Your Guide for Applying for a Driving Permit in Karachi

Highlights of the Post:
Driving Licence Sindh Application
Types of Licences
Licence Categories
Licence Verification
Licence Offices

We have previously shared information about applying for a driver’s licence in Sindh, Punjab and KPK. Scroll down to find out how to get a driving licence in Karachi.

Driving licence or a permit is an official document that one requires if they wish to drive a vehicle on a public road. Driving without a licence is considered a serious crime since it carries many risks – fatal crashes, speeding, and impaired driving to name a few. 

For a driver, acquiring a driver’s licence is mandatory, unless you wish to be heavily fined. It takes quite a long time for one to get a driver’s licence. However, with the online driving licence Sindh application, getting a permit has become hassle-free. 

About Driving Licence Sindh Mobile Application

Driver Licence Sindh (DLS) Mobile Application, by the Driving licence Sindh, an important organ of Sindh Police allows an individual to apply for all three types of driver’s licence. The application also provides the facilities of online licence verification, in case you are hiring someone and need to verify them. 

Furthermore, with the help of the mobile app, you can make an appointment without waiting in a long queue for your turn. 

Note: While applying for a licence your application will not be completed, unless you visit the nearest licence centre. We will tell you about the locations and timings of the offices all over Karachi in the latter part of this blog.

How to Make an Appointment via DLS?

All you need to do in order to get an appointment is:

• Head to the DLS website 
• Enter your name and CNIC number
• Select the nearest branch 
• Choose the type of licence you wish to get made
• Pick the time slot
• Check the time slots available for each counter
• You will be given your appointment details; you just have to confirm it

Types of Driving Licences in Karachi

Driving Licence acts as a proof of the fact that you have awareness about the road ethics and safety. There are three kinds of driving licences issued by the Driving Licence Department of Sindh:

• Learner’s Licence
• Permanent Driving Licence
• International Driving Licence

Learner’s Licence

Before getting a permanent driver’s licence, you need to apply for a learner’s licence. This licence allows you to drive on a public road under supervision.

The process for getting a learner’s licence is quite simple; just make sure to have complete documents at the time of the visit:

• Copy of your CNIC
• Medical certificate by an authorized medical practitioner
• Fee ticket, worth PKR 60 from any post office
• Fee for Motorcycle: PKR 50 / for Car: PKR 100 / Combined: PKR 150

You will also be required to collect a code book of traffic rules and regulations from a nearby traffic police office.

Permanent Driving Licence

42 days after your learner’s licence has been issued, you can apply for a permanent driving licence. During this time period, you must drive extremely carefully, any problem with the traffic police might cause problems in the process of getting a permanent licence. 

Following is the Fee structure for a permanent licence:

• Fee for motorcycle: PKR 510 for 3 years/ PKR 660 for 5 years
• Fee for car: PKR 960 for 3 years/ PKR 1,260 for 5 years

Following is the Fee structure for a permanent licence:

• Fee for motorcycle: PKR 510 for 3 years/ PKR 660 for 5 years
• Fee for car: PKR 960 for 3 years/ PKR 1,260 for 5 years
• Fee for combined (Car + Motorcycle) : PKR 1,410 for 3 years/ PKR 1,860 for 5 years

Driving Test

The Department of Driving Licence Sindh is  responsible for issuing a driving permit for the qualified drivers. In order to pass the driving test and obtain a permanent driving permit, you need to give a written, eyesight, and driving test.

You will be required to give a written test, so that the department can judge your knowledge about road safety and ethics. Once you have cleared the written test, an eyesight test will be conducted by a medical examiner present at the centre. 

You will be required to carry with you a CNIC and 4 recent passport size pictures. The permanent driving licence issued will be of 3 years validity or 5 years validity.

International Driving Permit Pakistan

If you are travelling abroad and wish to drive yourself around there, you will need an international driving permit, which you can easily get from driving licence offices in Karachi. 

Here’s a list of things that you will need:

• Copy of Pakistani Driving Licence 
• Copy of valid passport with valid visa
• Copy of CNIC
• Proof of residence in Karachi

The fee for normal processing of international driver’s permit is PKR 500 and PKR 1,050 for urgent.

Driver’s Licence Renewal

You can book an appointment on the DLS website –  we have already discussed the procedure above.

• Submit your CNIC and receive a token
• Pay the licence fee
• Return your old driving licence
• Receive a slip, that allows you to drive until you get your driver’s licence through TCS

Note: You will not have to take a driving test again, albeit you will have to take the eyesight test.

Driving Licence Categories and Fee

All over Pakistan, driver’s licences are divided into the following categories:

• Motorcar/Jeep: Licences issued for non-commercial cars.
• LTV: Licences issued for light transport vehicles that are valid for commercial car-taxi, jeep, mini bus, etc.
• HTV: Licences valid for heavy weight transport, for example, busses, trucks, trailers, cranes, etc.
• MCR: Licences valid for motorcycle rickshaw, these are not valid for cars.
• MotorCycle: Licences valid for motorcycle.
• PSV: Licenses for Public Service Vehicles, taxi cars.

The fee structure for getting a driver’s license for each one of the above mentioned categories is different. 

Category	Learners’	Permanent(3-year validity)	Permanent(5-year validity)	Renewal in 30 days(3-years validity)	Renewal in 30 days(5-years validity)	Renewal after 30 days(3-years validity)	Renewal after 30 days(5years validity)
Motorcycle	50	510	660	310	460	435	660
Car	100	960	1260	560	860	860	1260
Car + Motorcycle	150	1410	1860	810	1260	1185	1860
MCR	100	960	1260	560	860	810	1260
MCR + Motorcycle	150	1350	1800	750	1600	1125	1800
LTV	100	960	1260	560	860	810	1260
LTV + Motorcycle	150	1410	1860	810	1260	1185	1860
HTV	100	–	–	750	1200	1500	1800
HTV + Motorcycle	150	–	–	1060	1660	1560	2460

Driving Licence Verification

When you hire a driver, whether for your personal use or business purposes, you need to check their driver’s licence. By using the official driving licence Sindh website you can do it in just a few minutes.

All you need to do is enter the licence number and the database will have the answer for you in just a few seconds.

Licence Office Karachi

Residents of Karachi can find three licence offices within the city and one office in the outskirts of the city that is more accessible for the ones living there; they won’t have to travel all the way into the city to get their driving licence issued. 

Korangi Branch: Sector 6A, main causeway, Korangy.

Nazimabad Branch: Nawab Siddique Ali Khan Road, A-9, Block 4 D/3.

Clifton Branch: 5^th Zamzama Street, Neelam Colony.

Baldia Town Branch: Traffic Training Institute Baldia Town, Saeedabad. Near Hub Chowki.

Branch Timings

The Driving Licence Offices in Karachi follow the same timings:

Monday –Saturday: 09:00 AM- 04:00 PM

Friday: 09:00 AM- 12:30 PM

Lunch Hours: 01:00 PM – 01:30 PM (except Friday)

This is all you need to know about applying for a driving licence in Karachi –  the process, location of the offices, timings, and more. For more information about topics related to Law & Taxes and the real estate market, stay updated with JagahOnline Blogs and make sure to follow us on Facebook.