Like in any other Emirate, one cannot drive a car without a valid licence in Sharjah. Under Article 51 of Federal Law, anyone who violates this law and is caught driving without a licence is subjected to fines and up to three months of imprisonment. Luckily for the residents of Sharjah, acquiring a licence is a fairly simple process. The only challenging part for new drivers is to pass all the driving tests, but driving schools in the Emirate provide adequate training needed for that.
This is a step-by-step guide on how to get a driving licence in Sharjah. Let’s start with the eligibility criteria and basic requirements.
Eligibility Criteria To Get a Sharjah Driving Licence
First and foremost, in order to get a driving licence, you need to meet the eligibility criteria. The minimum age to get a driving licence varies from the type of license you are applying for.
- You need to be at least 17 years old to get a driving licence for motorcycles and for vehicles for people of determination
- At least 18 years old to get a driving licence for light vehicles
- 20 years old to get a driving licence for heavy vehicles like tractors
For residents of some countries, there is some respite and this stringent process is relaxed a little bit. If you hold a valid driving licence from GCC Countries, and other countries including Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, South Africa, Spain, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK or USA, you wouldn’t be counted as a first-time applicant and can convert driving licence in Sharjah by visiting the licencing centre or Ministry of Interior’s website.
Documents Required for Sharjah Driving Licence Application
There are some documents that applicants are required to carry to be allowed entry to acquire the driving licence. Here’s list of all the documents required for driving licence in Sharjah.
- Photocopy of passport and proof of identity and residence
- Photocopy of Emirates ID
- 2 photographs
- NOC from the sponsor (in case of expats)
- Eye test report from an RTA approved eye test centre
Driving Schools In Sharjah
There are a number of driving schools in Sharjah and you have to take a lot of factors into consideration prior to choosing the school. The ideal method to get started and one of the most essential things to do before choosing the driving school is to conduct some thorough research.
Largely thanks to the Internet, one can apply online for the driving licence in Sharjah and all the information like the cost of taking driving licence in Sharjah or number of courses is easily accessible on school’s respective websites. Following is a list of some eminent driving schools in Sharjah.
- Al Qasimia Driving School
Contact Details: +971 65650880 (Landline), +971553467835 (Mobile), +91507863441 (Mobile)
Address: Office no. 14 Al Nasserya Driving Complex – Street 2 – Sharjah
- Al Shamsi Motor Driving School
Contact Details: +971-6-565-5794 (Landline), +971-50-499-6182 (Mobile)
Address: Al Shamsi Driving School, Driving School Complex, Al Nasserya, Sharjah
- Sharjah Driving Institute
Contact Details: +971-6-538-2020
Address: Sheikh Khalid Bin Al Qasimi Street, Near Sharjah Traffic Police, Sharjah
- Al Midfa Driving School
Contact Details: +971-6-565-5746 (Landline), +971-56-876-2014 (Mobile)
Address: Al Nasserya Driving Complex, Near Nasserya Park, Sharjah
Driving Licence Tests In Sharjah
There are a number of tests that are mandatory for applicants to clear in order to get a driving licence. The list of tests applicants must clear to get a driving licence in Sharjah is as follows:
- Vision Test — Driving with an impaired eyesight can have serious repercussions for the driver as well as others on the street. Therefore, your eyesight and color vision needs to be good enough to clearly look at the distant and nearby cars. The optician ensures that your eyesight meets or exceeds the minimum standard set to drive on the streets. It is important that the applicant gets an eye test for Sharjah driving licence only from RTA-approved eye test centres, which charge around AED 150. Some of RTA approved eye test centres in Sharjah include Rivoli Eyezone, Grand Optics, Al Jaber Optical and Yateem Opticians.
- Theory Test — This test determines how much you are aware of the traffic laws and regulations. The test has a total of 35 questions and it is compulsory for the students to get a minimum of 60 percent marks to pass the theory test. There are a number of online resources including a mock theory test on RTA’s website so that you can know where you stand before appearing for the test. Driving schools also preapre candidates well for this test.
- Parking and Road Test — During the road test, the instructor assesses candidates parking and driving skills. Before your parking and driving skills are tested on the road, your driving school conducts an internal parking and road test to prepare you for the next stage. The parking test examines whether the applicant is capable of parking a vehicle in Sharjah without hitting a curb or breaking any traffic rule.
Sharjah Driving Licence Fees and Costs
The total cost of a Sharjah driving licence depends on the school you choose and the number of classes you need to take. However, prior to going to get a licence, it is good to have an idea of how much each process will cost. Following are all the details about the approximate cost of Sharjah driving licence.
File Opening — AED 200
Vision Test — AED 100
Theory Course — AED 600
Practical Training:
Automatic — AED 1400 to 3500
Manual — AED 1200 to AED 3000
Practical Tests:
Parking Test — AED 300
Assessment Test — AED 342
Final Road Test — AED 300
Sharjah Driving Licence Application
Once you’ve completed the requirements stated above, you can obtain your driving licence either by going to the licencing department or from the UAE’s Ministry of Interior’s website.
It is perfectly understandable to get disheartened if you fail the test despite putting in the effort but there is always a second chance and you can apply for the driving licence again.
FAQs
How can I renew my driving licence in Sharjah?
Those who have a Sharjah driving licence need to get it renewed after two years. Drivers who are caught driving with an expired licence will be subjected to a fine. To renew your Sharjah driving licence, you can either visit the Traffic and Licensing Services Centre in Al Ramtha or use the Ministry of Interior United Arab Emirates’ app.
How to exchange driving licence in Sharjah?
If you hold a valid and original driving licence from GCC Countries {Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain} or Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, South Africa, Spain, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK or USA, you can exchange driving licence in Sharjah. Otherwise, you will be considered a first-time applicant.
Once you have a driving licence, you can then look for a car you wish to drive. If you wish to start with a second-hand vehcile, dubizzle has a huge collection of used cars for sale in Sharjah.
To keep up with all the latest news happening in the automotive industry, stay tuned to UAE’s leading auto blog.
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