License application at Department of Transport Management (DOTM) Chabahil, Kathmandu

Disclaimer: This blog post is to specifically give information on how to apply for a driver’s license in DOTM- Chabahil Kathmandu. It is based on a candidate's experience of going through the process of acquiring a motorcycle driving license. Though this blog post is not a definitive guide, we anticipate that this will help new applicants clear a lot of the initial confusion. The process might be different in future, so contact DOTM for up-to-date information. Should you have any confusion/suggestions/feedback you can write those in the comment box below.

DOTM Chabahil Office

Photo Courtesy: Suyasha Koirala
Google Maps

It is not rocket science, but it can baffle a lot of new applicants, with the officials at DOTM (Department of Transport Management) being rather unhelpful in terms of giving advice to fresh applicants. At least I felt that way. Thus, it is always a better idea to make conversation (though stilted) and ask other applicants about the things you are unsure about when you visit any government office. Officials at DOTM behave as if applicants already know where to go and what to do, but that's clearly not the case. You will need to dash from one window to another, and it is very easy to get confused.

If you haven’t had your blood group checked already, you can have it checked at the DOTM office. In my case, I had had my blood group checked already from Chirayu Hospital paying around NPR 120, (if I remember correctly, in 2021), and I had also kept a card issued by the hospital with me, so I could furnish it to them.

Actually, I had applied for a motorcycle driving license online before the lockdown. A nationwide lockdown was enforced soon after I applied,  & DOTM was also closed; as a result, I missed a chance to appear for the Biometric on the date mentioned on my application.

Thus I decided to pay a visit to DOTM to inquire if I could still apply for the license. I was told by the stewardess (didi) there that those who missed their appointment dates due to lockdown must come on Thursday. I visited DOTM Chabahil after 5 months, and luckily I was given a date the following Thursday. I was told by the people there, for regular applicants, if they fail to appear on the appointment date which is mentioned on the application, they need to apply the online license application form all over again. But I saw some people visiting room number 15 to negotiate missed dates.

The process of acquiring or applying for a driving license can be divided into 3 phases.

Phase one: It's the date mentioned in the printed online application form: on which you visit DOTM Chabahil for the Biometric, eye test and pay the required fees.

Phase two: It's the next day after you go for your biometric, you need to go to Nepal Trial Centre Dakshindhoka for the written examination. (Please note: Written examination and practical examination are held at Nepal Driving Trial Centre Dakshindhoka, not Department of Transport Management Chabahil).

Phase three: It's usually the next day after you passed your written examination, you need to go for a trial examination. The venue for the trial is very near to the place where you took your written examination.

Please be advised that you can check the exact date of your written examination and trial on the notice board at the Department of Transportation Management (DOTM) Chabahil.

On the day of Biometric

Photo courtesy: Suyasa Koirala / Google Maps

Firstly, as you enter the main gate of DOTM Chabahil, even if you go there before 10 A.M (i.e. before the office opens) you can take a token from the token machine, which is inside a small counter just inside the DOTM main gate and ahead of the main building. And then wait for your turn. There are chairs for you to sit on. Make sure you take with you the printed Online Application Form, original and a copy of your Citizenship Certificate and Blood Group Card/Certificate (if you already have one, if you don't have it, you can have it checked there for a fee). At 10 am their system starts calling numbers. However, I see a few people going inside the biometric counter without taking turns or ahead of their turns. And strangely, officials also were accepting their applications without checking their tokens. A lot of other applicants and I were questioning why distribute tokens if they are going to operate in such an unsystematic manner?

Also, there were some middlemen assisting applicants to get their turns quickly and counter-staff were accepting such applicants without any questions.

For new applicants, after your token is called, you need to first go to the counter, which is inside the zinc-roof building facing the main entrance to DOTM. You can see display boards mentioning Counter 1, Counter 2 and Counter 3 (pic above). After you go to the counter, they will take your photo and your fingerprints. And write a number on your printed online application and ask you to go to another window to buy a token for the eye test.

On the day I visited, those coming for license renewal and retrial were not taking any tokens, and they were directly waiting in line at the corresponding windows.

I was really disappointed, after I finished my eye-examination the officer there asked me to wait in line, pointing to the line in front of me. I waited there for like 15 minutes, only to find out eventually that the counter there wasn’t where I was supposed to go. Actually, I had tried to confirm with the officer earlier, if I needed to wait in line there, but he didn’t respond. Most of the staff at DOTM give instructions very unclearly. And I was so annoyed at this. In fact, the most helpful person I found at DOTM was the stewardess (Didi) there. She was polite and helped me a lot to find the exact rooms. I am very thankful to her, more than unhelpful staff, who get paid from our salary and hesitate to answer when we ask for some clarification. God bless her!

After the eye examination, you go to the counter to pay Rajaswa. I had paid 500 Rupees rajawso for the written examination. After that you need to go to the final window with the red and blue receipt to have your ID card (Applicant Details card) with a photo printed. Then you are done for the day. 

On the day of the written examination

The written examination is held a day after you go for biometrics. It is held at Nepal Trial Centre Dakshindhoka. To reach the Nepal Trial Center Dakshindhoka, where the written examination and trial are held. you can take a bus to Narayantar (the bus that goes to Boudha, Jorpati)  from Ringroad. There you will see a bridge: cross the bridge and turn right and go straight on along the road along the Bagmati river until you see the signpost telling you to turn left to reach Nepal Driving Trial Centre Dakshindhoka. The written examination hall will be on your right and the practical examination venue will be on your left almost two blocks straight up.

