Most people who phone us about truck hire already know what they need to move. What they are far less sure about is whether they are legally allowed to drive it.
It is a fair question, and the answer catches a lot of people out, because the way trucks are described in the hire industry has almost nothing to do with the way the law classifies them.
Here is what you actually need to know before you book.
The mistake almost everyone makes: tonnage is not weight
When we talk about a “4-ton truck” or an “8-ton truck”, that number refers to payload, how much cargo the vehicle is rated to carry.
The law does not care about payload. South African licence codes are set by Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM): the maximum legal mass of the vehicle itself plus its full load, as recorded on the manufacturer’s plate and on the vehicle’s NATIS registration certificate.
Those two numbers are very different. A truck advertised as a 4-tonner is carrying roughly four tons of cargo on top of its own kerb weight, so its GVM sits well above 3,500 kg — which means it is not a vehicle you can drive on an ordinary car licence, even though the “4” sounds modest.
This is the single most common misunderstanding we deal with. If you take one thing from this page, take that one.
South African licence codes, by GVM
| Code | Old code | GVM / GCM | What it covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| B | Code 8 | Up to 3,500 kg | Cars, bakkies, light delivery vehicles |
| EB | Code 8 + trailer | Up to 3,500 kg combination | Code B vehicles towing a trailer over 750 kg |
| C1 | Code 10 | 3,501 – 16,000 kg | Medium rigid trucks |
| C | Heavy rigid | Over 16,000 kg | Heavy rigid trucks |
| EC1 | No direct equivalent | Combination up to 16,000 kg | Medium articulated combinations |
| EC | Code 14 | Combination over 16,000 kg | Superlinks, interlinks, heavy articulated |
Two things worth noting:
The codes changed in 1998, from numbers to letters. Almost everyone still uses the old names in conversation — “Code 8” for a car licence, “Code 10” for a medium truck, “Code 14” for a superlink. Your licence card shows the letter code
Higher codes include lower ones. A C1 licence covers everything a Code B licence covers. An EC covers essentially everything below it. So you do not need multiple licences — you need the right one for the heaviest vehicle you intend to drive.
The 16,000 kg line
The number that matters most in our fleet is 16,000 kg GVM. That is the exact point where a C1 (Code 10) stops being enough and a Code C becomes necessary.
There is no rounding and no grace. If the plate reads 15,900 kg, a C1 covers it. If it reads 16,100 kg, it does not.
If you are unsure what a specific vehicle’s GVM is, ask us before you book. We can confirm it from the vehicle’s registration papers, and it takes about a minute.
What about a PrDP?
A Professional Driving Permit is a separate authorisation that sits on top of your driving licence. It is printed on the back of your licence card.
Category G is the one relevant to goods transport. It applies to driving a goods vehicle with a GVM exceeding 3,500 kg, and the requirements are:
- A valid licence for the relevant vehicle code
- Minimum age 18
- A medical certificate
- A SAPS criminal record check
There is a genuine grey area here, and we would rather be straight with you about it than pretend otherwise. The regulations frame the PrDP requirement around driving for reward — that is, commercially. Whether that captures a business owner moving their own stock in a hired truck, as opposed to a driver being paid to move someone else’s goods, is not as clearly settled as most guides make it sound.
If your rental sits anywhere near that line, confirm your position with your local Driving Licence Testing Centre before you drive. It is a short conversation and it removes the risk entirely.
Or take the simpler route below.
The easy answer: hire the truck with a driver
Most of our customers do not drive the truck themselves. Every vehicle in our fleet can be hired with one of our own drivers, and our drivers hold the correct licence codes and permits for the vehicles they operate.
That resolves the entire question. No licence upgrade, no PrDP application, no uncertainty about which side of a weight threshold your load falls on.
You can also add an assistant or a full crew for loading and offloading, which is usually the part people underestimate. Contact us about truck hire.
What you can hire on an ordinary Code B licence
If you would rather drive yourself and you hold a standard Code B (Code 8) licence, your options are the vehicles at or below 3,500 kg GVM — which in practice means our bakkie range: standard 1-ton single cabs, double cabs, volumetric bodies, super tonners and H100s.
Two conditions apply to self-drive:
- Private self-drive rentals require a minimum rental period of five days. Shorter rentals are available when you hire the vehicle with one of our drivers. This does not apply to company rentals.
- Double cabs are available on a monthly basis to companies only. No private rentals on that vehicle.
Frequently asked questions
Can I drive a 4-ton truck on a Code 8 licence? No. A 4-ton rating refers to payload, not GVM. The vehicle’s GVM will be well above the 3,500 kg Code B ceiling, so a C1 (Code 10) is required.
What is a Code 10 licence in the new system? Code 10 is now Code C1. It covers rigid vehicles with a GVM between 3,501 kg and 16,000 kg.
What is a Code 14 licence? Code 14 is now Code EC, which covers articulated combinations with a combined mass over 16,000 kg — superlinks and interlinks.
Do I need a PrDP to hire a truck for my own business? Possibly, depending on how your use is classified. Category G applies to goods vehicles over 3,500 kg GVM driven for reward. Confirm with your local DLTC, or hire the vehicle with one of our drivers and the question falls away.
Where do I find a vehicle’s GVM? On the manufacturer’s plate on the vehicle, or on the NATIS registration certificate. We can confirm it for any vehicle in our fleet before you book.
Still not sure?
Tell us what you need to move and we will tell you which vehicle fits and which licence it needs, or arrange a driver so it does not matter.
Call 0861 998 887 or email info@dialatruck.co.za. Our team is available Monday to Friday, 08:00 to 17:00.
This page is general guidance, not legal advice. Licence and permit requirements are set out in the National Road Traffic Act 93 of 1996 and its regulations. Confirm your own position with a Driving Licence Testing Centre.
