Re: Share your driving license test experience Thanks Omkar for this thread!
I started riding a geared motorbike before turning 18! I was at Udupi RTO right on the day I turned 18! Was in in 2nd year of PUC. (Read 12th grade/standard). Udupi RTO was in Adiudupi area, right in front of the Helipad and Adiudupi Santhe(Market). Those days, RTO would not entertain coming directly, had to go through an agent. No idea how is it now.
Learner's License:
I had not driven a car, nor was I looking for a LMV license. Was more than happy to get a geared two wheeler license. The agent took me right to the inspector who was a stoutly built man with a thick mustache. He asked me a few question orally. How do you show you are taking a left/right? Show stop sign. Showed me a few symbols on a chart and asked me what it was. I was prepared and answered all question. Got my LL, which disappointingly was a sheet of pre-filled paper with my name and few details written in pen against the blanks, photo and RTO seal and sign. I expected it to be something else.
Driver's License:
Went with my bike, TVS star city. The agent asked me to bring the original RC book, Vehicle PU certificate and Insurance copy. I got it. The agent showed these documents to the same officer, who was sitting under a tree, with a peon holding a few files behind him. I was observing a few female riders with their mopeds wobbly riding straight in a distance and taking a U, trying hard not to put their foot down and return. The officer snapped back at him "Straight hogi, U hankonda ba. Kaal kelige idabaradu!" which means, go straight, take a U and come back. Don't keep your foot down! With 5 years of riding experience under my belt, did it without a sweat. Came back. The RTO officer was not even interested in looking up from his file in hand. May be busy staring at Gandhiji!
Got my License about 15-20 days later, which was booklet. All hand written. With my passport size photo glued on one sheet, with seal and sign.
Now in Final year engineering, I was happy on a bike. Never thought I will drive any time soon as we did not own a car. My cousin was hell bent on getting me a LMV license. He begged me to join a driving class. He gave me a advice which really made me think. He said "Get a car license. You may not have a car now, but learn driving, which is an important life skill". I agreed and joined a driving class for a grand sum of ₹3500, which included 10 driving classes and a license at the end of it.
There were rumors of a "fantastic world class RTO with test track" getting built in Manipal near End Point. The rumors were that due to the track, passing the test would be difficult. It had an 8 track. There were inclines on which they would ask to stop and you had to stop and start the car without rolling behind. But to my luck, the RTO was getting built, but opening was in a distant future.
Got my LL done by the driving class. Similar story to the my bike license. Finished my 10 driving classes, where I proved to be driver with little to no confidence on steering the car. The driving class asked me to submit my license and asked me to appear on a particular date. An RTO officer, sitting below the same tree, asked to go straight down the same road and come back taking a U. My instructor who was sitting beside me asked to hold the steering lightly and let go for accelerator and brake. He used his side of the pedals, held the steering from below, so that the officer could not see. Did the round. This officer too was not at all interested in the test. I was told, I passed and that I would be issued a Smart card instead of a book. Went to the driving school to get my new License in form of a card after about 30 days. I was given back the same book, with an additional page filled out stating the date of issue of LMV license and date of expiry, which is 4 years later to my two wheeler license duly sealed and signed. Apparently the card making machine at Udupi RTO was broken. I was asked to come after a couple of months to get it replaced. I went twice, each time they shooed me off telling the machine was broken. I guess they were too lazy to get it replaced or didn't have any incentive in doing so.
I never bothered going again. Still have the same book, which I have made hard bound now.
The funny thing is, whenever I have been stopped and asked to give my license by the police, they laugh on my face and ask me when did you get your license done? In the 80s? I politely ask them, the license states it is Valid till 2035. Am I mistaken about it's validity? They ask me to get a smart card. I tell them ok and never bother to turn towards the RTO.
Last edited by mm_shen : 21st March 2024 at 18:22.
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