Getting a Driver's License in Oman
How To Get Driver's License in Oman?
Steps in Taking the Driving Test.
Considering that you are in good health and feel good to drive, you need to register and get a driving book from the Royal Oman Police (ROP) office. They call this book “Kacha”, learning license or student license to us, where result of the tests will be written at (by Police). You might need to get your employer’s approval on your first time of getting the license. On my experience, I was not asked to present my sponsor’s approval.
Ladies are only allowed to drive automatic car, while men can choose either manual or automatic
After you submit an application form to the counter to get your driving book, the Police will give you an eye test, which is normal in getting the license the first time. Once you have your book, then you now need to get a registered instructor. It could be from a driving company or freelance instructor. Oman uses one design only for all cars used for driving lessons and test. (I will post picture later on)
If you are a starter and had never driven before, prepare your pocket. You could either get the lessons from the driving company or hire an individual instructor. Driving company offers a package while an individual offers a package and a per hour basis.
Driving lesson package costs minimum of OMR350/- With this cost, the instructor or driving company will train you and lead you to your driving test. They will also pay the fees to the ROP every time they apply for your test.
Reminder: You must be careful if you will hire individual instructor and pay for the package. I have heard a lot of stories from people who paid part of the package and did not get the full hours of training that they have paid for. Either the instruction has gone missing or gives a lot of excuses not to meet the trainee on training/driving time, so it is always better to pay to someone you or your friends trust. Even some of the female instructors do this cheating.
If the budget is too tight, or you know you could pass the test in short period of driving lesson, then you can hire individual instructor and pay him per hour at the cost of OMR 5/- to OMR6/- an hour. But you have to pay the instructor a minimum of OMR 30/- if you fail and minimum of 40/- if you pass the test. This way also, you are not worried of paying in advance and don’t use the time you paid for. Leave me a message if you want me to give you trusted instructor.
The Practical Driving Tests
1. Drum Test - Before you jump to road driving test, you need to pass the two other tests first. The “Drum”, and the “Slope”. These tests are taken at the ROP compound. First, the police will give short check if you already know the street signs or symbols which is the easiest part of the tests. Then you proceed to Drum test. This is basically to test your driving skill on making a reverse. They use drums as posts. The examiner does not need to look closely on the car when you are doing your reverse test because when you touch the drum, it will make noise. Then you fail.
2. Slope Test - When you pass the drum test, then you can proceed to take the slope test afterwards. Otherwise, you have to retake the tests after two weeks. The “Slope” test is driving on the sharp sloped road with stoplight on the way up then goes all the way done. Once you pass this, then you can take the final driving test, the “Road Test”.
3. The Road Test – Final driving test. If you have already been driving, then you can take the test as early as you want. But not because you are already driving, you expect to pass at the first attempt. I know some people who have been driving for years and yet it took them 3 to 5 attempts before they pass.
Police examiners are strict. They count even a single small mistake that you make. It would be helpful for you to ask people who have taken the test already what were the mistakes they did that made them failed the test.
If you have any question or clarification, please feel free to leave me a message.
No comments:
Post a Comment