Obtaining a driver’s license in Nigeria is not such a difficult venture, and we are going to discuss the procedure here in this article. There is even now a digital version of the Nigerian driver’s license, the e-license – available as an app. However, it is advised that you follow the due process of getting trained as a certified driver – psychologically and physically fit to drive safely on our Nigerian roads, obey traffic rules, and recognize traffic signs to reduce the spate of accidents that have been occurring over the years. Such road accidents are largely due to improperly trained drivers who learnt a bit of driving from their fellows or even loved ones, but throw caution to the wind afterwards and ignore traffic rules. The steps you need to follow in order to get a valid driver’s license in Nigeria are discussed below.
Nigerian Driver’s license: Classes of License
There are 10 classes of driver’s license in Nigeria – denoted by the letters A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J and V. Each class describes the category of vehicle the license holder is allowed to operate:
- Class A: Motorcycle
- Class B: Motor vehicle of less than 3 tonnes weight (other than a motorcycle, taxi, stage carriage or omnibus)
- Class C: Motor vehicle of less than 3 tonnes weight (other than a motorcycle)
- Class D: Motor vehicle other than a motorcycle, taxi, stage carriage or omnibus excluding articulated vehicles drawing a trailer.
- Class E: Motor vehicle other than a motorcycle or articulated vehicles.
- Class F: Agricultural machines and tractors
- Class G: Articulated vehicles
- Class H: Earth-moving vehicles
- Class J: Special for physically handicapped person
- Class V: Convoy driving (that is, driving a senior government official or political office holder, in a team of cars)
If you apply for one class, you get a single class license. You are permitted to apply for a maximum of 3 class licenses at once – you will be issued a multiple-class license. You will of course pay for each separate class of license you apply for. You can also change or upgrade your license class to a higher one, or add another class category to the one you already have.
Requirements/Conditions For Obtaining a New Driver’s license in Nigeria
Take note of these conditions you must necessarily meet in order to be eligible for a new Nigerian driver’s license:
- You must be at least 18 years old
- You are required to undergo a driver’s training at an accredited driving school. While the training is ongoing, you will be issued a driver’s permit to insure you against the law, that you are still a learner (in case of any accident).
- Once the learning period is completed, you driving instructor will direct you to a Vehicle Inspection Officer (VIO) at a Driver’s License Center – who will test your skills and knowledge in driving. The Driver’s License center is domiciled at the Nigerian Road Safety Corps (FRSC) offices around the country.
- If you pass this test, you will be issued a Certificate of Proficiency by the Vehicle Inspection Officer. There is a specific driving certificate number assigned to you by the driving school on that certificate – you will need it to apply for a Nigerian driver’s license thereafter.
- Applications for a new driver’s license can be legally processed on these websites:
https://nigeriadriverslicense.org/ OR https://nigeriadriverslicence.frsc.gov.ng/
- On the driver’s license registration portal, click on the tab for ‘DL application form‘, select ‘New Drivers License Application’ and then type in your Certificate number (the number on your Driver’s Certificate of Proficiency). Then proceed to open the driver’s license application form to fill in all your necessary personal details /data and submit.
- You can make electronic payment for your driver’s license directly on the registration website in the ‘Application acknowledgement’ section, or at accredited banks which will be made known to you. The cost of a Class A license is N5,000 for 3 years, or N8,400 for 5 years validity period. Whereas to apply for other classes, the cost is N10,000 for 3 years, or N15,000 for 5 years validity period. You can choose to apply for multiple classes – each class will be charged separately.
- You will be required to print out the completed online application form, and an Acknowledgement slip from the website.
- You will present your printed application form first to an officer at the Board of Internal Revenue (BIR), and secondly to the Vehicle Inspection Officer (VIO) at the Driver’s License Center of the FRSC office for a confirmation.
- The Vehicle Inspection Officer will capture your biometric data (fingerprints, passport photograph etc). Thereafter you will be given a temporary driver’s license valid for only 60 days. It is advisable to keep tracking the status of your application on the driver’s Iicence application website by selecting ‘Track DL Application Status’, where your date of birth and Driver’s License number /application ID will be needed to check the details.
- Please note that if you have applied for, and obtained a Nigerian driver’s license but it has expired, you only need to fill an online form to renew your application on the FRSC driver’s license (DL) website.
