Team-BHP (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/)

-   Street Experiences (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/street-experiences/)

-   -   Share your driving license test experience (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/street-experiences/277484-share-your-driving-license-test-experience-4.html)

Test? What test?

Back in 2003, I had signed up for a week of driving lessons with my local driving school because my dad caught me sneaking out our 84 M800 (SS80 DX). The objective was to get more experience driving in traffic and eventually get a license, as I had freshly turned 18, and also because up until then, I had only driven around the colony where we lived, which was a large armed forces residential area and thus devoid of any real traffic.

The day of the test at Mumbai Central RTO, I was a bit nervous but still confident as I had prepared theory stuff well and was as confident as an 18-year-old can be (raging hormones and all! lol:).

And all I was asked by the RTO inspector was my name! :Shockked:

That's it! Done! No verbal test, no driving demonstration! Nothing! To be honest, I was a bit disappointed as I was all geared up to give the test! But this was how driving schools operated back then.

Almost exactly 20 years later, I finally had the opportunity to do the "demonstration" I so badly wanted to do as an 18-year-old when I had to go through the rigorous French license tests (yes! there were multiple).

Two theory exams, thirty hours of driving/riding (10 for the car, 20 for the motorcycle), four practical exams (1 for the car, 3 for the motorcycle, as I failed 1 of the 2 tests), later I was finally the holder of Permis B (car) and A2 (47 HP limited bike) license.

I got my driving license in 2023 just after a few months of turning 18. After reading through this thread, I am glad that it's not that bad in Hyderabad. My experience was pretty straight forward. I wanted to get my licence without paying hefty fees for driving school or through an agent like my friends did. My parents were totally against it as their experiences told otherwise. But I had faith in myself and thought that it wouldnt be too bad. Surprise, it was totally chill!

First step was to get my learners licence. All I had to do was apply online on Telangana RTO's portal and got in a slot for my test. Got there on time and the first step was to show my documents and then proceed to the photo booth to get my photo taken and signature signed on a digital pad. Then it was time for me to give my test for which I had to wait in a small line for about 5 mins. To pass the test I had to get 12 questions right out of I think 20 questions at that time. It took me 5 mins to finish the test and as soon as I finished, I passed and they gave me my learners licence on spot. All this took me barely 30 mins and I was out of the RTO.

Now that I had gotten my learners licence, with the help of my dad and my mom, I started to take out the car in their supervision and in almost 2 months after driving around, I had gotten a hang of driving and traffic sense in general although I learnt in an automatic (Grand i10).

With that I thought I was prepared to give my driving test and applied for the same through the same portal. Like before it was quick and easy and got my slot at a different RTO office (RTO Kondapur). After surfing through Google for a few minutes, I got to know that for my driving test, all I had to do was go through a designated driving path which tested H and 8 maneuvers.So I practiced how to reverse with my dad for a few days until my day of driving test. Got all my documents ready including the car's rc, insurance and puc. (For the driving test, we have to bring our own car at the time of my driving test)

On the day of my driving test, since it was the first slot of the day, as expected half the RTO employees hadn't showed up to the centre but after 30 mins or so, they started operating and submitted all my documents for verification. Then they asked me to approach the testing track with my car and show the documents to the police personnel at the track. He took my documents and asked me to go around the track. I was confused as I thought he would accompany me or someone else would but apparently I had to go alone. Also since I didn't know how to drive manual at that time, I had gotten my i10 automatic for the test and surprisingly he did not mind it. So I went around the track and did both 8 and H maneuvers and came out within 5 mins. After finishing my test, I approached the police personnel who had already stamped a pink slip that I had passed. I wasn't sure if he was observing me or not as I was nervous and focused on my test but I was surprised to know that my test was done and I could legally drive on the road. He gave me the pink slip which acted as my temporary licence until I got mine.

Although the test doesn't prove if one can drive confidently on the road or not, I must say the overall process was pretty straightforward and I never felt the need for an agent during the entire process. I was happy after finishing the test not because I can drive now but because I did it all on my own (ofcourse with the help of my parents) and did not need to spend money on an agent or a driving school who from what I have heard from my friends, do not teach properly and charge a hefty amount too.

Anyone who is applying for a licence or renewal in Hyderabad, you can absolutely apply on your own and you don't need an agent to get through the process.

FYI, I had to go to RTO Rangareddy for my learners license and RTO Kondapur for my driving test.

I got my DL back in 2005 when I was 19. We had our humble used Maruthi 800 that I learnt with ease as though I knew how to drive from my past life.
Theory exam was fun, in hindsight, because it was as though my headmaster was asking me some questions (driving offences section codes) and me giving answers like a student who knew by heart.

