RTSA Driving Licence Fees: New, Renewal and Replacement

Most of us only look at our driving licence when a traffic officer asks for it, and by then it has often expired. That costs you. Renewing on time at RTSA is K312, but once the card has lapsed it's K398.

Getting your first licence for a car works out at K348, paid in three steps. This guide lists every RTSA driving licence fee, what to bring for each, and the mistakes that send people back to the queue. Fees are checked against the Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) fee list in November 2026.

How much are RTSA driving licence fees?

RTSA driving licence fees in 2026 run from K81 for an international driving permit to K398 for renewing an expired licence. An ordinary renewal is K312, and a first car licence costs K348 in total. These are the amounts on RTSA's driver licensing page.

The fees come from the Road Traffic (Fees) Regulations, 2021 (Statutory Instrument 112 of 2021). They're set in fee units, which is why a single RTSA amount can combine a licence fee, a card fee and a photo fee.

Many websites still say renewal costs K160. That was RTSA's 2019 price, before the 2021 regulations. Budget K312.

How much does a new driving licence cost in Zambia?

Getting your first licence for a car costs K348, paid in three steps:

Driving school lessons and the medical certificate are extra. You pay for the medical at the government health facility that examines you, and RTSA wants to see that receipt with the certificate.

What do you need for a provisional driving licence?

• A medical certificate, with the receipt from an approved government medical facility
• Proof of identity: your NRC or passport
• You must be at least 18 for a car licence

Motorcycle (rider's) licence fees

A provisional rider's licence costs K117, and you can apply from age 16. The practical test is K87, and printing the licence after you pass is K144. That's K348 in total, the same as a car licence.

How much is driving licence renewal in Zambia?

Renewing a driving licence in Zambia costs K312 if you renew before it expires, and K398 once it has expired. RTSA's renewal notice says an ordinary licence is valid for 5 years.

To renew, bring:

• A copy of your NRC or passport
• A copy of your current driving licence

The price is the same if you renew at the last minute or a few months early. So check the expiry date on your card now, and renew before it lapses. Letting it expire costs you K86 and leaves you driving without a valid licence until you fix it.

PSV driving licence renewal

A public service vehicle (PSV) licence for bus, taxi and goods drivers is renewed every year, and costs K364. Bring a medical certificate, a copy of your NRC or passport, and a copy of your PSV licence.

How do you replace a lost driving licence in Zambia?

Replacing a lost licence costs K144 if the licence was still valid, or K398 if it had expired.

1. Report the loss at a police station and get a police report.
2. Swear a general affidavit about the lost licence.
3. Take both to an RTSA office with a copy of your NRC or passport.
4. Pay the fee and have your new card printed.

A defaced (damaged) licence also costs K144 to replace. Bring a police report and the damaged card itself.

Converting a foreign licence and getting an international permit

Converting a foreign driving licence to a Zambian one costs K348. You need your NRC or passport and your valid foreign licence. You also need proof that the licence is real, from the office or embassy that issued it, and a roadworthy vehicle of the class you're applying for.

An international driving permit costs K81. It's for driving in countries that don't accept the Zambian licence on its own. Bring a copy of your valid Zambian licence, a copy of your valid passport and two passport-size photos.

Other RTSA licence fees

For a PSV endorsement you must be 18 or older and bring a medical certificate with its receipt and your NRC or passport. A taxi class B endorsement is limited to 8 passengers.

How do you pay RTSA fees?

You can pay at an RTSA office, or online through ZamPortal, the government payment platform that RTSA's "Pay Online" page links to. If you pay online, keep the receipt or reference and bring it to the office.

If you're paying from your phone, compare what your mobile money provider charges for a bill payment first. Our Airtel Money charges guide shows the fees.

Mistakes that cost you money at RTSA

• Paying the old K160 price you saw online. You'll be told to pay the balance, and that means another trip. Use the fees on this page.
• Letting your licence expire. The fee goes up from K312 to K398. Put a reminder in your phone a month before the expiry date.
• Skipping the medical receipt. RTSA wants the receipt from the government facility with your medical certificate. A certificate without one can be turned away.
• Paying "fixers" outside the office. There's no faster or cheaper back door to a licence. Licences bought through touts can be fake, and a fake licence is a criminal matter, not just a fine.
• Forgetting the police report for a lost licence. Get it before you queue at RTSA.

If you're putting together a budget for a car, see how much of your salary goes to tax first. Our Zambia PAYE calculator shows your take-home pay after PAYE, NAPSA and NHIMA, and the PAYE tax bands guide explains each deduction.

For RTSA questions, the agency's hotline is +260 955 983 983 and its WhatsApp line is +260 96 5429499.

Frequently asked questions

What does driving licence renewal in Zambia cost?

K312 for an ordinary licence that hasn't expired yet. If it has expired, renewal costs K398. You need a copy of your NRC or passport and a copy of your current licence.

How much does it cost to get a driving licence in Zambia?

A first car licence costs K348: K117 for the provisional licence, K87 for the practical test and K144 to print the licence after you pass. Driving lessons and the medical certificate are paid for separately.

How long is a Zambian driving licence valid?

According to RTSA, an ordinary driving licence is valid for 5 years. A PSV licence is valid for 1 year and must be renewed every year with a new medical certificate.

How much is a lost driving licence replacement in Zambia?

K144 if the lost licence was still valid, or K398 if it had expired. You need a police report, a general affidavit and a copy of your NRC or passport.

How do I convert a foreign driving licence in Zambia?

Take your valid foreign licence, your NRC or passport, and proof the licence is genuine from the office or embassy that issued it to an RTSA office. Conversion costs K348, and RTSA also lists a roadworthy vehicle of the class you're applying for among the requirements.

How much is an international driving permit in Zambia?

K81. You need a copy of your valid Zambian driving licence, a copy of your valid passport and two passport-size photos.