Driving License in Muscat, Oman - My experience

XTang Bahrain/UAE/KSA Expert

11978POSTS

8 years ago

aswadjoshi wrote:
Dear Expert Expats

My driving instructor told me Oman driving license is valid in all countries in the world i.e it is effectively an international driving license .

Now I am taking this with information with a pinch of salt !

Can anybody confirm whether this is true ?My second doubt is whether DL is valid in Dubai , other GCC countries at least ?

Please note I am not looking for detailed procedure for converting the DL in other country.

Thanks in advance .

As far as I know, you can drive on any GCC licences in all GCC countries as a visitor. Once you get a work permit or residence, you need to convert to that country's license. Some countries are a bit relaxed about this in terms of enforcement - the issue only really surfaces if you are in an accident.

Internationally it is the same if you want to rent cars and drive them. You can rent cars anywhere in the world with a DL and an international driving permit. Most times, rental companies would not even bother to ask for IDP if your DL has English script and accept it as-is. In this case, Oman is no different from UAE or even other countries electronic driving cards. I have had no issues in renting cars with either my UAE, Bahrain or even Pakistani license; all were treated the same in the UK, Europe and US. And I did not ever need to use an IDP except in stricter countries like Japan/Russia.

The real question is whether you can convert your Oman license to a local license, say in Europe, if you were to move there. The answer is no. Very few countries would accept for that to happen and almost none in Europe or UK. Barring a few exceptions here and there but laws vary - for example, you can convert a driving license from some countries of South america to a Spanish one in Spain but then other countries in the EU won't do the conversion or even consider the new Spanish license as valid in their territories.

Neilz Member

12POSTS

8 years ago

#42

Absolutely...one who has and is undergoing the ordeal can surely connect to this

shekarpithani New member

4POSTS

8 years ago

#43

Dear Varad,

In how many test were you able to get the Driving License in Oman.

Guide me if you had taken classes based on Hourly rates or Contract.

I am moving from Dubai, U.A.E to Sohar, Oman. I have a Automatic driving license in U.A.E and i see that i will have to undergo the test as you had guided earlier.

Regards

Shekar

dmahato92 Member

2POSTS

7 years ago

#44

good one

Shahid Saiyed Member

1POSTS

7 years ago

#45

Hi Vinod,

Thanks for the complete info on driving licence, need to ask that, is it necessary to take a gap of 10 days for road test after drum and slop.

I am done with drum and slop on 13th, now my ustad says that I cannot appear for road test, he said we need to keep a gap of 10 days.

Its a rule he said, pls guide if possible.

Thanks.

Vmp Active member

30POSTS

7 years ago

#46

Sir, my husband in visit visa to oman, is tat possible for him to get dl in oman

Naveen Kumar lotla Member

2POSTS

7 years ago

#47

Can I drive the car in Oman based on Indian driving license??? & Wats the fee for oman driving license on reference with Indian license??

GuestPoster411 Guest

0POSTS

7 years ago

#48

Hi Naveen Kumar lotla,

Your Indian Driving Licence is considered worthless in Oman.

With an international driving llicence, you may drive in Oman - however, for a limited period of time only.

If you would wish to drive in Oman on a more continuing basis, then, I am afraid you would have to get yourself an Omani Driving Licence. Well, it is easier said than done as the process to obtain a local driving licence is pretty arduous and a costly affair.

I would urge you to read the various other posts on the same subject in the forum so that you understand the process of getting an Omani driving licence and the struggles involved.

Ebola09 New member

5POSTS

7 years ago

#49

Successfully passed drum & slope test today in 2nd attempt... Thanks to God..

Getting ready for the Road practice:)

Harry Crumble Active member

28POSTS

6 years ago

#50

Sujoysengupta wrote:
Hi Bharat,

I have a Greek friend in Oman who not only drives with his International license but has also bought a car with it. He doesn't have an Omani license. However, after going through the threads here, I got this impression that there are different sets of rules for people from the sub continent and Europeans. I might be wrong but that's the impression I got. Somebody on the ground or who has gone through the process would definitely be better suited to answer this query.