Driving test was on a track where I drove our vehicle with precision doing H and 8 with ease. I even tried to impress the inspector there by showing off reversing in a body posture where you take support of the passenger seat when looking back to reverse the car.

The whole testing process was designed and optimised for corruption. If one goes through a broker, your file includes a 'special identification mark' so things ease through the process. In my case, the inspector deferred my application to the RTO citing my vehicle didn't have insurance. I didn't know insurance was mandatory and our car didn't have one.

My final hurdle was to get the application signed by the RTO, who was the final authority. Off I went to him like a kid who didn't do all that well in exams and needs to get his parent's signature in the report card. The RTO was probably in a good mood that day-the reason-he was enamoured by a girl who was lost in the process and he was helping her out. He didn't pay much attention to my application and simply signed it. Sighh!

I submitted the application at the counter, collected the challan, and proudly drove off!

The renewal is due in few months and I don't think I have it in me to go through the hoops this time.

I was 18 years old when I got my driver's license in 2009. The RTO was in Udumalpet, Tiruppur District, Tamil Nadu.

My interest in driving came from my grandfather, who used to drive a Premier Padmini with a column-mounted gear shifter. He had it retrofitted with LPG, and I still remember riding in it when I was in 8th or 9th grade. That’s when the driving bug bit me.

At the time, my dad owned a Tata Indica V2 Diesel, and that was the car I used for my driving test. Honestly, the test felt more like a formality. The RTO inspector was a known acquaintance of my uncle, so even before the test began, I was quite confident that I’d be holding my driver’s license by the evening — for both two-wheeler and LMV (Light Motor Vehicle).

The test began with the two-wheeler segment. It was held in a local cricket ground — those days, especially in small towns, there weren’t any proper test tracks. I had to use a Bajaj M80 scooter, which had no working turn indicators, and the hand-gears were barely slotting into place. I was asked to make an '8' shape on a hand-drawn track. To my surprise, the inspector wasn’t even looking at me while I was taking the test — it felt more like a casual ride than a test.

Then came the four-wheeler test. The inspector looked at me and asked, “Are you really 18?” followed by a couple of theoretical questions like “How many gears does your car have?” and “Have you driven a car before?”

Then he casually said in Tamil, "Yenga car start panni oru round otti kaatu", which translates to, "Start the car and take it for a short spin." I took that very seriously and went for a longer drive than he expected. When I returned, he laughed and said, “I didn’t expect you to drive like that,” and then added, “You’ve passed both tests. You can go home.”

That same evening, I received my driver’s license. I still remember taking it to school the next day to proudly show it off to my friends.:)

Buddy, kudos to you for taking the efforts to get the license by yourself and without going through an agent. This is exactly the kind of positive mindset we need. I sincerely hope more and more people take inspiration from you :Cheering:

Year : 1973
Place : Chandigarh
Me a young student of B.Sc. applying for License to drive Lambretta Scooter.
On the day of Test, started from home giving all Hand Signals (as if being followed by CID). Around 30 applicants collected at Test spot. Police Inspector asking each if he knows all road signals. Then instructed to start his scooter, go straight, turn around at a distance and to come back and Park a little away. He would just see the guy drive away and turn to next one.
Later, he Passed all (I presume) and herded all into a room where his senior was sitting with a huge board with various Traffic Signals. He would ask everyone eith a long Pointer, different signs.
My turn, he sees a young short chap and :
He : Kya karte ho ? (What do you do?)
Me : Student Sir.
He : Which Class ?
Me : B.Sc.
He : Yeh jo tum college ke ladke hote ho, scooter per teen - teen chalte ho. (You college students do triple riding on scooter)
Me : (interrupting him) Nahin Sir, hum to nahin karte. Waise bhi Scooter per do seats hoti hain. Teen kaise baitth sakte hain ? (No Sir, we don't do it. Scooter has only Two seats - how can three sit on it ?)
He : Stepney per. (On spare wheel) Remember the horizontal spare wheel of Lambretta with perfect depression at Rim for safe sitting
Me : Sir woh to gir sakta hai (He can fall off)
He stared at me for a few seconds, wondering if he ever came across a safe and innocent driver. Passed. And later, I never wasted a chance to do everything wrong on Lambretta.

I am not sure if this is funny or sad. They do have a system in place to make sure licenses are not handed out to just anyone. At least in theory.

But trust our jugadoo nature to find a loophole even through this. At this stage I guess we need someone literally at every RTO with a cane in their hand to make sure people do not bend the rules.

