Driving License Trial Rules in Nepal (2083): 70-Mark Sheet, Instant Fails & Retrial Rules
The driving license trial in Nepal is no longer a one-mistake-and-you’re-out test. Since the Department of Transport Management (DoTM) brought in its point-based directive, every candidate starts with 100 marks, loses marks for small errors, and passes with 70 or more. But a short list of mistakes still ends the trial on the spot, and several popular guides get those rules wrong. This page sets out the official marking sheet for bike, scooter and car, shows real score examples, and explains exactly what happens if you fail.
Quick answer: driving license trial rules in Nepal
- Trial is marked out of 100 across 7 stations. Pass mark: 70.
- Bike/scooter: figure 8, narrow plank, U-turn, traffic light, bumps, ramp, behaviour.
- Car/jeep: figure 8, bumps, U-turn, traffic light, ramp, garage (reverse) parking, behaviour.
- Some mistakes are an instant fail whatever your score: tyre outside a line, foot down on the plank, touching the U-turn line, rolling back over 6 inches on the ramp.
- You get 3 trial attempts on one written pass. After a first fail, the two retrials must happen within 18 months. Fail all three and you start again with a new form and the written test.
Rules checked on 8 October 2026 (22 Ashwin 2083) against DoTM’s trial directive as reported by Onlinekhabar, and 2025–2026 Kantipur reporting. Your transport office’s notice is final for your case.
On this page
Driving License Trial Rules at a Glance
| Rule | What applies |
|---|---|
| Total marks | 100 |
| Pass mark | 70 (so you can lose up to 30 marks) |
| Stations | 7 for both two-wheelers and four-wheelers (two stations differ) |
| Scooter vs motorcycle | Same course and same sheet |
| Instant fail | Yes, for specific errors, regardless of marks |
| Attempts | 3 trials per written pass |
| Retrial window | 2 retrials within 18 months of the first fail |
| After 3 fails | New application + written exam again |
| Revenue after passing | Pay within 18 months of passing; licence issued within 24 hours of payment (new system from April 2026) |
Where the 100 marks sit (chart)
Each bar shows the marks a station carries out of 100. The biggest stations are where a mark cut hurts most, but remember the red-box rules below: some smaller stations are pass-or-fail.
Bike / scooter (100 marks)
Car / jeep (100 marks)
Where the 70-Mark Trial Rules Come From
The marking system comes from DoTM’s Driving Licence Examination Operation Directive 2077 (सवारी चालक अनुमतिपत्र परीक्षा सञ्चालन कार्यविधि निर्देशिका २०७७). It was announced in Chaitra 2077 (April 2021). COVID closures delayed it, and the new marking took effect when tests resumed in September 2021. Before that, a single error of any size meant failure.
Transport offices now sit under the provincial governments, so the pace of roll-out and day-to-day practice (trial centres, booking, use of your own vehicle) can differ by province. The marks and fail conditions below are the directive’s national standard.
Bike and Scooter Trial Rules: Full Marking Sheet
Category A covers motorcycles, scooters and mopeds. There is no separate scooter course.
| Station | Marks | Marks cut | Instant fail |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Figure 8 | 20 | −5 line touched once; −5 foot down once | Line touched more than once; tyre outside the line; foot down more than once; wrong direction; engine stalls |
| 2. Narrow plank | 10 | No partial cut | Foot touches ground; leaving the plank before the end |
| 3. U-turn | 10 | −10 no indicator | Touching the line |
| 4. Traffic light | 15 | −15 signal not followed | None |
| 5. Bumps (speed breaker) | 15 | −5 foot down once; −5 engine stalls once | Foot down or stall more than once |
| 6. Ramp (uphill/downhill) | 20 | None – one stall costs nothing | Stopping past the line or not stopping (up or down); rolling back over 6 inches; stalling more than once |
| 7. Behaviour | 10 | −3 no mirror/tyre/brake check; −4 helmet not locked; −3 uncontrolled riding | None |
| Total | 100 | Pass: 70 or more, with no instant-fail error | |
Bike trial details that people miss
- A stall in the figure 8 is a fail on a bike, even though one stall at the bumps only costs 5 marks.
- One stall on the ramp costs nothing. A second stall fails you.
- The plank is all-or-nothing: it is the only bike station where a single foot-down ends the test.
- Locking the helmet strap is worth 4 marks before you even start the engine.
