Guide on how to apply for driver’s licence in Nigeria

In Nigeria, there’s this pride that comes with knowing how to drive and this is because everyone wants to own a car. Owning a car apparently moves you away from being a member of the lower class in society to the middle-class or at least, that’s how most people will perceive you, but whether the reality supports the supposition is another thing.

Nevertheless, owning a car is one thing, having legal permission to drive your newly acquired four-wheel is another. This is because no one can just get a car into the main/major roads and start driving. You would need to pass a driving test that will enable you to obtain a driver’s licence – the legal document that not only proves that you can drive in a safe manner but also that allows you to drive on Nigerian roads.

What is a driver’s licence?

The Nigerian driver’s licence is a legal document issued by the Federal Government to its citizens, which gives them the right to drive around the nation. This licence in Nigeria is officially issued by the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC).

The Federal Government created the Federal Road Safety Commission in February 1988, with a mandate to make the highway safe for motorists and other road users, amongst other responsibilities.

One way through which FRSC achieve this objective is through the issuance of a driver’s licence to qualified motorists, which allows them to drive on Nigerian roads. What this means is that you need a driver’s licence to drive in Nigeria. Also if you are driving, you should have your driver’s licence handy to present on the demand by a competent authority, otherwise, you risk falling foul of the law and could be penalised for driving without one.

So, did you have one but misplaced it or you are completely new to this process and so are looking for information on how to obtain or replace your driver’s licence?

Here, we have compiled a simple guide for all kinds of driver’s licence application. Be rest assured that you have come to the right place.

Check out our step-by-step process below!

How to apply for a driver’s licence in Nigeria

Applying for a driver’s licence in Nigeria can be one helluva hectic process. Trust the process to stress the glow out of your skin, especially when you don’t know what to do.

However, going along with this easy step-by-step process will make the process a walk in the park.

To apply for a driver’s licence in Nigeria, you should:

Step 1: Attend a driving training course at an accredited school approved by the FRSC

Step 2: Take the driving test supervised by VIO (Vehicle Inspection Officers)

Step 3: Obtain the certificate of driving proficiency.

Step 4: Complete the application form and make payment.

Once you have passed the driving test, choose either of these ways to continue

Offline application 

Step 1: Fill in the driver’s licence application form at a DLC (Driver’s Licence Centre)

Step 2: Pay the licence application fee at participating banks or online

Note: Before you would be given the driver’s licence form to complete, the officer will ask you to present your driving school certificate, learner’s permit as well as your birth certificate.

Also, while going to make the payment, remember to take a copy of your driver’s licence form along with you as they will need your driver’s licence application ID.

Online application 

Step 1: Visit the Nigerian Driver’s licence Nigeria portal

Step 2: Click on the DL Application button, a drop-down list will show up

Step 3: Choose New Driver’s Licence

Step 4: Type in your driving test certificate number in the box and click on Validate

Step 5: Once your number validated, complete the required online application form

Step 6: Pay application fees online and print out an acknowledgement slip

Note: You can make payments at either FCMB, UBA, Union Bank, or WEMA Bank.

Thereafter, submit the required forms to the BIR (Board of Internal Revenue) and VIO at the DLC to get an endorsement

The forms to be submitted include:

1. Payment slip
2. Application form
3. Learner’s permit
4. Certificate from driving school
5. Certificate of VIO test
6. Certificate of an eye test
7. Birth certificate.

Next, your biometric data will be captured after presenting the documents to the FRSC officer at the DLC

A temporary licence will be issued while you await the official licence to be issued.

Note: This temporary version will expire after two months. Meanwhile, the official driver’s licence will be ready within 60 days of your application. Also, you must proceed to the office yourself. You aren’t allowed to send other people to get it done for you.

Read also: Guide on how to get Tax Identification Number (TIN) online in Nigeria

How much will the new driver’s licence in Nigeria cost me?

The cost of the licence varies, in terms of validity period and class. The licence’s validity could be either three years or five years. Hence, the difference in charges.

Please, take note of the following:
1. There might be other charges depending on the payment channel selected
2. Where the applicant chooses to apply for multiple classes, each class will be charged separately

What are the classes of driver’s licences in Nigeria?

The class of a driver’s licence is denoted by an alphabet. This specifies the category of vehicles that the licence holder is permitted to operate. There are 10 possible classes of driver’s licences in Nigeria, and they are A, B, C, D, E, F, G. H, J.

1. Class A: This licence is authorised to ride motorcycles and the rider must be 18 years and above.
2.  Class B: This licence is for persons authorised to drive motor vehicles of at least three tonnes of weight other than a motorcycle, and vehicles registered as a taxi, stage carriage, omnibus. The driver must be at least 18 years old.
3.  Class C: This driver’s licence is authorised for persons to drive any motor vehicle weighing less than three tonnes other than a motorcycle, taxi, stage carriage, omnibus. You must be at least 18 years of age.
4.  Class D: For persons authorised to drive any motor vehicle weighing less than three tonnes other than a motorcycle, taxi, stage carriage, omnibus but excluding an articulated vehicle or a vehicle drawing a trailer. These persons must be at least 18 years old.
5.  Class E: For persons authorised to drive any motor vehicle weighing less than three tonnes other than a motorcycle but excluding an articulated vehicle or a vehicle drawing a trailer. These persons must be at least 18 years old.
6.  Class F: Is for persons authorised to drive agricultural machines, tractors, and track-laying vehicles. These persons must be at least 18 years old.
7.  Class G: For persons authorised to drive articulated vehicles. You must be at least 18 years old.
8.  Class H: For persons authorised to drive earth moving vehicles. You must be at least 18 years
9.  Class J: This particular licence is special for physically handicapped persons, one-eyed, one-armed, or with specially fitted gadgets on the vehicle. You must be at least 18 years
10.  Class V: This licence is authorised for convoy driving. This type of licence is issued mainly to individuals who drive political officials.

