Nepal’s driving licence test rules are revised. Here’s what you need to know

The Department of Transport Management has set new rules for the driving licence test. The rule was set to come into effect from July 16 but the tests have not opened now due to the restrictions imposed to control the Covid-19 spread. Hence, the new rules will come into effect as soon as the tests resume.

Before the implementation of the new rules, the examinee would be considered failing even if they would make a single error during the trial. This, however, has changed now and the errors have been categorised differently, and different marks have been given for each.

The examinee has to secure 70 out of 100 in both written and practical tests (trials) to pass the test for a driving licence.

Here, we summarise the new rules for you.

For two-wheelers

For two-wheelers (motorbikes and scooters), the points have been divided into seven categories.

1. Figure 8

• This is the first obstacle in your driving test and consists of 20 points.
• You will not be considered ineligible for a driving licence if you step inside or if your vehicle touches the boundary of the figure 8 (once each). However, you will lose 5 points each for those actions.
• You will fail the entire test immediately if your vehicle touches the boundary of the figure 8 more than once, if a tyre of your vehicle crosses the boundary of figure 8, if you step inside more than once, if you fail to make an entry to the figure 8 test from the right direction and if your vehicle turns off during the course.

2. Narrow plank

• This test consists of 10 points.
• You will fail the entire test if you step on the ground and if you get out of the plank.

3. U-turn

• This test consists of 10 points.
• You will lose all 10 points if you forget to turn on the indicators (sidelights) while turning the vehicle.
• You will fail the entire test if your vehicle touches the boundary.

4. Traffic lights

• This test consists of 15 points.
• You will lose all 15 points if you do not follow the traffic signals.

5. Speedbreakers (Bumps)

• This test consists of 15 points.
• You will lose 5 points each if you step on the ground and if your vehicle turns off.
• You will fail the entire test if you step more than once and if your vehicle stops more than once.

6. Ramp

• This test consists of 20 points.
• You will fail the entire test if you stop your vehicle over the specified line or if you move ahead without stopping your vehicle just before the line.
• When you have to move ahead after stopping your vehicle but if it slips behind more than 6 inches than the specified line, you will fail the entire test.
• You will also fail the entire test if your vehicle crosses the line when you stop while descending or if you move ahead without stopping and if your vehicle stops more than once.

7. Behavioural aspects

• This test consists of 10 points.
• You will lose 3 points if you do not check the mirrors, tyres and brakes prior to riding the vehicle. You will lose 4 points if you ride the vehicle without helmet locks on and lose 3 points if you ride the vehicle recklessly.

For four-wheelers

The requirements for four-wheelers have also been divided into seven different categories.

1. Figure 8

• This test consists of 20 points.
• The examinee will be eligible to go further even if the vehicle touches the boundary of the figure 8 twice, but 5 points will be lost each time.
• The examinee will fail the entire test if the vehicle touches the boundary more than two times, if any tyre of the vehicle crosses the boundary of the figure, if the examinee fails to make an entry to the figure 8 test from the right direction and if the vehicle is reversed instead of going forward.

2. Speedbreakers (Bumps)     

• This test consists of 10 points.
• You will lose 5 points if the vehicle stops once.
• The examinee will fail the entire test if the vehicle stops more than once.

3. U-turn

• This test consists of 10 points.
• You will lose all the 10 points if the examinee fails to turn the side indicators (sidelights) on.
• The examinee will fail the entire test if the vehicle touches the specified line.

4. Traffic lights

• This test consists of 15 points.
• The examinee will lose all the points if they fail to follow the traffic signals.

 5. Garage parking

• This test consists of 20 points.
• You will lose 10 points if the vehicle moves forward while reversing.
• The examinee will fail the entire test if the vehicle moves forward more than once and if the vehicle touches the specified line.

6. Ramp

• This test consists of 15 points.
• The examinee will fail the entire test if they stop the vehicle over the specified line or if they move ahead without stopping the vehicle on the line.
• When you have to move ahead after stopping your vehicle but if it slips behind more than 6 inches than the specified line, you will fail the entire test.
• You will also fail the entire test if your vehicle crosses the line when you stop while descending or if you move ahead without stopping and if your vehicle stops more than once.

 7. Behavioural aspects

• This test consists of 10 points.
• You will lose 3 points if you do not check the mirrors, tyres and brakes prior to riding the vehicle. You will lose 4 points if you drive without the seat belt on and 3 points if you ride the vehicle recklessly.