Quick answer: Once you hold a valid Code 2 learner’s licence, practise with a licensed driver or a driving school, then book your practical test at a NaTIS office. On test day you bring your own Code B vehicle, do manoeuvres such as parking and a hill start, and drive on public roads with an examiner. If you pass, you pay for your licence card.
- You cannot take the driving test without a valid learner’s licence for the same class.
- The law says you must supply the test vehicle yourself.
- If you test in an automatic, your licence will be limited to automatic vehicles.
- Fees from June 2023: N$160 to apply for the driving licence and N$200 to issue the card.
- Your card is valid for five years once issued.
No learner’s licence yet? Prepare with Tuvawawa Driving Academy’s free learner’s course: road signs, rules of the road, vehicle controls and timed mock papers. Start free learner’s practice →
Passing the learner’s test is a good start, but the Code B driving licence is what lets you drive a car on your own. This guide explains how to get from learner’s licence to licence card in Namibia, what happens on test day and why many people fail the first time.
Code B covers ordinary cars, bakkies and other light vehicles of up to 3,500 kg. It is the licence most people need for work, family and getting around.
Before you book: check your learner’s licence
The Road Traffic and Transport Act says you cannot be tested for a driving licence unless you hold a learner’s licence for that class. For Code B, that means a Code 2 learner’s licence.
Your learner’s licence is valid for 18 months. If it expires before you pass, you go back to the beginning and write the learner’s test again. We could not find a fixed minimum time you must hold the learner’s before testing, so what matters is being ready and booking before it expires.
Age matters too. A Code 2 learner’s licence is available from 17, and a 2022 Windhoek Express guide says you can apply for the driving licence once you turn 18. Confirm the age rule at NaTIS when you book.
Practise properly
While learning, a fully licensed driver must be in the car with you at all times. Practise on quiet roads first, then in town traffic, and spend time on the manoeuvres you will be tested on.
Lessons with a qualified instructor help you learn the habits examiners look for. In Nkurenkuru, Tuvawawa Driving Academy offers Code B lessons from N$250 per hour, with packages of 5, 10 and 15 hours. Whichever school you choose, ask about its instructors and the condition of its cars. In September 2026 the Ministry of Works and Transport proposed stricter registration rules for driving schools, planned to start on 1 April 2027.
How to book your driving test
Bookings are made at NaTIS offices. When the Roads Authority reopened bookings in 2021, it asked driving licence applicants for:
- a fully completed driving licence application form;
- a copy of their learner’s licence;
- a copy of their Namibian ID, certified by the Namibian Police.
Bring your originals as well. You pay when you book and receive your test date. The Roads Authority’s online Book and Pay system was launched in June 2026 and is being extended to more centres, so ask whether your office accepts online bookings.
The Roads Authority has said applicants may choose where to be tested. When the Nkurenkuru NaTIS office opened in 2016, the Roads Authority said practical driving tests for the area would stay in Rundu for the time being. Ask the Nkurenkuru office whether that is still the case before you book.
The vehicle you test in
The Act requires you to supply a vehicle of the class you are testing for. Practise in the same car you will use on the day, so the clutch, mirrors and size feel familiar.
If the car has automatic transmission, the examiner must endorse your licence so that it only covers automatic vehicles. Test in a manual car if you want to drive both.
Before test day, check the vehicle carefully:
| Check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Valid licence disc on the windscreen | The car must be legal to drive on public roads |
| Brakes, handbrake and tyres | You will stop, start and park repeatedly |
| Indicators, brake lights and headlights | Signalling is checked throughout the test |
| Mirrors and seatbelts | Observation and safety are basic requirements |
| Clean windscreen and working wipers | You must see clearly at all times |
If you do not have a suitable car, Tuvawawa also offers vehicle hire for the NaTIS test in Rundu at N$450 per hour.
What happens on test day
Arrive early with your learner’s licence, ID and booking proof. The practical test is done by a NaTIS driving examiner in two broad parts: manoeuvres in a testing yard and a drive on public roads.
Yard manoeuvres
A driving instructor interviewed by The Namibian described these yard manoeuvres:
- Parallel parking between marker poles, in a limited number of movements.
- Reverse parking into a space marked by poles.
- Three-point turn inside a marked area the width of a street.
- Hill start, pulling away uphill without rolling back.
Road drive
On the road, the examiner watches how you control the car in real traffic. Keep checking your mirrors, signal in good time, come to a full stop at stop signs, keep to the speed limit and position the car correctly in your lane and at intersections.
In 2025 the government announced plans for an automated driving test system that uses sensors in test vehicles and around the yard. Ask your centre whether it is in use there yet.
Common reasons people fail
- Hitting a pole or taking too many moves during parallel parking.
- Rolling backwards on the hill start.
- Touching the kerb or turning the steering wheel while the car is standing still during the three-point turn.
- Repeating the same mistake in reverse parking.
- Poor observation, such as forgetting mirrors and blind spots before moving off or changing lanes.
- Rolling through stop signs instead of stopping completely.
- Nerves. Practise until the manoeuvres feel automatic, and do a mock test with your instructor.
Tip: Ask your instructor to grade every practice drive and keep a list of your repeat mistakes. Work on your most frequent errors first.
Fees
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Driving licence application | N$160 |
| Issuing the licence card (any code) | N$200 |
| Temporary driving licence application | N$50 |
These amounts were announced by the Roads Authority and took effect on 1 June 2023. Confirm them at your NaTIS office, and remember that a failed test means booking and paying again.
After you pass: getting your card
After passing, you pay the card fee and NaTIS captures your photo, fingerprints and signature. The card is ordered from the production facility and sent to your centre. Ask how long it will take and whether you will receive a temporary licence to drive with in the meantime.
Collect your card as soon as it is ready. The regulations allow uncollected cards to be destroyed 210 days after they reach the centre. Your card is valid for five years, and you should apply to renew it at least six weeks before it expires.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use a friend’s or family member’s car for the test?
Yes, as long as it is a Code B vehicle, legal to drive and in good condition, and the owner agrees. Practise in it beforehand.
If I pass in an automatic, can I drive a manual car?
No. Your licence will be endorsed for automatic vehicles only. To drive manual cars you must pass the test in a manual vehicle.
What if my learner’s licence expires before my test?
You must apply for a new learner’s licence and pass the theory test again before you can book the driving test.
Can I drive a taxi with a Code B licence?
Driving for a living comes with extra requirements. The regulations provide for a professional authorisation on your licence for drivers who carry passengers or goods. Ask NaTIS what your job needs.
Sources and official links
- Roads Authority: Driver’s licence and learner’s licence
- Road Traffic and Transport Act 22 of 1999 (Legal Assistance Centre)
- Road Traffic and Transport Regulations amendments, Government Gazette 2815 (Legal Assistance Centre)
- The Namibian: NaTIS raises service charges (2023)
- The Namibian: Bookings for learner’s and driver’s licences resume (2021)
- The Namibian: Getting your licence (2015)
- The Namibian: NaTIS standards same countrywide (2014)
- New Era: NaTIS office for Nkurenkuru (2016)
- New Era: NaTIS upgrades to relieve congestion (2025)
- The Namibian via AllAfrica: Govt pulls brake on driving schools (2026)
- Windhoek Express: Acquiring skills while in high school (2022)
- New Era: City Police advisory for learner drivers (2025)
Last checked: 10 October 2026. Rules, dates and fees can change, so always confirm with your NaTIS office before you go.
