How to Get a Driver’s Licence in Papua New Guinea

The Road Traffic Authority sets the licensing rules, but it states that driver-licensing services are delivered through:

Motor Vehicles Insurance Limited, or MVIL; and
participating provincial government traffic registries.

Before travelling, contact your nearest MVIL office or provincial traffic registry to confirm:

This is important because the counter, payment and testing arrangements can differ between NCD and the provinces

At minimum, prepare:

The RTA may require a medical certificate signed and dated by a medical practitioner confirming whether you are medically fit to control the relevant class of vehicle.

If you normally wear glasses, take them to the eyesight test. If you complete the test wearing glasses, your permit or licence may be endorsed “Spectacles,” meaning you must wear them whenever you drive.

Complete Form 1 – Application for a Learner’s Permit.

The form asks for information including:

full name;
date and place of birth;
residential and postal address;
nationality;
physical description;
class of vehicle;
details of any current licence;
medical conditions that could affect driving; and
your signature and declaration.

You can obtain the form from the licensing counter or download the official learner’s permit application form from [https://rta.gov.pg/pdfs/forms/Form1.pdf?] .

Complete the form carefully. Your name and date of birth should match your identification documents exactly.

The licensing authority may require you to pass:

a theoretical or road-rules knowledge test;
an eyesight test; and
a medical examination.

Prepare for questions about:

road signs and markings;
traffic lights;
intersections and right-of-way;
speed limits;
overtaking;
parking;
pedestrian crossings;
seatbelts;
alcohol and drug restrictions;
safe following distances;
accident procedures; and
the responsibilities of learner drivers.

Do not assume the test is merely a formality. Learn the road rules before applying.

The official scheduled fee for issuing a learner’s permit is K70.

Ask for an official receipt and keep it. Do not pay an unofficial agent or individual who promises to obtain a licence without the required process.

There may be separate expenses for:

medical or eyesight examinations;
photographs and photocopies;
driving lessons;
practical test arrangements; and
transport to the licensing and testing locations.

Confirm these expenses locally because they are not all included in the K70 permit fee.

A learner’s permit may be issued for up to 12 months. Check that the following information is correct before leaving:

spelling of your name;
date of birth;
vehicle class;
issue and expiry dates; and
any restrictions or conditions.

The authority may place conditions on:

the type of vehicle you may drive;
speed;
permitted driving hours;
permitted locations; or
use of a driving logbook.

You must hold your learner’s permit for at least three months before applying for a provisional licence.

Rules for Learner Drivers

While driving a car on a public road, you must:

carry a current learner’s permit;
be accompanied by someone holding a current driver’s licence or an authorised driving-test officer;
display an approved L plate at both the front and rear of the vehicle;
obey all conditions written on your permit; and
complete a logbook if the authority requires one.

The L plate must show a black letter L on a yellow background and must be clearly visible.

A learner must not operate a PMV, taxi or private-hire vehicle while it is carrying passengers or operating for hire.

A motorcycle learner:

must display an approved L plate at the rear; and
must not carry a passenger.
What to Practise

Practise until you can safely and consistently perform:

pre-driving vehicle checks;
seat and mirror adjustment;
smooth starting and stopping;
steering and lane control;
correct use of indicators;
changing gears, if using a manual vehicle;
observing mirrors and blind spots;
moving into and out of traffic;
turning at intersections;
giving way correctly;
hill starts;
reversing;
three-point turns;
parallel or angle parking;
maintaining a safe following distance;
responding to pedestrians;
driving through roundabouts;
safe overtaking;
controlling the vehicle in rain or poor road conditions; and
emergency braking.

It is better to learn from a competent instructor than to copy the bad habits of an experienced but careless driver.

Before booking the practical test, make sure:

you have held the correct learner’s permit for at least three months;
the permit has not expired;
you have completed any required logbook;
you can pass another eyesight test if required; and
you can safely drive without assistance.

