Uganda Driving Permit Classes and Fees: New, Renewal and Lapsed Costs

Driving permit fees in Uganda depend on how long the permit lasts and what you drive. A new five-year permit for an ordinary car costs UGX 330,000, shorter permits cost less, and motorcycle and tricycle riders pay less to renew than everyone else.

This guide covers what each permit class allows, the full fee table for new, renewal, lapsed and exchanged permits, and how to pay and apply through the Uganda Driver Licensing System (UDLS) without being overcharged.

What are Uganda's driving permit classes?

Uganda groups permits by the vehicle you drive, not by a single "car" or "motorcycle" licence. The current groups come from the Traffic and Road Safety Act, 1998 (section 36, as amended by Act 6 of 2020) and UDLS's own class guidance, checked November 2026.

Most boda boda riders need class A or A1. A private car driver needs class B. If you're weighing a motorcycle business against something bigger, our guide to low-capital business ideas in Uganda breaks down what boda boda and taxi operators spend to get started.

Age and experience rules differ by class too. Classes A, A1, B, B1 and G only need a learner permit and the 18-year minimum age. Classes BE, C1, C1E, C, CE, D1, D1E, D, DE and F require you to already hold class B, be at least 25 years old, and, for D1, D1E, D and DE specifically, have 5 years' driving experience in class B.

How much does a new driving permit cost in Uganda?

A first-time full permit costs the same across vehicle classes; only the validity period changes the price, per UDLS.

Before a full permit, every applicant gets a learner permit first, valid for three months. That costs UGX 60,000, or UGX 40,000 if you're only learning classes A, A1 or B1 and don't already hold a class B permit or another category. A driving test at the Inspectorate of Vehicles (IOV) adds UGX 25,000 per class, paid separately.

How much does it cost to renew a Uganda driving permit?

Renewal is where the motorcycle discount shows up. UDLS charges a lower fee if every class on your permit is A1, A or B1 only.

You need your original (even if expired) permit, your National ID or NIN, and proof of payment to renew. Pay through the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) website or the Ministry of Works and Transport e-services portal, which issues a payment registration number (PRN); UDLS branches don't take cash. If you'd rather pay the PRN with mobile money, check what your network charges on the MTN and Airtel Uganda money charges guide first, since the fee changes with the amount.

What if your permit has lapsed?

UDLS doesn't cancel a permit for renewing late, but after 24 months (two years) past the expiry date, it's officially lapsed. To renew a lapsed permit, you first return to the Inspectorate of Vehicles to retest for every class on the old permit, then pay the same renewal fees shown above. There's no separate "lapsed licence" price list beyond the retest requirement.

Adding a class, replacing or exchanging a permit

Adding a class always needs a fresh IOV test at UGX 25,000, on top of the class-extension fee. If you already hold class B or a non-motorcycle category and want to add A, A1 or B1, you pay the full UGX 121,000 and UGX 60,000 learner fee, not the discounted rate, because the discount only applies when your whole permit is motorcycle or tricycle classes.

To exchange a foreign permit, you need a valid driving permit from your home country issued after you turned 18, plus a visa or work permit valid for at least a day (tourist visas don't qualify).

How to apply for a driving permit online in Uganda

1. Get a learner permit. Download the application form from UDLS, fill in the medical section with a registered doctor, enrol with a licensed driving school, and pay the learner fee through the URA website.
2. Learn to drive and get your completion certificate from the driving school.
3. Sit the IOV test (UGX 25,000 per class) at least 30 days after your learner permit is issued; IOV sends your certificate of competence straight to UDLS.
4. Generate a PRN for the full-permit fee on the URA website or the Ministry of Works e-services portal (services.works.go.ug), and pay by bank, mobile money or PayWay. It's the same payment flow URA uses for other IDs, including the one behind Uganda passport fees.
5. Visit a UDLS branch with your application form, payment proof, and National ID (a NIRA confirmation letter or photocopy works if you don't have the card) or passport for foreigners. UDLS captures your biometrics and issues the permit.

The Kampala head office at the Railway Station on Nasser Road usually issues permits within an hour of your visit; branches outside Kampala can take up to 48 hours. If you're registering any kind of transport business that needs a permit for a driver, our guide to registering a business in Uganda with URSB covers the separate registration cost.

Mistakes that cost you money on a Uganda driving permit

• Paying cash at a UDLS branch. UDLS doesn't accept cash. Every fee goes through URA or the Ministry of Works portal first, by bank, mobile money or PayWay.
• Paying the wrong assessment. If you generate and pay the wrong PRN on the URA system, UDLS can't process your permit on that payment. You'll have to pay the correct fee, then take both receipts to a URA office and file a tax claim form for a refund on the one paid in error. That can take weeks.
• Assuming an old permit is invalid. If your permit was issued under the old Face Technologies system, you don't need to replace it early. It's valid until its printed expiry date.
• Letting a permit lapse past two years. Once you cross the 24-month mark, renewal isn't just a fee: you have to retest at IOV first, which means another driving test and the UGX 25,000 charge per class, same as a new applicant.
• Not checking which discount applies. The lower A1/A/B1 renewal and class-extension rate only applies when every class on your permit is a motorcycle or tricycle class. Mixing in class B or anything heavier means you pay the standard rate.

As of November 2026, these are the fees published on the UDLS site; check its frequently asked questions page before paying, since fees are revised from time to time. For more government cost guides like this one, see our Uganda hub.

Frequently asked questions

How much is a driving permit in Uganda?

A new full permit costs UGX 135,000 for one year, UGX 230,000 for three years, or UGX 330,000 for five years, the same across vehicle classes. Renewing costs UGX 130,000 to UGX 310,000, dropping to UGX 70,000 to UGX 200,000 if your permit only covers motorcycle or tricycle classes (A1, A, B1).

How much does a motorcycle (boda boda) permit cost in Uganda?

A class A or A1 learner permit costs UGX 40,000 if that's your only class, and a new full permit still costs the standard UGX 135,000 to UGX 330,000 by validity. The saving comes at renewal and when adding a class, where A1, A and B1 pay roughly half the standard rate.

Can I apply for a Uganda driving permit online?

You generate your payment registration number and pay online, through the URA website or the Ministry of Works and Transport e-services portal. But you still have to visit a UDLS branch in person to submit your documents and have your biometrics captured before the permit is issued.

What happens if I don't renew my driving permit on time?

Nothing is cancelled immediately. Your permit simply lapses. If it's been more than 24 months since it expired, though, you must retest at the Inspectorate of Vehicles before UDLS will renew it, on top of paying the normal renewal fee.

What documents do I need to renew a driving permit in Uganda?

Your original permit (even if expired), your National ID or NIN (or a NIRA confirmation letter if you don't have the card), and proof that you've paid the renewal fee through URA or the Ministry of Works portal.

How old do you have to be to get a driving permit in Uganda?

18 for classes A, A1, B, B1 and G. For heavier classes like C, D and DE, you must already hold a class B permit, be at least 25, and for the passenger classes D1, D1E, D and DE, have 5 years of driving experience in class B.