Documents and Licensing Requirements
Domain overview
This section tests the legal side of driving: who may hold a learner's licence, how long it lasts, what documents must be carried, and when they expire. Questions are factual and often hinge on age or validity periods.
Learner licence basics
- Minimum age 16 for a gearless motorcycle with engine capacity up to 50 cc.
- Minimum age 18 for other motorcycles and light motor vehicles (cars).
- Minimum age 20 for transport vehicles, with additional experience requirements.
- A learner's licence is valid for six months. You must display an “L” sign and be accompanied by a person holding a valid licence.
- A permanent licence can be applied for after 30 days of holding the learner's licence, subject to passing the driving test.
Documents to carry
Driving licence, registration certificate (RC), valid insurance (third-party cover is compulsory), pollution under control (PUC) certificate, and permit where applicable. The RC is normally valid for 15 years and then renewed. A PUC certificate is typically valid for six months; a new vehicle gets a longer first certificate. Keep originals or legally accepted digital copies.
Medical and application forms
Form 1 is a self-declaration of fitness; Form 1A is a medical certificate required for transport vehicles and in other specified cases. Carry proof of age and address, passport-size photographs and the prescribed fee.
Worked example
A 17-year-old wants to ride a 100 cc motorcycle. The answer is no: at 17 the entitlement is limited to a gearless motorcycle up to 50 cc. For a 100 cc motorcycle, the applicant must be at least 18.
Traps
Treating a learner's licence as a full licence, forgetting that it expires after six months, and assuming insurance is optional are common mistakes. Another trap is quoting a PUC or RC validity from memory without checking the current rule.