Car and Jeep Trial Rules: Full Marking Sheet
Category B (car, jeep, van) drops the plank and adds garage parking, where you reverse into an L-shaped bay.
| Station | Marks | Marks cut | Instant fail |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Figure 8 | 20 | −5 per line touch, up to 2 touches | More than 2 touches; tyre outside the line; wrong direction; reversing when you should go forward |
| 2. Bumps (speed breaker) | 10 | −5 engine stalls once | Stalling more than once |
| 3. U-turn | 10 | −10 no indicator | Touching the line |
| 4. Traffic light | 15 | −15 signal not followed | None |
| 5. Ramp | 15 | None – one stall costs nothing | Stopping past the line or not stopping; rolling back over 6 inches; stalling more than once |
| 6. Garage parking | 20 | −10 one forward move while reversing | More than one forward move; touching the line |
| 7. Behaviour | 10 | −3 no mirror/tyre/brake check; −4 no seatbelt; −3 uncontrolled driving | None |
| Total | 100 | Pass: 70 or more, with no instant-fail error | |
Bike vs car: what’s different
| Point | Bike / scooter | Car / jeep |
|---|---|---|
| Figure 8 line touches allowed | 1 (−5) | 2 (−5 each) |
| Special station | Narrow plank (10) | Garage parking (20) |
| Bumps | 15 marks | 10 marks |
| Ramp | 20 marks | 15 marks |
| 4-mark safety item | Helmet locked | Seatbelt on |
| Other rule | Stall in figure 8 = fail | Rear-view camera must be covered |
Instant-Fail Mistakes in the Driving Trial
These end your trial even if you had 100 marks up to that point.
Bike / scooter
- Figure 8: 2nd line touch, 2nd foot-down, tyre outside, wrong direction, engine stall
- Foot on the ground or leaving the plank early
- Touching the U-turn line
- 2nd foot-down or 2nd stall at the bumps
- Ramp: stopping past the line, not stopping, rolling back over 6 inches, 2nd stall
Car / jeep
- Figure 8: 3rd line touch, tyre outside, wrong direction, reversing
- 2nd stall at the bumps
- Touching the U-turn line
- Ramp: stopping past the line, not stopping, rolling back over 6 inches, 2nd stall
- Garage parking: touching the line, or a 2nd forward correction
Score Examples: Would You Pass?
The 30-mark margin goes faster than most people expect. Two “attention” mistakes, missing the light (−15) and the indicator (−10), already cost 25.
| Candidate | Mistakes | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bike A | Figure 8 line touch (−5), no U-turn indicator (−10), helmet unlocked (−4) | 81 | Pass |
| Bike B | Ran the light (−15), no indicator (−10), foot down at bumps (−5) | 70 | Pass (just) |
| Bike C | Same as B + skipped mirror/tyre/brake check (−3) | 67 | Fail |
| Bike D | Perfect run, but foot touched ground on the plank | — | Instant fail |
| Car A | Two figure 8 touches (−10), one parking correction (−10), no seatbelt (−4), rough driving (−3) | 73 | Pass |
| Car B | One stall on the ramp, otherwise clean | 100 | Pass |
The lesson: the cheapest marks to protect are the ones that need no skill. Do the mirror/tyre/brake check, lock the helmet or wear the seatbelt, use the indicator before the U-turn, and read the light. That’s 32 marks, more than your whole margin.
Vehicle and Trial-Day Rules
Using your own vehicle
The 2077 directive lets a candidate who passed the written test take the trial on their own vehicle if it meets these standards. Whether your office or trial centre allows it in practice varies by province, so ask before trial day.
| Requirement | Motorcycle / scooter | Car / jeep |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | At least 95 cc | At least 750 cc |
| Wheelbase | At least 1,200 mm | At least 2,300 mm |
| Size | — | 3,300 × 1,450 × 1,450 mm (L × W × H) |
| Transmission | Manual for motorcycles | — |
| Hill hold / hill assist | Must be of the same standard type as trial vehicles | |
| Papers | Registration and third-party insurance up to date | |
| Condition | Fuel, brakes, transmission, doors, windows and locks working. Car rear-view camera must be covered. | |
What to carry on trial day
- Original citizenship certificate or national ID
- Your application number / printout from the online driving license (eDLVRS) application
- Your existing licence, if you are adding a category
- Your own helmet for a two-wheeler trial, and a fastened seatbelt in a car
- Payment receipt if your office requires one for a retrial
Driving License Retrial Rules: What Happens If You Fail
A failed trial does not cancel your application, and you do not repeat the written test for your retrials.
