Here's howto: Renew your vehicle's license disc in Cape Town

A year has passed and again  it's time to renew my car's license disc.
I got the reminder by snail mail a few weeks ago (from the City of Cape Town's Road Traffic Management Corporation) and I don't have a cheque book, so I'd rather do an EFT (bank transfer).


Step 1: [Update: see online facility at the bottom of this article] Call for a unique, reference number that changes annually;  There's a telephone number on the reminder slip that I called: 0860 103089 (which routes to the same place as 021 400 4900).  It's an automated voice response system, so enter 1 (for English), then 4 (for motor vehicle queries), then 1 (for motor vehicle queries), then wait for an agent to answer.
(I waited about 8 minutes for the call to be answered.)


Step 2: Get the reference number (note: you need to call every year since this number changes each year)


Step 3: Get their banking details: 

• City of Cape Town
• ABSA Bank
• Account number: 4056584569
• Current/cheque account
• Branch code: 632005

Step 4: Confirm your postal address - this is where they post the license disc - so no point in giving a false address in the hope of dodging those speeding fines ;)


Step 5: Do the EFT from your friendly bank's Internet Banking web site - remember to enter the reference number.


Step 6: Wait for the license disc to arrive in the post after 3 to 4 business days (sometimes shorter).




If you do want to pay by cheque: You can also renew your licence by post.  Submit your vehicle's registration number and/or a copy of the registeration papers along with a cheque made out to the City of Cape Town.

Post the cheque to:

• City of Cape Town
• MVR Department
• PO Box 4552
• Cape Town
• 8000

If you want to pay by credit card then try this online service that charges an extra R60 handling fee excl. postage: https://www.paycity.co.za/contentpage.aspx?name=Help%20-%20Paycity%20Summary%20Fee%20Structure



Link to Cape Gateway web site: http://www.capegateway.gov.za/eng/directories/services/11598/16462

Update on Wed28July2010:
City launches new motor vehicle registration and licensing website and an online vehicle licence payment facility:  The online vehicle license payment facility allows residents to pay their vehicle licence fees by doing an electronic funds transfer (EFT) from their banking website. 


The payment procedure is easy to follow, and requires that the resident/business completes an online form on www.capetown.gov.za/vehiclelicensing to confirm their details and obtain the City’s banking details and a deposit reference number.  Once they have this, they can then complete an EFT from their banking website. 


Residents who don’t want to wait for this information, which usually takes two working days to send, can obtain it from the City’s Call Centre on 0860 103 089. 


Once the EFT is received, the licence will be posted within five working days.