Simple steps to driving legally

This week's article on procedures necessary for motor vehicle transactions, Tax Administration Jamaica takes a look at what you need to know to apply for a learner's or driver's licence.

Applying for a learner's (or provisional) or driver's licence is a straightforward process.

A beginner must have a learner's licence in order to be allowed on the public roadways legally. The learner's permits an unlicensed individual to operate a motor vehicle on the public roads while under the supervision of a licensed driver.

To obtain a learner's licence, the applicant must be at least 17 years old. Applicants must take two valid passport-size photographs signed by a justice of the peace, a minister of religion or a superintendent of police, along with their TRN, to the tax office closest to where they live.

You will be required to pay a fee of $1,500, after which you will be presented with your provisional licence.

There are various categories of driver's licence:

1. Motorcycle Licence: A person holding a motorcycle licence can only operate a motorcycle.

2. Private Licence: Private licences come in two classifications - automatic transmission only and standard/automatic motor cars. A person holding a private licence is allowed to drive only a motor car.

3. General Licence: A person holding a general licence is allowed to drive trucks, public passenger vehicles (PPVs), and commercial vehicles. However, a person cannot drive a PPV unless it is stipulated on the licence. Additionally, the driver must be at least 21 years old.

After obtaining your provisional licence and completing the driving lessons, you must take a driving test to determine your competence.You first need to pay the driver's licence examination fee of $2,700 at the tax office or the Swallowfield Depot in St Andrew (debit/credit card only) and procure a receipt.

Please note that a general licence application must be signed by a medical doctor, while this is not required for a private licence.

GETTING THE
LICENCE

After passing the driving exam, in the case of
Kingston and St Andrew, you must inform the examination depot which tax
office to send your certificate of competence to. For the other
parishes, the certificate will be forwarded to the tax office in the
parish capital. For example, in the case of St Catherine, it would be
sent to the Spanish Town Revenue Service Centre.

Once
the competence certificate has been forwarded to the tax office, you are
required to pay the relevant driver's licence fee. You will then be
photographed and the licence issued.

The fee you pay
is dependent upon the licence granted. For a general licence, the fee is
$6,000, while the private licence attracts a fee of $4,500. The
motorcycle licence fee is $3,450.

The same process
applies to persons who have moved to Jamaica or will be staying in the
country for an extended period, as long as he or she has secured a TRN.
If the applicant is a foreigner with a valid driver's licence from their
country, that person will not need to apply for a provisional
licence.

In other cases, holders of a Jamaican
driver's licence may need to drive in a foreign country. While your
valid Jamaican licence permits you to drive temporarily outside of the
country, you will need an international driving permit for longer
periods.

To obtain an international driving permit,
you must visit a tax office, taking along your current valid driver's
licence and one passport-size photograph. You will be asked to complete
the relevant form, following which you will be issued with your
international driving permit free.

Please note that
the international driving permit is valid for one year or until the
driver's licence expires, whichever comes first.

For
additional information, please contact the Tax Administration Jamaica
Customer Care Centre at 1-888-TAX-HELP (829-4357), or visit
www.jamaicatax.gov.jm