How to Get a Motorcycle Driving Licence in Bangladesh: Step-by-Step

Riding without a valid licence is not only illegal — it can also void your insurance and leave you personally liable after a crash. The process of getting a motorcycle licence from the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) has several stages, and most of the delay people experience comes from arriving unprepared. This guide explains the journey from learner to full licence and how to get through each step first time.

Requirements, fees and forms change from time to time. Always confirm the current details on BRTA's official service portal or at your BRTA circle office before you apply.

Which licence do you need?

Licences in Bangladesh are issued by vehicle class. If you only want to ride a motorcycle, apply for the motorcycle class. Many applicants apply for motorcycle and light vehicle together, which saves a second round of applications and tests later if you plan to drive a car. Most private riders need a non-professional licence; a professional licence is for people who drive for a living and has its own age and experience conditions.

Stage 1: The learner licence

Everyone starts with a learner licence. It allows you to practise on the road under the conditions printed on it, and it is the ticket to the competency test.

What you will usually need

• National ID card (or other accepted proof of identity and age).
• A recent photograph in the required format.
• A medical certificate from a registered physician confirming you are fit to drive.
• Proof of address.
• The application fee, paid through the channels BRTA accepts.

Applications are made through BRTA's online service portal. Check every detail before submitting: a spelling that doesn't match your NID is the most common reason applications are sent back.

Using your learner period well

Don't treat the learner period as waiting time. Practise the manoeuvres the field test uses — slow riding, tight turns, controlled stops — in a safe, empty space. Follow the learner conditions, which typically include displaying an "L" sign, and ride with an experienced licensed rider whenever you can.

Stage 2: The competency test

After the minimum learner period, you are given a test date at your BRTA circle. The test generally has three parts.

Written test

Multiple-choice and short questions on traffic signs, road markings, right of way, basic traffic law and road safety. Study the official traffic signs thoroughly — they make up a large part of the paper.

Oral (viva) test

An examiner asks questions about signs, rules and basic vehicle knowledge: what to do at an unmarked junction, what a particular sign means, how to react to an emergency vehicle. Answer calmly and briefly.

Field (practical) test

You demonstrate control of the motorcycle, typically including starting off smoothly, riding a set course, slow-speed control, turning and stopping without putting a foot down. Common reasons for failing:

• Putting a foot down during a slow manoeuvre.
• Touching or crossing course markers.
• Stalling repeatedly or jerking the clutch.
• Not using indicators or not looking before moving off.
• Riding without a properly fastened helmet.

Bring a motorcycle in good condition, with working indicators and brakes, and with its papers, unless the test centre supplies the vehicle.

Stage 3: Biometrics and the smart card

After passing, you are called to record your biometrics — fingerprints, photograph and signature. The licence is then issued as a smart card. BRTA may provide a temporary document or a status you can show while the card is printed; keep it with you when riding and check the portal for delivery status.

Renewal and replacement

• Renew before expiry. Note the expiry date and apply in good time; riding on an expired licence is treated like riding without one.
• If you lose your licence, file a General Diary (GD) at the nearest police station and apply to BRTA for a duplicate, attaching a copy of the GD.
• Update your details through BRTA if your address or other information changes.

Avoid middlemen

You will meet people outside BRTA offices offering to "arrange" your licence without the test. Don't use them. A licence obtained improperly can be cancelled, may not be valid for insurance, and — more importantly — the test exists because riding without the skills it checks is dangerous. Apply yourself through the official portal and pay fees only through official channels.

Checklist before test day

• Learner licence and NID, originals and copies.
• Test appointment details.
• A roadworthy motorcycle with its papers (if you're bringing your own).
• A certified helmet, fastened properly.
• Traffic signs revised the night before.

Once your licence is in hand, it's time to choose your bike — start with our motorcycle buying guide.