What is the difference between a single class and a multiple class licence?

A single class licence carries a single class denotation, while a multiple class licence bears multiple class denotations, but subject to a maximum of three (3) classes.

What is a Licence upgrade?

A driver’s licence upgrade is an application to modify an existing licence such that its class is changed to a higher one within its category or to have an extra class from another category added to it.

In a case where someone with a Class A driver’s licence, which is authorised for motorcycle riders, owns a car and decides to drive it, he would need an upgrade.

Examples:

Moving to a higher class within the current category of a licence: Moving from Class B (Motor Vehicle Private) to a Class E (Motor Vehicle Commercial).
Adding a class from a different category to an existing class: Adding Class A to an existing Class B Licence or Adding Class B to an existing Class A Licence.

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How do I pay for the new licence?

Making payments for a new licence can either be made online on the application portal or at any of the participating banks.

The payment for an application is initiated and can be completed on the Application Acknowledgment section of your application form. You must choose a preferred payment option. The options include:

Cash option: You can only use this option if you intend to make a cash payment at a bank. You can pick this option by selecting the Bank or PayArena option on the Order Summary page.

Web option: Use this option if you possess a credit/debit card and intend to make your payment online. You can pick this option by selecting a Visa or MasterCard option on the Order Summary.

POS Option: This option can be used if you intend to make a payment on a PoS Terminal. This option will require you to visit the Driver’s Licence Centre (DLC) you selected in your application form. You can pick this option by selecting the POS or Point of Sale (POS) option on the Order Summary page. You must bring along your Transaction Number from the portal to the DLC.

eWallet: Use this option if you possess a NetPostPay (NPP) eWallet account. An eWallet account lets you pre-fund a virtual wallet that you can use for payment purposes on supported platforms. To pay with your NPP eWallet against your application, select the NetPostPay option on the Order Summary page.

Click here to open an eWallet account

What the driver’s licence form entails

Nigeria driver’s licence application form as mentioned can either be filled online at the FRSC website or physically at the DLC.

You might wonder what the driver’s licence entails. The driving licence application forms require basic information related to your background and health index.

It’s not difficult to complete these documents, however, you may need to double-check some data listed below so as not to waste time on this paperwork.

Information to expect on the form:

1. Title: (Mr/Mrs/Miss) Surname
2. First name
3. Other names
4. Sex: Male/ Female
5. Date of birth (DD/MM/YY)
6. Place of birth (City/ Town)
7. Marital status
8. Nationality
9. Address information (House/ Flat/ Plot number), Street
10. State of origin
11. Local Govt of Origin
12. Phone number(s)
13. Occupation
14. Mother maiden name
15. Height
16. Blood group
17. Phone number of next of kin
18. Nationality of next of kin
19. Years of application: three years or five years…

Note: Ensure to cross-check all, in order to avoid mistakes.

How can I find accredited schools to take a driving school certificate?

This is also as important as getting your driver’s licence. This is due to the fact that the certificate may not be invalid if the school isn’t accredited. I mean, no one wants to waste so much money in these times of economic inflation.

To see the list of accredited schools throughout Nigeria, follow these steps below:

Visit the Information Processing Office in your area and ask them for the list of accredited driving schools in your area.

Note: You can also find the list of the FRSC office address on the website as well.

After I submit my information, can I change it later?

Sometimes, making mistakes can be inevitable. However, you could make changes to some of the information provided. Important information such as date of birth, can’t be changed after submission, but some other data like marital status or name can be adjusted.

While coming along to make these changes, ensure you bring along the evidence of changes, for example, marriage certificate.

How can I shorten the time for application at DLC as I’m very busy?

Many would want a shorter process of going through with the application, but we’re afraid there’s no step you can omit in applying for a new driver’s licence.

However, to minimise the time to be spent at the centre, see how to apply for a driver’s licence in the guidelines above.

So, when visiting the centre, you’d just be needing to submit essential documents and have biometric data captured.

How to apply for a lost driving licence?

This is the case for many in Nigeria today, as no one would be allowed to drive without a licence.

Visit the website of the Federal Road Safety Commission, and follow these steps below:

Step 1: Click on DL Application
Step 2: Select Re-issue of Driver’s Licence
Step 3: Enter your Driver’s Licence Number and Date of Birth
Step 4: Click on Search and complete all forms required

What happens to a driver’s Licence that has recently expired?

As much as it is advisable to initiate the process for a renewed licence before the old one has expired, you could also initiate one immediately after your old licence expires.

This is just to avoid being accosted by the officials in charge.

See Also: Saudi Arabia just started issuing driver’s licences to women

How to track my application status?

To track the status of your application, select the Track DL Application Status option on the portal menu. You must supply your application ID or DL Number and Date of Birth to access the status

Conclusion

Owning a driver’s licence is imperative if you want to drive on Nigerian public roads. No matter what vehicle you’re riding, whether it’s a motorcycle, car, bus, or truck, you must obey the traffic laws, including owning a driver’s licence and presenting it on demand when asked to by a competent authority.

Here, we have explained the process of applying for your licence as simple as possible. All that you need to do is follow the procedure and you’re good to go.