Ask your licensing office where the practical test is conducted and how to book it. The testing location and payment procedure may vary between NCD and provincial centres.

Confirm whether you must supply the test vehicle. If so, the vehicle should be:

currently registered;
insured as required;
roadworthy;
suitable for the licence class;
fitted with functioning seatbelts;
displaying learner plates; and
free of serious mechanical defects.

Check the vehicle’s lights, indicators, horn, brakes, mirrors, tyres and windscreen before the test.

Bring:

your original learner’s permit;
identification;
completed logbook, if required;
application or appointment documents;
payment receipt;
eyesight or medical results, if required; and
the test vehicle’s registration information if you are supplying it.

During the test, the officer will assess whether you can control the vehicle and use public roads safely. Common reasons for failure may include:

failing to check mirrors or blind spots;
not indicating;
failing to give way;
speeding;
poor lane discipline;
dangerous overtaking;
striking the kerb;
losing control of the vehicle;
ignoring signs or traffic lights; or
requiring the examiner to intervene.

If you fail, ask what you need to improve and when you may sit the test again.

After passing the practical test, complete Form 2 – Application for Driver’s Licence.

You will generally need:

the completed Form 2;
your current learner’s permit;
written evidence that you passed the practical test;
your completed logbook, if one was required;
eyesight-test results;
proof of identity;
photographs, if required locally; and
the prescribed fee.

Download the official driver’s licence application form.

The official fee to issue or renew a provisional licence is K70.

Provisional-Licence Conditions

A provisional licence is valid for up to 12 months and may be renewed for a further 12 months.

When driving a car, display an authorised P plate clearly at the front and rear. The plate must show a red letter P on a white background.

A motorcycle provisional driver displays the P plate at the rear.

Carry your provisional licence while driving and observe any conditions printed on it.

You can apply for a full licence after holding the appropriate provisional licence for the previous 12 months.

You will generally need:

Form 2;
your provisional licence;
proof of identity;
an eyesight test, if required;
photographs, if requested; and
payment of the selected full-licence fee.

The official full-licence fees are:

Licence period    Official fee
1 year    - K70
2 years    - K130
3 years    - K180
4 years    - K230
5 years    - K280

The five-year licence gives the lowest average annual cost, provided you can afford the K280 upfront. See the official RTA schedule of fees.

Expected Timeline and Cost
Fastest lawful timeline
Stage    Minimum period
Learner’s permit    At least 3 months before provisional application
Provisional licence    12 months before full-licence application
Minimum total time    Approximately 15 months

Processing delays, failed tests or an expired permit can make the process longer.

Minimum official licensing fees
Item    Fee
Learner’s permit    K70
Provisional licence    K70
One-year full licence    K70
Minimum official total    K210

The K210 total does not include medical tests, photographs, photocopies, lessons, practical-test expenses, travel or other locally administered charges.

Important Mistakes to Avoid
Do not practise on a public road before receiving your learner’s permit.
Do not drive alone while holding a learner’s permit.
Do not forget the front and rear L or P plates.
Do not let your learner’s permit expire before completing the practical test.
Do not lose your test or payment receipts.
Do not use unofficial agents offering a licence without testing.
Do not pay money without receiving an official receipt.
Do not take an unregistered or unsafe vehicle to the practical test.
Do not apply for the wrong vehicle class.
Do not assume that driving experience automatically qualifies you for a licence.

A full licence can be renewed for one to five years using Form 2. Bring your existing licence, proof of identity and the prescribed fee. The authority may require another eyesight or medical examination.

Begin the renewal process before your licence expires. Driving with an expired licence is unlawful.

Lost, Damaged or Destroyed Licence

If your permit or licence is lost, damaged or destroyed, PNG’s licensing rules require you to notify the authority within seven days using a statutory declaration explaining what happened.

You may then apply for a replacement using Form 21. The scheduled replacement fees are:

Learner’s permit: K70
Provisional licence: K70
Full licence: the corresponding one-to-five-year licence fee