Thre authorities in the GCC countries seem liked to drop the
chaotic behaviour on their roads.
which is caused by expats from undelevoped countries.
This is a 'question' of public safety.
Also your own! And they are right!

Some asked why indian dl is not valid as one stated here in
India a dl is not mandatory. This answered its question by itself.
Then you come over to Europe or a Commonwealth country and
wonder why you have to repeat the full process again. With much
more personal effort and expenses then ever before!

Greek a.e. is part of the EU and they had to adapt their legislations
to Brussels standards.
The purpose is to keep this uneducated "drivers" from 3rd world
countries away from public roads. Period.

The majority of the euro member states demand a minimum 20+ hours
of driving school with an approved driving teacher.
Russia demands 55 hours driving lessons and 30 hours of theory
training and a clean legal reputation, just to note that here.
Some euro countries 55 hours due to their bad experiences they had in
the pre-euro era with drunken and overspeeding drivers which caused deads.

Training cars are equipped with double pedalry - to stop the student
on fails.
But first, before any driving lessons can be taken, you have to pass a
mandatory first aid training of 20 hours. Then to pass a mandatory
driving and physics training of 40 hours. To learn to know the behaviour
of a car a truck, or a motor bike. Its about physical and logical knowledge
of moving objects.

When you passed this, you can go hire a teacher to take lessons in theory
which examen differs from country to country from 35 to 140 questions, by
10 to 30 fails. 30 min. time to finish the test.
You have 3 attempts to pass the theory examen. When you failed it 3
times your student driving license is rejected for 12 months and you
have to pass a mandatory psychological test. Because there where so
many incompetent 'drivers' the legal prerequisites had been lifted.
Cheaters are excluded from any tests or driving and will be prosecuted.
That is why things work here, and in the sinkholes not.

In the most euro contries you're licensed when you passed a driving test
of 45 min (driving city, parking, reverse parking, parking on slope and/or
hill, avoid dangerous situations, recognize harmful conditions, driving at
night, driving on a highway, driving in rain or snow, securing of the vehicle,
proper placement of infants, animals and baggage, securing in the event of
an accident.) Two failures will be accepted by the expert. Otherwise, back
to school. The same regulations apply as for the theory examen.
Drive with a trailer or a bus with more then 7 add. passengers demands
additional training. And another license class.

Motor bikers have to pass the same pre-skill education as motor car drivers,
to make the class for bikes over 125ccm after 2 years, you have to take
a mandatory driver skill training of 25 hours, a clean driver reputation
(police and prosecution dep.) and pass a 45 min road test.

Truck aka commercial drivers have to take mandatory training of 80
hours of theory and practical knowledge of a commercial vehicle.
For this over 3.5 ton total mass. Prerequisites to pass the theory
examen are the same as for vehicle class applicants.
The final commercial license will be granted after 160 to 200 hours
(differs by country) or a year of single driving and a clean driver reputation
(police and prosecution dep.).

Newbs from age 18 to 24 who do not commit major traffic violations
within 2 years since they passed their test can keep their driving license.
Newb drivers caught driving under drugs, medicaments or alcohol
(amount of alc. varies by country) their license is rejected and they have
to pass again the full driving training. After a positive psycholgical
test. Drivers caught more then 5 times are excluded from driving any
motor vehicle for life time. Period.

From my view, if people fail in more then 3 times to pass such a test
they are not qualified to drive any motor vehicle. Period.

Slow down, move over

sachinincec New member

9POSTS

6 years ago

#51

Thanks for the information. I have an Indian license and wanted to know if i could get exempted on the Drum and Slope tests. If so, what is the whole process? What should we communicate or give to the ROP? Any info on this is appreciated.

Sachin