The City of Cape Town says it will roll out its Computerised Learner’s Licence Testing system across all 18 Driving Licence Testing Centres from next week.

The move marks the final phase of a project that has been rolling out over time. Installation teams are finishing off work at the last two sites, Milnerton and Eastridge, as the City prepares to fully shift away from paper-based tests.

What Applicants can Expect on the Day

Instead of writing from a booklet and waiting for results, candidates will complete a touch-screen test with randomly generated questions. The system calculates results immediately, which means no long delays just to find out if you passed.

The City says the rollout is being done through its testing centres on behalf of the Road Traffic Management Corporation and the Western Cape Government.

Why the City Says This Matters

Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security JP Smith says the new platform is designed to improve speed and integrity. He says it should cut waiting periods linked to manual tests, reduce opportunities for cheating, and prevent fixed answer sheets from being leaked by drawing from a randomised database of questions.

The system also includes fingerprint verification, standardised question pools, all 11 official languages, support for hearing-impaired applicants, and backup functionality to keep things running during power outages.

Bookings Stay the Same, and There’s Help to Prep

Even with the tech upgrade, booking procedures are not changing. Applicants can still book at any of the City’s testing centres using the usual channels. There’s also a free downloadable learner driver manual covering road signs, vehicle controls, and rules of the road.