Cape Town motorists will need to leave their cash at home when visiting three selected driving licence testing centres from October, as the City begins testing a cashless payment system.
The pilot will start on 1 October 2026 at the Brackenfell, Fish Hoek and Strand Driving Licence Testing Centres (DLTCs). The other driving licence testing centres across Cape Town will continue accepting both cash and card payments for now.
The change is part of the City of Cape Town’s broader move towards digital and cashless municipal services. For motorists, however, the practical difference is simple: if you are using one of the three pilot centres, you will need to make sure you have an electronic payment method available when you arrive.
Cape Town currently has 18 driving licence testing centres, which handle thousands of transactions each month. These include learner’s licence applications, driving licence applications, licence renewals and replacements, traffic fine payments and applications for Professional Driving Permits (PrDPs).
From 1 October 2026, the cashless pilot will apply to:
- Brackenfell DLTC
- Fish Hoek DLTC
- Strand DLTC
The remaining 15 Cape Town driving licence testing centres will continue to accept cash and card payments while the pilot is being tested.
The City says the trial will help determine whether cashless payments can eventually be introduced at other driving licence testing centres in the metro.
For residents, this is worth knowing before making the trip. Nobody wants to spend time travelling to a traffic department, waiting in a queue and then discover that the payment method they planned to use is not accepted.
According to the City, moving away from cash is intended to improve customer service and make transactions more efficient. Officials have also pointed to reduced cash-handling risks, lower cash collection costs and less administrative work involved in reconciling cash payments.
The cashless driving licence centre pilot follows similar changes at other City facilities. Cape Town has already been testing cashless payments at customer interaction centres and motor vehicle registration and licensing offices.
This does not mean motorists will suddenly be able to complete every part of the driving licence process online. The usual requirements for different licence applications still apply.
If you have a driving licence appointment, learner’s licence test, licence renewal or other transaction at Brackenfell, Fish Hoek or Strand from October, check the payment requirements before leaving home.
It is also important to have the correct documents and appointment information with you. The Western Cape Government advises motorists to verify their personal and address details during driving licence and motor vehicle transactions.
For learner’s licence applicants, for example, the Western Cape Government says applicants must make an appointment, submit the required documents and pay the applicable fee. Learner’s licence testing is now conducted through the Computerised Learner’s Licence Testing system.
So, while the move to cashless payments may sound like a small change, it is another step in the growing digitalisation of driving and vehicle licensing services.
For Cape Town motorists, the easiest rule to remember is: if your appointment is at Brackenfell, Fish Hoek or Strand from 1 October, do not arrive expecting to pay with cash.
The city will use the results of the pilot to assess whether cashless payments should eventually be introduced at more driving licence testing centres across Cape Town.
