VerifyNowDecode SA driver's licence barcodes
Read the PDF417 barcode on the back of a South African driver's licence card and return the decoded fields: name, ID number, licence number, classes, restrictions, and issue / expiry dates.
Complete SA licence barcode decode
Everything encoded in the PDF417 barcode, returned as structured data
PDF417 Barcode Decode
Decode the PDF417 barcode on the back of SA driver's licence cards to extract all encoded fields.
Licence Classes & Restrictions
Read the licence classes (A, A1, B, C, C1, EB, EC, EC1) and any recorded restrictions directly from the barcode.
Issue & Expiry Dates
Return the recorded issue date, valid-from and valid-to dates so you can see if a licence is expired.
Authenticity of Decoded Data
Check the integrity of the decoded barcode payload so you know the data was read cleanly from a genuine SADL card.
Instant Results
Scan the back of the card and get the decoded subscriber fields in seconds.
FICA & POPIA Aligned
Supports customer-identification record-keeping under FICA and lawful processing under POPIA.
South African licence categories
We decode all South African driver's licence categories encoded on the card
How SADL barcode decode works
Scan the Back of the Card
Capture the PDF417 barcode on the back of the South African driver's licence card.
Decode the Barcode
Our decoder reads the PDF417 payload and parses the encoded licence fields.
Decoded Fields
Receive the subscriber name, ID number, licence number, classes, restrictions, and issue / expiry dates.
- Subscriber nameExactly as it appears on the card
- South African ID number13-digit SAID cross-checked against Home Affairs
- Licence number & PRDPFull number; PRDP if fitted
- Vehicle categoriesB, EB, C1, EC, A, A1 etc. as encoded
- First issue dateWhen the licence was originally issued
- Valid from / Valid toCurrent validity window
- RestrictionsCorrective lenses / auto-only / other flags
- Gender, date of birth, country of birthAs encoded on the card
- Licence image / photoReturned when present on the card
Who needs licence verification?
Fleet & Logistics
Verify driver's licence categories before assigning vehicles. Ensure drivers are licenced for the vehicle class.
Car Rental Companies
Authenticate customer driver's licences at point of rental to prevent fraud and ensure valid licences.
Hiring & HR
Verify driver's licences during recruitment for driving-related positions and delivery services.
Insurance Underwriting
Confirm licence validity and categories for motor insurance quotes, claims, and policy renewals.
Law Enforcement
Quickly authenticate driver's licences during roadside checks and licence verification operations.
Dealerships
Verify buyer or test driver licence status before vehicle handover or test drive authorisation.
Frequently asked questions
How do I decode a SA driver's licence?
Scan the PDF417 barcode on the back of the card through VerifyNow. Our decoder parses the barcode payload and returns the encoded fields (name, ID, licence number, classes, restrictions, issue and expiry dates) in seconds.
Which driver's licences are supported?
South African driver's licence (SADL) cards only. We decode the SA-specific PDF417 barcode format; foreign driver's licences are not supported.
Does this query eNaTIS or confirm the licence isn't suspended?
No. This service decodes what is encoded on the card itself (including the valid-to date). We do not perform a real-time eNaTIS query, and we do not return suspension or demerit status.
Start decoding SA driver's licences today
Scan the barcode, get the decoded fields — in seconds