, so it feels like the permit should scale too. It does not. What changes the cost slightly is your province and whether your medical is done at a clinic or a private GP, not whether you drive a bakkie or an articulated truck.
QWhat are the PrDP categories G, P and D?
G is for goods, meaning a goods vehicle with a gross vehicle mass over 3,500 kg. P is for passengers, covering buses, minibuses designed to carry 12 or more people, and light vehicles carrying passengers for reward such as taxi-cabs and e-hailing. D is for dangerous goods, such as a fuel tanker. You apply for the category that matches what you will actually carry, not the category that matches your licence code. A Code 14 driver hauling freight needs G; a Code 14 driver on a fuel tanker needs D.
QWhat is the minimum age for a PrDP?
It depends entirely on the category, and this is where most applications fail before they start. You must be 18 or older for a PrDP G (goods), 21 or older for a PrDP P (passengers), and 25 or older for a PrDP D (dangerous goods). These ages are set nationally and there is no way around them. You can hold a Code 14 licence at 18 and still not be old enough for the D permit your employer needs.
QHow long is a PrDP valid for?
24 months from the date of issue, and it must be renewed separately from your driving licence card. The two expire on different cycles, so it is entirely possible to hold a valid licence and an expired permit without noticing. Driving professionally on an expired PrDP is treated as driving without one. Set a reminder for the permit date rather than assuming it tracks your licence renewal.
QWhat disqualifies you from getting a PrDP?
A conviction in the past five years for driving under the influence, or for driving with a blood or breath alcohol concentration over the statutory limit, will disqualify you. For category P and D permits, any offence of which violence was an element also disqualifies you. The official guidance further states you must never have had your driving licence suspended. Because a criminal record check is part of the application, this is verified rather than self-declared.
QHow long does a PrDP take to come through?
Official guidance says the permit may be ready within a maximum of 12 weeks. Many applicants get theirs sooner, but 12 weeks is the figure to plan around if a job start date depends on it. Most centres issue a temporary permit for a small fee so you can work in the meantime, which is worth taking if your employment depends on it. Collect the permit when it arrives, because cards not collected within 120 days are destroyed and you pay again.
QDo I need a PrDP if I drive a heavy vehicle for my own business?
Usually yes. The test is the vehicle and the use, not who owns it. If you are driving a goods vehicle with a gross vehicle mass over 3,500 kg, a PrDP G is required regardless of whether the load is yours or a customer's. The common misconception is that a PrDP is only for employed drivers or only for driving for reward. Goods vehicles over 3,500 kg are covered by the weight of the vehicle itself.
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