Complete Guide to Obtaining Driving Licence (India - Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad)

Please do not send me any enquiries reg. driving licences. I do not work for the RTA and have provided the information available here from the procedure I followed while procuring the licence. For further information refer to my comment AP Transport Website. You may find some of the procedures listed in this image which I have taken in Secunderabad RTO Office.

Also if you want to know how to obtain an international licence, you might find this article useful - http://magnificent-hawk.blogspot.com/2009/08/obtaining-international-driving-permit.html.

Note: This article was written in 2007. While chances are less, there is always a possibility that the licence application rules / driving track rules might have changed. It is always suggested to cross-check the driving rules at the testing center.

The procedure for obtaining a driving licence is in two stages. First you should obtain a learner licence. This will be valid for a period of six months. The second stage is applying for a permanent licence. You have to wait for at least a month after the issue of learner licence for applying for a permanent licence.

Obtaining a learner licence

- In order to apply for a learner licence, first you will have to fill two forms. These forms shall be available at the RTA office. At the time of writing this article, the forms costed Rs.2/-.

- Next you will have to furnish documents for proof of address and proof of age.

Valid documents for address proof:
1. Ration Card
2. Electricity Bill
3. LIC
4. Passport
5. Pay slip / ID card issued By State And Central Government along with residential address

Valid attested documents for age proof:
1. Passport
2. PanCard
3. School Certificate
4. Birth Certificate issued by State Government / MCH Authorities
5. LIC

- Once the forms and the relevant documents are submitted, a photo of yours is taken. Please note that you need not get any photographs of yours. A digital photo of yours is taken by the RTA authority itself.

- The last stage and the most important stage of obtaining a learner licence is to clear a written exam. This written exam is based on traffic signals, rules and other general questions. You need to answer 20 questions in 10 minutes. The passing mark is 12. The links give in the "references" section below should help you in preparing for the exam. But the best thing I suggest is to go to the RTA office and buy the book (about Rs.15). Going through it should prepare you well enough for clearing th exam.

- Once the exam is cleared, a learner licence is issued for a period of 6 months.

Obtaining a permanent licence

- The permanent licence can be applied only if you hold the learner licence for a minimum period of one month (the applicant is expected to learn driving the vehcile in this one month).

- At the driving test center, a form should be filled out and submitted.

- The fee for application of driving licence depends upon the class of vehicles for which you have applied the licence for. For a geared two wheeler and a four wheeler, the cost is Rs.440.

- After the forms are submitted and the fee is paid, you will be asked to take a driving test. Below is the track on which you will be asked to drive. (Unless you clearly understand the below diagram, please don't assume anything). Also for two wheeler only the '8' turn in the first block has to be performed and the next two blocks can be ignored as there is no reverse gear for two wheelers.

Certain things to keep in mind while driving

• Always use indicators at turns
• Slow down at speed brakers
• Look for complusory horns
• If driving a two-wheeler, you should not put your foot down
• You shouldn't touch any of the dividers
• I think it is alright if the car stops (not sure about this) but definitely the two wheeler shouldn't switch off

- Also note that you have to get your own vehicle (RTC will not provide any). And you might have to drive all the vehicles for which you have applied license for. So for example, if you have applied license for four wheeler and two wheeler, it won't be sufficient to drive four wheeler only. You might be asked to drive the two wheeler as well.

- Once the driving test is cleared, a permanent licende is issued (this is generally sent by post one week later).

References:
http://www.aptransport.org/html/faq.php
http://www.chandigarhtrafficpolice.org/
http://www.delhitrafficpolice.nic.in/
http://www.uttaranchalpolice.com/traffic/traffic_rule.htm
http://www.worldtravellers.net/roadtravel/india/india.html