Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Driving License Renewal Process

After a long time of idleness on this blog, here comes a post
Today, I had the privilege of getting my driver's permit renewed and well, it wasn't such a bad experience
Two things which were worse than before
1. The renewal limit is 5 years max. (as opposed to 10 years when last I had it renewed)
2. Once the process is complete, the license is provided the next day ... so atleast two visits are required :(

The process starts from the reception counter where the form is provided for Rs. 5. There are two forms, one for license and other for medical. The documents required are
1. Two photographs
2. CNIC Copy
3. Original Driver's license OR in case of lost license, FIR Copy, License Copy and Affidavit

The affidavit is a new requirement. Thankfully, the process is simple. There is an oath commissioner sitting outside who will provide you with an affidavit for Rs. 100 only (although affidavit stamp paper is worth Rs. 20)

With this set ready, go straight inside. Beware that there are vultures everywhere. And here, I am not talking about agents found outside passport office; they are the people on the reception and right before the actual room where the process is being done. They benefit from the fact that people do not know what to do ... like this one guy on the reception asked me for Rs. 3800/- in total for the whole process promising me only 30min of total time (ironically, it took me only 25min without bribing anyone)

Anyways, to put it in simple words, the process is something like that of passport office, there is this big room, with different counters numbered from 1 to 5 and you simply need to traverse through each of them. These are

1. Data Entry Step. This is the computer people punching in the data
2. Medical Payment. This is where you get a slip for the medical check-up (eye sight only). You need to pay Rs. 100/- here to get a small slip
3. Medical Check-up. This is where a doctor asks you a couple of characters from a sight board and certifies that you are good to go :P
4. Post Office for Payment. This is where you need to pay your renewal or new license fees. I paid Rs. 1160/- here (Actually, they took Rs. 1200/- ... never gave me back Rs. 40/- change :P)
5. Picture Slip and Lamination Charges. Yes, you need to provide another bit of money here ... surprisingly, this is also legit :P ... Anyways ... you get a slip for photograph and need to pay Rs. 250/- for lamination
6. Picture room. You sit and in a flash, a picture is taken. This is the last step

There you go ... process complete. I guess I was lucky that there wasn't a long queue otherwise it takes more than 25min :) (specially because people who have paid hefty amounts keep coming ahead of you)

Next day, come and collect the license and keep away from this office for the next five years ... Cheers!!!