Alright, so I want to share my recent experience with getting a driving license in Malawi. It was quite a journey, I tell you, and I figure it might help someone else out there.
First off, I started by figuring out where to even begin. Turns out, the place to go is the Road Traffic Directorate Office. I was pretty clueless, so I did what anyone would do – I looked it up online. There was some info, but not enough to really know what I was doing.
So, I decided to visit one of their offices in person. I gathered some courage and walked into the office. People were busy, and some staff members were having a chat, but I managed to grab one of them to assist me. The guy I talked to was on a fixed-term contract, not the most experienced, but he gave me an application form. He said they also have these forms online, but honestly, I didn’t bother to check. I just filled it out right there.
Next up, I found out I had to enroll in a driving school. This was mandatory, no way around it. I enrolled and started learning. It was a bit of a drag, to be honest, all the theory and practical lessons. But, you know, it had to be done. The driving school took care of the theoretical part and then the practical driving skills. It felt like forever, but I finally completed it.
After that, I had to go back to the Road Traffic Directorate Office to take some tests. There was a written test about traffic rules and a practical driving test. I passed both, thank goodness! The tests were not a piece of cake, but if you paid attention in driving school, you should be fine.
Once I passed the tests, I had to pay some fees. I paid them all and hoped that was the end of it. Oh, and I had to get insurance, which was another headache, but I sorted that out too. I made sure to get all the right documents and got everything stamped and approved. I also needed an International Driving Permit (IDP), but that was a separate process, which I’ll get into another time.
Finally, after what seemed like ages, I got my Malawi driving license. It was such a relief to have it in my hands. It was a long and complicated process, but I made it through. I hope this helps someone who is looking to get their driving license in Malawi. Just be prepared for a bit of a marathon! It was a crazy journey, but worth it in the end.
- Start: Visit the Road Traffic Directorate Office.
- Application: Get and fill out the application form.
- Driving School: Enroll and complete the course.
- Tests: Pass the written and practical tests.
- Fees: Pay the required fees.
- Insurance: Get your vehicle insured.
- Finally: Receive your driving license!
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