| Situation | Rule |
|---|---|
| Trial attempts | 3 in total on one written pass |
| Time limit | After the first fail, the 2 retrials must be taken within 18 months |
| How to book | Apply for a re-trial (पुनः प्रयोगात्मक परीक्षा) through your transport office, online where your office enables it |
| Retrial fee | Charged per attempt (commonly quoted as Rs 500); pay the amount shown at payment |
| Fail all 3 | Start again: new form and the written test again |
| Fail the written test | Wait 3 months before reapplying (Vehicle and Transport Management Act 2049, Section 49) |
| Bike licence holder adding car | No written test; go straight to the car trial |
Watch for office closures. Trial centres do shut temporarily. In Bhadra 2083, for example, the Bharatpur transport office (Chitwan) suspended trials and re-trial applications for about six weeks. Check your office’s notice before you count on a date inside your 18-month window.
Before your retrial
- Name the station that failed you and practise only that element first.
- Rebuild the station with cones or bricks at home size and drill it in short daily sessions.
- Practise on the same type of vehicle you will test on, especially for the ramp and plank.
- Rehearse the “free” marks: pre-ride check, helmet/seatbelt, indicator, light.
After You Pass the Trial
- Pay the licence revenue at your transport office. DoTM says revenue can be paid up to 18 months after passing; after that, the process starts again.
- Licence within 24 hours: under a system DoTM started on 15 April 2026, data for everyone who paid revenue is sent to the printing centre the same evening and the card is printed overnight.
- Track your card with our driving license print status check.
- Diary the renewal date. A late renewal costs money; see the driving license renewal fine in Nepal.
- Driving abroad? Once you hold a smart licence you can apply for an International Driving Permit through NASA.
Common Wrong Claims About the Trial, Corrected
| You may read | What the rules say |
|---|---|
| “The 70-mark system started in 2023.” | The directive is from 2077 BS and took effect when tests resumed in September 2021. Provinces rolled it out at their own pace. |
| “Retrials must be done within 90 days.” | Reported practice is two retrials within 18 months of the first fail. |
| “Car ramp is 20 marks, parking is 15.” | Swapped: car ramp is 15, garage parking is 20. |
| “Touching the line in garage parking just costs marks.” | Touching the line is an instant fail. Only one forward correction is a mark cut (−10). |
| “Any stall on the ramp fails you.” | One stall on the ramp costs nothing. The second fails you. |
| “Missing the traffic light is a fail.” | It costs all 15 marks but is not an instant fail. |
Could the Trial Rules Change Soon?
Possibly. A draft Vehicle and Transport Management Act prepared by the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport proposes a tougher trial, possibly including dirt and slippery road sections, and higher minimum ages. It is a draft, not law. Until it passes and DoTM issues new directives, the 70-mark sheet above applies. We will update this page if that changes.
Related driving licence guides
FAQ: Driving License Trial Rules in Nepal
How many marks do I need to pass the driving trial in Nepal?
You need at least 70 out of 100, and you must avoid every instant-fail error. A score of 85 with a foot down on the plank is still a fail.
What are the instant-fail mistakes in the trial?
The main ones are a tyre going outside a marked line, touching the U-turn line, rolling back more than 6 inches on the ramp, putting a foot down on the plank (bike), and touching the line or making a second forward correction in garage parking (car).
How many times can I retake the driving trial?
You get three trial attempts on one written pass. After the first fail, the two retrials must be completed within 18 months. If all three fail, you apply again and retake the written exam.
Do I have to retake the written exam if I fail the trial?
No, not for your retrials. You only sit the written test again after failing all three trial attempts.
Is the scooter trial different from the motorcycle trial?
No. Scooters and motorcycles use the same course and the same 100-mark sheet, including the narrow plank.
Does the car trial have a narrow plank?
No. Cars and jeeps take garage (reverse) parking instead, worth 20 marks.
Does stalling the engine fail the trial?
It depends where. On a bike, any stall in the figure 8 fails you. At the bumps, one stall costs 5 marks and a second fails you. On the ramp, one stall costs nothing and a second fails you.
How soon do I get my licence after passing the trial?
Since April 2026, DoTM says the licence is printed within 24 hours of paying the revenue. You can pay the revenue up to 18 months after passing the trial.
Sources: DoTM Driving Licence Examination Operation Directive 2077 as reported by Onlinekhabar (Chaitra 2077) and Onlinekhabar English (July 2021); Kantipur reporting on retrial and written-test rules (Mangshir 2082), the 24-hour licence system (Baisakh 2083) and the Chitwan trial-centre closure (Bhadra 2083). This is an independent guide, not a government website.