If you've seen a job ad asking for a "Code 14 driver" or a friend mention they're getting their "Code 10," it can be confusing when your own learner's licence application only talks about vehicle categories. Here's what those numbers actually refer to, and how to decide which one you need.
Code 8 — the licence almost everyone needs first
Code 8 refers to a standard light motor vehicle licence — covering cars, bakkies, and light vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) of up to 3,500kg. This is the licence that covers a normal sedan, hatchback, or small bakkie, and it's the starting point for the vast majority of South African drivers. You can apply for a learner's licence for Code 8 from age 17.
Unless your job specifically involves driving heavy vehicles, Code 8 is almost certainly the licence you need — and it's the one this site's K53 practice tests are built around.
Code 10 — for heavier vehicles
Code 10 covers heavy motor vehicles with a GVM between 3,500kg and 16,000kg — think delivery trucks, larger panel vans, and buses with more than a handful of seats. The minimum age to apply for a Code 10 learner's licence is 18, a year later than Code 8. Heavy-vehicle training generally also assumes you're already a confident driver of light vehicles first.
Code 14 — extra-heavy and articulated vehicles
Code 14 is the category for extra-heavy vehicles — GVM over 16,000kg — and articulated combinations like a truck-and-trailer or a horse-and-trailer rig. This is the licence behind most long-haul trucking jobs. Like Code 10, the minimum age is 18.
What about a PrDP?
A Professional Driving Permit (PrDP) is a separate requirement layered on top of your licence, not a replacement for one. You need a PrDP if you drive for reward — for example carrying paying passengers, transporting goods in a vehicle over a certain GVM, or hauling dangerous goods. It involves its own application, a medical certificate, and periodic renewal. If you're planning to drive professionally rather than just for yourself, budget time for this step alongside your Code 10 or Code 14 licence.
A quick side-by-side
| Code | Vehicle type | GVM | Minimum age |
|---|---|---|---|
| Code 8 | Light motor vehicle (car, bakkie) | Up to 3,500kg | 17 |
| Code 10 | Heavy motor vehicle (truck, larger van, small bus) | 3,500kg – 16,000kg | 18 |
| Code 14 | Extra-heavy / articulated (truck-and-trailer combinations) | Over 16,000kg | 18 |
GVM — Gross Vehicle Mass — is the maximum loaded weight a vehicle is rated for by its manufacturer, not its empty weight. It's this rating, not how the vehicle looks or how many wheels it has, that determines which licence code applies.
How to decide
For most learners, the decision is simple: if you want to drive a normal car, you need Code 8. Code 10 and Code 14 are for people whose work specifically requires driving heavier vehicles — logistics, freight, bus driving, or similar. There's no downside to starting with Code 8 even if you think you might need a heavier licence later; it's the licence most training providers expect you to already hold, and it gets you driving independently in the meantime. If a heavier licence is genuinely part of your career plan, it's worth raising with a driving school directly — many that offer Code 10 or Code 14 training will tell you upfront how they structure the progression from a light-vehicle licence.
Once you know which licence you're applying for, the next step is understanding what the application itself involves — see our guide to learner's licence requirements, validity, and booking your test. And if you're looking for accredited driving schools that offer training for your licence code, search the directory to find one near you.