No longer will you be forced to sit in hours-long queues to get your car’s licence disc renewed. Assuming you reside in Cape Town, within a reasonable driving distance of Brackenfell, that is. The City of Cape Town has unveiled the country’s first-ever licence renewal drive-thru, designed to reduce the wait significantly.

Got that new drive-thru smell

Situated on the corner of Reservoir and Kruispad Roads in Brackenfell, anyone looking to renew their licence discs can do so in roughly five minutes, all without ever leaving their vehicle. During its launch phase, the facility will be open Monday to Friday from 11h30 to 19h30, while Saturday visitors will find assistance between 11h00 and 14h00.

The City, however, mentions that it’s working alongside the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) to extend these hours further, and will share these with the public once finalised. It’s also working to determine other suitable drive-thru locations throughout the City over the coming months.

“The City is excited to bring this innovation to Brackenfell. The drive-through aims to make life easier for motorists – now you can simply drive up, pay by card, receive your new disc and be on your way,” the City wrote in its announcement.

It’s important to note that the facility is a completely cashless one, accepting only debit and credit card payments.

While the facility exclusively caters to motorists renewing their licence discs, it’s possible that it could expand these services in the future — possibly offering a newer, smarter way for residents to obtain their smart ID and passports in a more timely fashion. The Department of Home Affairs is attempting to do just that by uniting all of South Africa’s bank branches, where they will make these services more accessible.

“This new facility is another innovation that we are adding to ensure that the City remains the number one most trusted and convenient motor vehicle licence renewal agent. We encourage motorists to make use of the Brackenfell drive-through and experience the convenience of renewing your disc from the comfort of your vehicle,” said Councillor Siseko Mbandezi.