There are small halls. Questions are not particularly tough, and the majority of applicants pass the written examination. From my observation, I found that around 95% or even more passed the written examination.

Make sure you have a pen and your valid ID card (Citizenship Certificate or Passport) while going for the written examination. Also bring with you the Red and Green receipt and 'Applicant Details' paper issued by DOTM. A candidate ahead of me forgot to bring his Citizenship Certificate, and he had asked his sister to send it by his messenger and the police officer let him enter after checking the photo of it from his mobile phone.

For the motorcycle /scooter license written examination, you can find the list of probable questions on this page (click here). Moreover, there are a good number of Youtube channels where you can find all the possible questions. You can note down the ones you are confused about. There will be 20 questions in the examination and you will pass the examination even if you get 10 questions right. There will be no negative marking system, hence it’s always a good idea to make a guess even if you are not sure about the answer.

The examination starts at 11 am. In my case, it had started around 11:30, and my turn had come at around 14:30. You do not need to buy any token for the written examination (But for the trial you need to buy a token; It'll be discussed below). Just wait near the parking area, because at 11am, the officials there will stick some papers containing the names of the participants of the written examination on the wall. It is a good idea to stay very close to the wall where they stick the paper so as soon as they stick it, you can note your name and serial number quickly. It is important that you find the name in the list and most importantly, to note the serial number. Then you come forward, towards the entrance of the written examination venue and wait in line for attendance. The serial number you have noted will assist you to find your name quickly when going for the attendance. If you do not have a serial number it will take time to search your name from the list of 300 or more people, and staff there will ask you to check your serial number yourself. 

Expect a disorganised crowd, pushing you,  trampling upon you and jostling to check the serial number. After the attendance, you go to another nearby line for the written examination. They will check your receipt (the green one) and your valid ID card before allowing you to enter the examination room.

The questions will be basic and you can finish the examination within half an hour. You need to write your serial number or candidate number from the Green Receipt (this green receipt needs to be attached to your answer sheet while submitting it, your name, serial number (number where you found your name) on the answer sheet. You could use Nepali or English language whichever you prefer. After submitting your answer sheet, you can return home and prepare for the actual trial examination the next day. And please be aware that the results are usually published on the same day, if you have submitted your form at Chabahil DOTM; you can find your written examination results on Chabahil DOTM’s Facebook Page. When your written examination results are published, the date for the practical examination will also be mentioned there.

On the day of trial

Please note that the venue for the trial examination at Dakshindhoka Nepal Trial Centre is across the road where the written examination hall is located. As you get out of the main gate of the written examination centre, you need to turn right and walk around 50m to get to the trial centre. There will be two halls. First for Category A & K and second for Category B.

If you passed the written examination, the next day, you need to appear for the trial examination. If the next day is a public holiday, your trial could be on the next working day. In my case, I took my written examination on Friday, and my trial was on Monday. You can know the date of the trial examination from 'Yatayat Chabahil' Facebook page at the time your written examination results are published.

The trial examination starts at 11am. But if you go early, you can also practice at the trial spot paying a fee. For motorcycles, you need to pay NPR 300 for 15 mins. Though, the spot will be crowded and you won’t be able to practice freely, you can take this opportunity to understand the biting point and other stuff and familiarise yourself with the motorcycle. 

Unlike the written examination, you need to purchase a token costing 50 rupees for the trial examination. You could also pay for a practice session at the same counter if you wish to and need to practice there. Personally, I felt that it’s very different at the trial centre from the driving instruction school. 

Just like the written examination, at around 11, in front of the written examination hall, the official there will stick the papers containing the name list and the serial numbers of candidates who can appear in the trial examination on that day. This time also you need to note the serial number, which will be useful later when you enter the trial examination venue after your token number is called. Please note that your token number isn’t your serial number, but it (token number) is the number written on the back (or front) of the receipt you get when you make payment (NPR 50) for the trial examination. They will call candidates on the basis of token numbers. So keep this receipt safely with you.

They call 10 or 20 candidates at a time. So if let’s say your token number is 200, you need to wait for a good few hours. After your token number is called you get inside the hall, tell your serial number so the official there can easily find your name. Then you hand him the token for the trial examination, which he’ll keep with him. And you could go directly to the trial spot and wait there. There’ll be one official, who will check your documents and assign you a certain motorcycle. Please check properly if everything is ok with that motorcycle and after ensuring proceed towards the entrance of the figure 8 symbol, and only enter after you get permission from the traffic police officer. And of course, you understand how the trial examination works.

Finally, if you passed the examination you need to visit the small counter near the trial venue. They’ll check documents and stamp your receipt and you then need to visit the DOTM office Chabahil to pay the required fees and you’ll get a paper.

If you failed the practical examination, you will need to pay the fees again at DOTM office Chabahil. And you can visit DakshinDhoka trial center the next day after you pay the fees, for the practical examination. For a retrial, you need to take tokens and from a Facebook group I found out that you need to go after 10 days of failing the trial examination. After 10 days you could go on any day. After passing one written examination, you can appear in 3 practical examinations within 3 months ( It was 3 months before, but now I heard that it’s been extended to 18 months, but please confirm this yourself).