I guess they deliberately have loopholes when they design or redesign something like this to make sure corruption never dies.

A few years back my wife went for the LLR test (online examination). Being born and brought up outside of TN, she finds it difficult to read Tamil - and so, selected English as the language for the test.

Jumps in a guy whom she had never met.. Probably an agent representing all the driving schools and here goes their conversation!

RTO guy: Mam, why did you select English?

Wife: I can't read Tamil.

RTO guy: Mam, I can't read English. rl:

Saying this, he goes to the previous page, selects Tamil and in one swift move finishes the test.

I turned 18 last Nov and went to get my LLR.. the RTO guy was shocked that I could click the right option as fast as his memory could answer rl:

Later on, I was in need of the actual DL so I called up a journalist contact (who happens to be linked to the RTO (Hyd)), and with his help I got the card made on the day I passed the test :thumbs up (my friends complained about a 3-week wait)

If I had reversed without doing that on my British driving test, I would have failed. I'm fairly sure that's the case today.

Funny thing. Somehow I have done so much driving alone that, at one time I was very unused to even having a passenger. A couple of times, I swung my left arm to the rear of the passenger seat when someone was sitting in it and slapped them in the face! :Shockked:

rl:

Reversing using only the rear-view mirror is a common habit. I think it is not a good one. But the doing-it-properly posture does get harder as one gets old!

Story from 1990, Jayanagar RTO, summer holidays. We were a group of teenagers who were all trying to get a license at the same time. We all passed the learners license written test together. We would take our parents vehicle and try to take the riding test. Pretty much everyone would fail the first time, and report back the reason. They would all be valid reason. Did not check mirrors, did not show hand signal etc. The first time I took the test, I put my Bajaj Super in first gear and took it off the stand by gently releasing the clutch to get ready for the test. I looked at the inspector and he says "Hange manege hoogu raja, Fail!", Translation "Go home just like that - dear, fail". I didn't even get an opportunity to show him my riding skills. I was so two wheeler crazy, we did all kinds of slow speed skills training. I went back the next week, had read up on all the failure reasons. I took the stand of like an old man, sat down, checked the mirrors, awaited instructions. I aced it. Fees Rs35 + Rs 2 for a revenue stamp (sort of tax). For a total of Rs37 I had my license. Last time I was in Bengaluru, I had to pay an agent Rs3000 to get the same license renewed. Different time, different criteria.

This is a very sad state of affairs.

My friend (hondasamarth12) who turned 18 a few months back went to get his DL at a driving school where they gave him 4 options:

1) Follow the standard procedure for applying, approval which would take a long time.

2) Pay 2000 rupees and get it done faster.

3) Pay 5000 rupees and the instructor will write the test for you and make sure you pass in the driving test.

4) Pay 20000 rupees and come only to collect your license, no test and no verification.

And then we complain about bad drivers on the road.

Greetings,

Story from 1994.

I had Joined 11th.
Dad bought me a new TVS champ and so I needed a license though I was not 18!!

Enter the trusted agent.

He sent someone in my place, though I took the LLR test.
For the driving test i never went.

And I remember, they xeroxing my 10th marksheet, scraping the year with blade and retyping it so that I magically become above 18!

In 2023, as I didn't link it with Aadhar,
I had the chance to apply again in a different state.

I applied online for bike and car.
I appeared at the centre and gave the Learners License test.
Cleared it in 1st attempt.

Few months later took my Polo, parked it. Came home in auto took my bike and helmet.

First I gave the test in loop and H for the car.

Funny thing is the Inspector who was a lady, told I did an error in the H, asked my profession, and passed me.

She didn't ask for the bike test.

I saw many applicants not even entering the test track but still were cleared.

Some things won't change.��

Note: The trusted agents' son is still our trusted agent who got fitness certificate for my 15 year old swift bought in 2007, in my presence, which was repainted and had all functioning accessories ��

This normal and expected of Karnataka, I learnt this too in 2014 when i applied for a DL, they used to have written tests(MCQs) in the Indiranagara (KA03) RTO, now defunct. They failed me twice, i didn't understand, i was very new to the game and spoke to my dad about how i answered it right for sure but keep failing.

He said there's plenty of xerox and fax "shops" outside the RTO, talk to one of those guys, I did, he asked me to sign up for driving classes, i did the classes, paid the money, got everything in 10 days. From there on, every single interaction with the gov involved bribes and lots of running around- passport, sale deed, khata - heck even the vaccine.

The only exception is when i got my marriage certificate in Kerala, paid 70/- application fee and the document was ready and signed in 15 minutes. I silently decided that eventually i must move there.