K53 learner’s licence: free official study material
Everything you need to pass the new computerised learner’s licence test: the Department of Transport’s free Learner Driver Manual (updated October 2026), how the test works now, the licence codes and how to book. No sign-up, no paid “memos”.
Practise for the test
Download the official Learner Driver Manual
The Department of Transport compiled this three-part manual for the learner’s licence test, and the NaTIS website gives it away free. The test is set from the same three topics, so these are the documents to study.
- Section 1: Rules of the RoadThe legal side of driving: how to apply for the test, who may not hold a licence, learner’s licence codes, speed limits, following distances, overtaking, right of way, lights, loads, towing and what to do after a crash.Download PDF
- Section 2: Road Traffic SignsEvery sign group you are tested on: regulatory signs (control, command, prohibition, reservation, selective restriction, de-restriction), warning signs, guidance and information signs, road markings and traffic signals, with what each one means.Download PDF
- Section 3: Vehicle ControlsLabelled diagrams of the controls of a motorcycle, a light motor vehicle and a heavy vehicle (manual and automatic), and which controls you use together for actions such as changing gear, slowing down and stopping in an emergency.Download PDF
Files open from natis.gov.za, the National Traffic Information System. The manual belongs to the Department of Transport; SchoolsInfo doesn’t host or sell it.
How the learner’s test works now
Testing centres across South Africa are replacing the old paper booklet with the computerised learner’s licence test. At centres with the new system you confirm your identity with your fingerprint, then answer on a touch screen. Every candidate gets a different random set of questions, marked by the computer.
- Three sections: rules of the road, road signs, signals and markings, and vehicle controls, matching the three parts of the manual.
- 64 random questions: reports quoting the RTMC say each candidate gets 64 questions from a bank of about 1,200, so old “test papers and memos” won’t cover what you see.
- Every section counts: you must reach the pass mark in each of the three sections (see the table below).
- Harder to pass: the RTMC reports the national pass rate fell from 68% to 40% after the switch, and the Western Cape reported about 17% in its first months.
A two-week study plan
- Days 1–4: Road Traffic Signs. Learn the six sign groups by shape and colour first, then the signs inside each group.
- Days 5–9: Rules of the Road. Focus on speed limits, right of way, overtaking, lights, following distance and stopping rules.
- Days 10–11: Vehicle Controls. Learn every labelled control for your vehicle type and which controls you use together.
- Days 12–14: Test yourself on the parts you got wrong, then book the test.
The test format: 64 questions, three pass marks
| Section | Questions | Pass mark | You need |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rules of the Road | 28 | 22 correct | 79% |
| Road Signs, Markings and Signals | 28 | 23 correct | 82% |
| Vehicle Controls | 8 | 6 correct | 75% |
| Total | 64 | Pass every section | |
Each section is marked on its own, so you can fail the test with a good total if one section falls short. Vehicle controls has only 8 questions: three wrong answers there fail the test. The full 64-question mock test marks you the same way.
The split and pass marks are as listed in AutoTrader’s K53 learner’s guide; the 64-question total matches the RTMC figures reported in 2026. Your testing centre confirms the format before you start.
Learner’s licence codes
| Code | Vehicles | Minimum age | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Code 1 | Motorcycles | 16 | Under 18, only motorcycles up to 125 cm³. No passengers on a learner’s licence. |
| Code 2 | Light motor vehicles (cars and bakkies) | 17 | Vehicles up to 3,500 kg, including a trailer, while supervised by a licensed driver. |
| Code 3 | Light and heavy motor vehicles | 18 | Any motor vehicle except motorcycles and tricycles, while supervised by a licensed driver. |
A learner’s licence is valid for 24 months from the day you pass. With a code 2 or 3 learner’s licence you may only drive with a licensed driver for that vehicle class next to you.
How to apply and book
- Gather your ID document, two identical ID photos, proof of address and the fee.
- Book the test at your nearest driving licence testing centre (DLTC). In some provinces, including Gauteng, you can book online on NaTIS Online.
- On the day, complete form LL1, do the eye test, and write the computerised test.
- If you pass, pay the licence fee and receive your learner’s licence. Fees differ by province; the Western Cape charges R68 for the test and R33 for the licence.
More free guides
AutoTrader offers free K53 guides written in plainer language. They are a useful second explanation, but the official manual above is what the test follows.
- Car and motorcycle learner’s manualLearner’s licence theory for cars and bikes, written in plain language.Get it on AutoTrader
- Car driver’s manualFor later: preparing for the K53 driving test for a car licence.Get it on AutoTrader
- Motorcycle driver’s manualFor later: the K53 motorcycle driving test.Get it on AutoTrader
Frequently asked questions
Where can I download the official K53 learner’s manual for free?
The Department of Transport’s SA Learner Driver Manual is free on the NaTIS website (natis.gov.za, under Downloads, Learner Driver Manual). It comes in three PDFs: Rules of the Road, Road Traffic Signs and Vehicle Controls. The links on this page go straight to them.
How does the new computerised learner’s licence test work?
At centres with the new system you write the test on a touch-screen terminal, after a fingerprint check. The questions are picked at random for every candidate and marked automatically, so nobody can know the paper in advance. The questions cover the same three parts as the manual: rules of the road, road signs and markings, and vehicle controls.
How many questions are in the learner’s licence test?
64 questions in three sections: 28 on rules of the road (you need 22 right), 28 on road signs, signals and markings (23 right) and 8 on vehicle controls (6 right). You must pass every section; a strong total doesn’t make up for a failed section. Reports quoting the RTMC say the questions are drawn at random from a bank of about 1,200. Your testing centre confirms the details before you start.
Why are so many people failing the learner’s test?
The RTMC says the national pass rate dropped from 68% to 40% after testing moved to computers, because answers can no longer be leaked or bought. With random questions, memorising old test papers doesn’t work: you need to know the whole manual.
How old do I have to be to get a learner’s licence?
At least 16 for a code 1 motorcycle learner’s licence (up to 125 cm³ until you turn 18), 17 for code 2 (cars and bakkies) and 18 for code 3 (heavy vehicles).
How long is a learner’s licence valid?
Two years (24 months) from the day you pass the test. You must pass the driving test before it expires, or write the learner’s test again.
What do I need to apply?
Your ID document, two identical ID photos, the test fee and, at many centres, proof of address. You fill in form LL1 at the driving licence testing centre (DLTC) and do an eye test there. Fees differ by province; in the Western Cape the test is R68 and the licence R33 after you pass.
Also on SchoolsInfo
Sources
- SA Learner Driver Manual (Department of Transport) on NaTIS
- NaTIS online bookings
- RTMC on the computerised test and pass rates (SAnews, 7 May 2026)
- Western Cape Mobility: computerised learner’s licence testing
- Western Cape Mobility: learner’s licence requirements and fees
- AutoTrader K53 help guides (test format and pass marks)
Checked on 2026-10-24. Rules, fees and test details can change; confirm with your testing centre.