How to get a driving permit in Uganda
The whole process in one place: the learner's permit, driving school, the IOV test, which class you need, what it costs, and how to renew or replace your permit. Checked against UDLS in October 2026.
Step by step
- 1. Check your age
You must be at least 18 to get a learner's permit for a motorcycle (A, A1), a car (B), a tricycle (B1) or a tractor (G). Heavier classes come later, once you already hold class B.
- 2. Enrol at a licensed driving school
You need proof of enrolment to apply for a learner's permit, and the school puts you forward for the test. Individuals cannot book the test themselves.
- 3. Get a learner's permit
Bring your National ID (NIN), proof of enrolment, the completed form with its medical section filled in by a registered medical practitioner, and proof of payment. The learner's permit lasts 3 months and can be renewed.
- 4. Pay with a PRN, not cash
Generate a payment registration number (PRN) on the URA or Ministry of Works eServices portal, then pay at a bank, by mobile money or through PayWay. UDLS branches do not take cash.
- 5. Pass the IOV test
When your school says you are ready, it sends you to the Inspectorate of Vehicles (IOV) test. Each class is a separate test, and your instructor attends. Pass, and the IOV stamps your learner's permit and sends your result to UDLS.
- 6. Collect your full permit
At least 30 days after your learner's permit was issued, go to any UDLS branch with your NIN, a PRN and the original learner's permit stamped by the IOV. UDLS captures your biometrics and prints the permit. The IOV stamp is valid for 12 months, so do not wait too long.
Get ready for the test
Most of what trips people up is the rules and the road signs. Uganda Driving Permit Practice gives you exam-style questions with answers, timed mock exams, and keeps bringing back the questions you get wrong until they stick. Practise.
Driving permit classes
Each class is a separate test and a separate fee. Minimum ages are from UDLS. The 2023 regulations add more experience rules for some upgrades, so confirm with your driving school before you apply.
| Class | Vehicles | Minimum |
|---|---|---|
| A | Motorcycles over 125cc | 18 |
| A1 | Light motorcycles, 125cc or less | 18 |
| B | Cars and light vehicles up to 3,500kg, up to 8 passenger seats | 18 |
| B1 | Tricycles and quadricycles | 18 |
| G | Agricultural tractors | 18 |
| BE | Class B with a heavier trailer | 25, holding B |
| C1 | Goods vehicles 3,500kg to 7,500kg | 25, holding B |
| C | Goods vehicles over 3,500kg | 25, holding B |
| CE | Class C with a trailer over 750kg | 25, holding B |
| D1 | Minibuses, 9 to 16 passenger seats | 25, 5 years on B |
| D | Buses, 9 to 30 passenger seats | 25, 5 years on B |
| DE | Large buses, over 30 passenger seats | 25, 5 years on B |
| F | Special machinery such as graders and bulldozers | 25, holding B |
Driving permit fees
In Uganda shillings, from the UDLS rates page (October 2026). Motorcycle and tricycle classes have had lower fees since 1 August 2024. If you already hold class B, adding A, A1 or B1 costs the standard rate.
| Item | Standard | A, A1, B1 |
|---|---|---|
| Learner's permit (3 months) | 60,000 | 40,000 |
| Full permit, 1 year | 135,000 | 100,000 |
| Full permit, 3 years | 230,000 | 130,000 |
| Full permit, 5 years | 330,000 | 250,000 |
| Renewal, 1 year | 130,000 | 70,000 |
| Renewal, 3 years | 210,000 | 100,000 |
| Renewal, 5 years | 310,000 | 200,000 |
| Duplicate (lost, stolen, damaged) | 121,000 | 60,000 |
| Adding a class | 121,000 | 60,000 |
| IOV test, per class | 25,000 | 25,000 |
Renewing your permit
Generate and pay a PRN, then take your original permit (or a police letter if it is lost or damaged) and your National ID or passport to a UDLS branch. Renewal is in person only. UDLS sends an SMS reminder before your permit expires. If it has been expired for more than 24 months, it lapses and you must retest at the IOV first.
Common questions
- How much is a driving permit in Uganda?
For a car (class B), the learner's permit is UGX 60,000, the IOV test is UGX 25,000, and the full permit is UGX 135,000 for 1 year, 230,000 for 3 years or 330,000 for 5 years. Motorcycle and tricycle classes (A, A1, B1) cost less: UGX 40,000 for the learner's permit and 100,000 to 250,000 for the full permit. Driving school fees are separate.
- How long does it take to get a driving permit in Uganda?
The learner's permit must be at least 30 days old before you can apply for the full permit, so plan for at least a month of lessons. Once you have passed the IOV test, UDLS says the head office issues the permit in about an hour and branches outside Kampala within 48 hours.
- Can I renew my driving permit online?
No. UDLS says applications and renewals are done in person in Uganda. You can generate and pay the PRN online, then take your old permit, National ID and payment to a UDLS branch.
- What happens if my permit expired a long time ago?
Renewing late does not cancel your permit, but once it has been expired for more than 24 months it lapses, and you have to retest at the IOV before you can renew.
- What do I do if I lose my driving permit?
Get a police report, generate and pay a PRN for a duplicate, then go to a UDLS branch with the police report, the payment and your National ID. They capture your biometrics again and issue the duplicate.
- How do I get a boda boda permit?
The same way as any other class: a learner's permit for class A or A1, lessons at a licensed driving school, the IOV test, then the full permit. Motorcycle classes have had lower fees since 1 August 2024.
- Is it a driving permit or a driving licence?
Both names are used. Most people say driving permit, while the 2023 regulations and UDLS now say driving licence. They mean the same card.
Ready for the theory test? Practise exam-style questions, free to start and works offline.
Sources
- UDLS: apply for your full driving licence
- UDLS: get a learner's licence
- UDLS: driving licence rates
- UDLS: add classes to your licence
- UDLS: renewing a driver's licence
- UDLS: renew a lapsed licence
- UDLS: how to get a duplicate licence
- UDLS: frequently asked questions
- The Independent: permit fees cut for motorcyclists (1 Aug 2024)
- Monitor: new rules on driving permit tests (26 May 2021)
An independent guide, not affiliated with UDLS, the IOV or any government body. Fees and rules change: check udls.co.ug before you pay.