To drive a car/ vehicle or machine in Papua New Guinea requires a driving license. Any person about the age of 18 or above must undergo driving tests before being issued a driving license.
Under the new PNG Motor Traffic Act, there is no Class 2 licence but only Class 3, 4, 5 and 6. To get a Class 3 licence which allows one to drive a vehicle carrying more than eight people, the requirement is that the driver must have a Class 1 licence for one year.
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| PNG Driving License sample. Photo by PNGehow |
“A Class 4 licence is for heavy vehicles. Class 5 is for motorcycles and Class 6 is for buses. If one wants to drive a bus, one must get a PMV permit to go with the Class 6 license.
How to apply for PNG Driving License
All driving licenses are issued by Motor Vehicle Insurance Limited (MVIL),the business arm of PNG Government. You can follow the steps below to get a driving license.
For Papua New Guineans - New learners
- Get Medical test ( eye test)
- Get a a learners permit filled out at MVIL or Central Traffic Office if you are in Port Moresby. Cost is K70 at the moment.
- Pay for Drivers Test Fees at PNG Finance Department at Vulupindi haus (K100 at the moment).
- Go to Boroka Traffic Office to have a driving lessons. Note: you will have to go see them for an appointment to get tested. They'll set a date for you to be get tested. If you are not in Port Moresby, check out your local Traffic office in your province to have the driving testing done.
- After successful test, go back to MVIL or Central Traffic/ your province traffic office to get your driving license .
Note: You can see Driving Schools available in PNG : Driving Schools in PNG
For those who are upgrading from one class to another
From Class 1 to 6 or from 3 to 6,
- Get Medical test ( eye test)
- Get a a learners permit filled out at MVIL or Central Traffic Office in you are in Port Moresby. Cost is K70 at moment.
- Get Driving Log book filled out at MVIL or Central Traffic Office.
- Pay for Drivers Test Fees at PNG Finance Department at Vulupindi haus (K100 at the moment).
- Go to Boroka Traffic Office to have a driving lessons. Note: you will have to go see them for an appointment to get tested. They'll set a date for you to be get tested.
- After successful test, go back to MVIL or Central Traffic office to get your driving license .
For Expatriates
Those who hold foreign driving license can drive in PNG for three months. If you are staying longer than three months, you can follow the procedure mentioned above to apply for PNG driving license.