HOW VALUABLE IS A DRIVING PERMIT WHEN RENTING A CAR IN UGANDA.

When you feel like you want to rent a car and go self drive to exercise, you’re driving skills on Ugandan roads, a driving permit is necessary. Like any country, a driving permit is said to be the only international recognized document that allows us to drive on the roads. Not only driving, it’s also assumed that the person holding the permit is a skilled and professional driver unless put on the road test. It is used in substitute of a passport or a national identity card for other official purposes like opening up financial accounts, registering for a Tax Identification Number (TIN) due to its similarity in information presentation. Travelers planning to self drive in foreign countries are required to possess an international permit or a country’s recognized driver permit.  Not all driving permits allow drivers to drive every type of car due to its classification and specialization. The Face Technology a body that is responsible for issuing different classes of driving permits in Uganda. The classes include class A, B, CM, CH, DH, E, F, G, H, DL and I.

A.      Holders of class A are allowed to drive motorcycles only.

B.      Class B holders are allowed to drive cars  of carriage capacity of 5pax and can also drive class A 

Procedure for obtaining a new driving permit for first time applicants

 Obtaining a permit requires a series of steps to be followed, which include; 

Love and motivation.

Driving in Uganda is regarded as professional job and to be motivated is someone’s inner feeling to learn a new skill. With the motivation and love, you have for driving, look for a trusted trainer who is more trained to give more technics and basics for driving.

Training school.

 Before the training, obtain a learner’s or provisional driving permit from face technology at fee of shs 30,000 to allow the trainee access to the roads. Go for the basics and techniques of driving through a driving school or a permitted person to train.  Be attentive while learning to the basics of the training. The training is always hands on skill that takes an average period of 3-4 weeks. During the training period, the trainer should indicate an “L” sign on his vehicle the trainee must move with a learner’s permit while on the road in case the police asked for it. The L sign indicates that the trainer and the trainee should keep left while on the road.

Police test.

The instructor or trainer forwards the trainee to the police for eye testing and other practical testing like the reverse parking, box parking and through the road signs and rules that were previously taught by the trainer.

Permit issuing.

Collect all the necessary documents that include the learner’s permit to forward them to the face technology that is responsible for issuing the permits. The body collects all your bio data information into the computer and onto your card. A cash fee amounting to shs 60,000 is giver to the issuing officer. On paying the cash fee, the officer issues a temporary driving permit that is inform of a paper that has a validity of 3 months. Within a fortnight, the face technology calls or messages the applicant that his/her driving permit card is ready for collection. 

At this time, you are ready to pick your driver’s permit and order for a car rental hence self driving and improving your driving skills