Who doesn’t like the freedom of exploring a new place in their own vehicle? If you are above 18 and possess a valid South African driving licence, this is possible anywhere in South Africa. But what if you want to be behind the wheel in a European country? Then as a South African, you may be curious to know Which European Countries Accept The South African Driver’s Licence?

Each European country that accepts the South African driver’s licence has their own set of rules and regulations on how to convert your South African driver’s licence to their country’s driver’s licence, but the standard way of doing it is through possession of your South African driver’s licence and South African driver’s licence confirmation letter. Check out all the European countries which accept the South African driver’s licence and then set up your itinerary and rental, look up the basic rules, signs and driving culture in the country, and you’re good to head out with your South African driving licence.

European countries that accept the South African driver’s licence

• Russia

You can use your SA driver’s licence for up to six months, which should be accompanied by an International Driver’s Permit translation. After six months you must convert your SA driver’s licence to a Russian Driver’s licence. Because South Africa is part of the 1968 Vienna Convention, you only have to take a theory test to convert it to a Russian driver’s licence. You should bare in mind the test is only offered in Russian.

• Germany

Your SA driver’s licence is valid for six months in Germany. After six months you’ll have to exchange your SA driver’s licence for a German driver’s licence. This is done by obtaining a driver’s licence confirmation letter from the South African Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC). Which attests that your South African driver’s licence is valid, with this letter, you can then convert your SA driver’s licence with a German one.

• United Kingdom

Your South African driver’s licence is valid for 12 months in the United Kingdom. After 12 months you’ll have to convert your SA driver’s licence into a UK one. You should have your driver’s licence confirmation letter from the South African Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) and from there you’ll have to apply in the UK using the driver’s licence confirmation letter, together with your driver’s licence and fill their D1 application form, in order to convert your SA driver’s licence into a UK one. No additional tests will be taken.

• France

Your South African driver’s licence is valid for 12 months in France. Once you obtain permanent residency, you’ll then have to exchange your SA driver’s licence for a French driver’s licence. No test is required, but you’ll need your driver’s licence confirmation letter from South Africa in order to apply for an exchange.

• Poland

The South African driver’s licence is valid for 6 months in Poland. After that it must be exchanged with a Poland driver’s licence. You’ll need your driver’s licence confirmation letter in order for your driver’s licence to be exchanged.

• Czechia

SA driver’s licence is only valid for 6 months in Czchia. After six months you’ll need to convert to a Czech Republic’s driver’s licence. There is no need to write a driver’s licence test for this. You’ll need your driver’s licence confirmation letter obtained in South Africa and apply to convert your SA driver’s licence to a Czchian one.

• Hungary

South Africa is part of the 1967 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic together with Hungary. So according to Hungary regulations you need to have your South African driver’s licence notarised in order to use it in Hungary.

• Greece

Your South African driver’s licence is valid for six months in Greece. After that, you need to convert it to Greece’s driver’s licence using your driver’s licence confirmation letter which you obtained at the South African Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC).

• Sweden

Your South African driver’s licence is valid for use in Sweden until it expires, but remember you should renew it in Sweden, before it expires it’ll then be replaced by a Swedish driver’s licence.

• Portugal

Your South African driver’s licence is valid for six months in Portugal. After that, you need to convert it to Portugal’s driver’s licence using your driver’s licence confirmation letter which you obtained from the South African Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC).

• Bulgaria

Your South African Driver’s licence is valid for a certain period and then exchanged for a Bulgarian driver’s licence, through the issuance of a driver’s licence confirmation letter. Once the driver’s licences are exchanged, your South African driver’s licence is returned to South Africa.

• Finland

Both Finland and South Africa are part of the Vienna Road Traffic Convention, so a South African Driver’s licence is valid in Finland for 2 years. After that, you would need to convert it to Finland’s driver’s licence but are limited to what type of driver’s licence you can convert it to. South Africans can convert it to A1, A2 or a B-class driving licence without having to take any test.

• Slovakia

You need to change your South African driver’s licence to a Slovakian driver’s licence once you are in Slovakia. You’ll have to be in hold of a driver’s licence confirmation letter, which you need to obtain in South Africa, to exchange the licence.

• Croatia

Your South African driver’s licence can be used for at least a year in Croatia, but after that, you will have to replace it with a Croatian one. You’ll need your South African driver’s licence, your driver’s licence confirmation letter, proof of identity, proof of residence in Croatia, a certified translation of your driver’s licence and, a medical certificate attesting that you are healthy to drive (not older than 6 months), 35 by 45 photo and proof of payment.

• Estonia

You can use your South African driver’s licence in Estonia for 185 days. After that, you must exchange your South African driver’s licence for an Estonian one. This is done by using your South African driver’s licence and your driver’s licence confirmation letter which can be obtained at the South African Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC). You’ll only need to re-write a theory test and a practical driver’s licence test if your South African driver’s licence expired before you gained permanent residency.

• Montenegro

You can use your South African driver’s licence for at least 6 months after that you would have to exchange it for a Montenegro driver’s licence. You can apply for an exchange by using your South African driver’s licence, and your driver’s licence confirmation letter which should be issued in South Africa, they also want a medical certificate, from the last 6 months and proof of payment. There is no need to take either a theory or practical driver’s licence test. 

• Luxembourg

You can use your South African driver’s licence for at least 3 months in Luxembourg. After that, you’ll have to exchange it for a Luxembourg one. The following documents are going to be needed in order to exchange and apply for a Luxembourg driver’s licence: a medical certificate not more than three months old, criminal record clearance, a certified copy of your South African driver’s licence, proof of residency, passport picture, filled driver’s licence form, tax stamp from driver’s licence office and your driver’s licence confirmation letter.

• Andorra

Andorra allows you to use Your South African driver’s licence for at least six months. After that, you must exchange it for an Adorrian one. You’ll need your South African driver’s licence confirmation letter and a certificate from South Africa detailing the different categories of cars that your licence allows you to drive.

• Monaco

Monaco is part of the Vienna Convention on road traffic, together with South Africa. Meaning that they allow South African driver’s licence to be used, but it must be exchanged with a Monaco driver’s licence after a year. There’s no need for you to take a theory or practical test, you just need your driver’s licence confirmation letter.

• San Marino

You can drive with a South African driver’s licence accompanied by your international driver’s licence at San Marino. But after three months you have to exchange it for a San Marino driver’s licence, using your driver’s licence confirmation letter.

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Global Apostille is a Pretoria-based legalisation agency that can assist you in applying for and obtaining a Letter of Confirmation for your Driving Licence within 5 working days so that it can be legally used abroad. Our Express Driving Licence Confirmation Letter service includes:

• Checking your application documents for the Driving Licence Confirmation Letter to ensure they have been properly completed as required.
• Submission of application documents to the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC).
• Fast-track your application & receipt of your Driving Licence Confirmation Letter.
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For more information on our express Driving Licence Confirmation Letter service contact us today at 012 348 3134, 081 347 6060. You can also email us at info@apostillelegalisation.co.za or visit our website at www.apostillelegalisation.co.za.

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Which European countries accept the South African driver's licence

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The article names all the European countries that accept the South African driver's licence and also details how you can convert your South African driver's licence to a driver's licence of the European country you'll be moving to.

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Admin

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Global Apostille Lagalisation

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