Driving licence for foreigners

Chandani

Hey expats,
hope u can help me. I hv already been in India n I am plannin to go there soon again for a year or something like that. I am tired of the whole bargaining for a rikshaw and would like to drive myself.
I have an international licence (issued in Germany) for car and 50 cc scooter.
I would like to have a licence valid in India for normal scooters and bikes aswell, so first I have to learn how to ride a bike. But I think it would be a vaste of money to do that in Germany so can anybody tell me how I could get the licence in India as being a foreigner? And then ofcourse how to learn to drive but I guess the most important would be the licence.
Thanks a lot!
Chandani

Indojingai

Hi: Welcome to IM.
As you mention that you've been to India... do you still want to drive there??

Better buy a car there and have either of Ramu, Shamu or Chchotu drive it for you... he may have a license.

Good luck.

__________________
I need your clothes, your boots and your motorcycle.

Chandani

Yep, still want to drive there. Think its not that crazy and not everybody can afford a car and a driver. ;-) I am still a student.
Any other advices?

cfhi

er... who is Ramu Shamu or Chchotu? I am also thinking about getting a licence here but i dun have a valid licence with me to convert, so have to go for the whole course thingy here~~

Chandani

Hi cfhi,
but do u know how the procedure is?
Where to go, what to do, how long it takes, how expensive etc.?
Thanks again!

Indojingai

In what city are you?
If the distances you travel is not longer than 5 kilometers, use a bicycle.

In a place where there is local train or metro, using them would be my choice if I were a woman, young, German.

First learn riding a bicycle, then switch to motored things. There are many 2 wheelers in India targetted at women riders. I think there are a few women IMrs as well.

Gueten Natch.

Indojingai

These are the most common names for drivers on hire .. or odd jobs men (yes in Delhi being a driver is an odd job ;-) ). If I remember correctly, you wanted to live close to where you work, GK or somewhere... in which case, if I were you I would choose something called a 'charted bus' .. chat with an educated Delhiwalla .. he will tell you more about it.

Chandani

Dear Indojingai,
what do u mean by 2wheelers targetted to women?

I seriously dont didnt mean to discuss if its a good idea to ride a bike in India. Being a woman or not.
My city of choice most of the time is Jaipur. It might be possible to use a bycicle, but its not convenient in the summer heat and definitely NOT LESS DANGEROUS!!! And I know how to cycle. I rode couple of times a scooter in Goa, but without gear, so I want to learn that.
And then my questions remain about the licence ... can u answer them?

I really appreciate ur caring. But I think I can handle it and if not then I still would like to experience it.

Indojingai

Where to get a license: a RTO (Regional Traffic Authority), larger cities will have a lot of them. Smaller may not have as many or any.

Where to get a thing to drive: local newspaper have hoards of sellers, or take a walk in Karol Bagh etc... take someone (pref. Indian) with you.

Motorbikes - top: 90k, most widely used HH Splendor - 45k
Scooters - Hamara Bajaj - 30k

Learn riding a bicycle at first... if you don't know already.

Chandani

Indojingai,
thanks a lot already,
but then what do I have to do to get the licence? Is it just paperwork? Money? Or how is the (preferably legal) process? All I am afraid of is trouble with police....

Indojingai

Focussed to women: a Scooty (no gears, 50 cc), type of moped - very popular in Jaipur and Pune. Though its not rare to see Indian girls there riding regular/general under 200 CC bikes as well there.

Outsource the license thing to a dealer, generally they stand right outside the RTO, you'll pay a few hundred rupees more than if you were tot go thru the fuss by yourself.

Chandani

And if I want a motorbike with which I can travel longdistances aswell (lets say couple of hundrets km) - not allone of course - how much would I have to pay for that? It can be 1 or 2 years old, that doesnt matter.
And is there such thing as warranty in India?

Chandani

But dont u have to prove that u know how to ride a bike? And then how would I learn it? Is it a good idea to search for a teacher or are friends who know how to ride it good enough?
Guess should try with an automatic scooter first ...

Indojingai

Yes there is a concept of waranty in India.
(your previous question)

They will call you for a test, but there are atleast 20 other things papers/stamps here and there needed before you get to that point of a driving test.

I think if you need to learn as well, better go to a 'driving school' - they will teach, take care of your license and they have 'contact' in teh RTO so for a price its a bit of ease. Also, would you manage to change a wheel by yourself?

Chandani

Hey,
well not right now, but I am confident that I can learn things ... but how expensive would be such a driving school. And then most of all, would they allow foreigners in?
Thanks already so much!