Lebanese Traffic Law, Penalties and Licence Categories
What the exam tests
This domain checks legal responsibilities: holding the right licence, carrying documents, obeying serious prohibitions and understanding that penalties escalate with harm.
Core rules
- Licence categories generally follow vehicle type: A for motorcycles, B for private cars and light vans, C for lorries, D for buses and E for trailers. The codes printed on your licence control what you may drive.
- You must hold the correct licence for the vehicle and carry it while driving. A foreign licence may be used only under the conditions allowed by Lebanese law; do not assume it is valid indefinitely.
- Serious offences include driving without a licence, driving uninsured, drink-driving, failing to stop after a crash, using a hand-held phone, not wearing a seat belt or helmet, and excessive speed.
- Penalties can include fines, licence suspension or withdrawal, vehicle impoundment and imprisonment, especially where death or injury is caused.
- Police may require documents and may test for alcohol or drugs after a crash or suspected offence.
Worked example
A driver holds a category B licence but is stopped driving a small lorry above the private-car weight limit. Even if the lorry belongs to his employer, he is unlicensed for that category. Reasoning: the offence depends on the vehicle class and the licence code, not on ownership or experience.
Traps
Assuming a car licence covers vans of any size; leaving the licence at home; thinking a fine is the only possible penalty; ignoring a suspension; driving after a crash before reporting.