Driving Test | ExpatWoman.com
 

Driving Test

128
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 02 January 2011 - 11:44

I will need to sit for the driving test after I get my residency.
I went to the driving school/test place to ask about it and the lady there basically told me that I will need to take lessons -even if I drive- if I want to pass but I'm more than welcome to try my luck (in a cynical tone)!!!!

I'm sure that they are doing this just to get some more money in, the shortest course they have is 12 lessons (for QR 1420). I've been driving for over 15 years, I can't imagine wasting my time (I live in West Bay and driving school is in Abu Hamour) and money on this.
Btw, the test is at 5 A.M!!!!!!

Am so frustrated, any of you ladies took the test? have any advice?

TIA

128
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 09 January 2011 - 11:37
Nole - thx for the info, this is the same school that I talked to..
109
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 07 January 2011 - 15:42
newbie: I did mine at Al Hebra...(I think that is the name of it) It's really close to the big International Indian school near Wholesale Market road. I had an automatic...basically there was just a line of cars on and running and you went to the line of cars and picked which one you wanted, along with everyone else who passed the road sign test. I know most of them were automatics...I didn't see any manuals, but that doesn't mean there weren't any there. I am not sure about picking your test date, when I went they just gave me the next available one...but you could always ask!
514
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EW GURU
Latest post on 06 January 2011 - 16:14
You do the eye test and get your Qatar licence all at the same place which is the traffic department off Khalifa Street. If you are coming from the city then go through burger king roundabout and about 100 or so metres up (before the over pass) take the right slip road and you will see the traffic department on the right - you'll turn right and then right again and its there...where the masses of people generally are! :) You need to take your oz licence and a couple of photos (and if you are sponsored by someone other than your husband you need a letter from them saying that you work for them and also a copy of their company registration). You'll have to get the forms typed in arabic but there are men there that will do it for you for QR10. Its all pretty easy and painless.
56
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 06 January 2011 - 15:17
thank you for that GinaM. Is there a specific place I have to go to have the eye test?
514
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EW GURU
Latest post on 05 January 2011 - 20:03
If you hold an Australian licence you only have to do the eyesight test - no driving test.
56
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 05 January 2011 - 15:56
I hold an Australian license. Will I have to do driving test too or do Aussie licenses convert? What's the process for converting?
128
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 02 January 2011 - 23:48
ccdoha: thx for the link...very helpful Nole: Good Luck on the test, let me know how it goes. I guess I'll be doing the same as you did and try my luck before taking the course. Which driving school did you take the test in? Is the car manual shift or automatic? Do you know if we can pick the date for the test? I'll be out of the country for the next couple of weeks and would like to take the test as soon as I get back :). TIA
109
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 02 January 2011 - 20:10
Newbie- I am in the process now of also taking the test. I was given the opportunity to take a direct test twice and then if I fail both times I have to take the course, which like you said is very expensive. I have tried it once, and failed, lol. I have also been driving for almost 15 years and its really annoying that I have to go through it..but I suppose most countries you move to would make you do the same thing. The problem isn't so much that the test is hard, it's just that you aren't able to practice on the course before you have to take it and to be honest I wasn't even sure what they were asking me to do. Talk to someone ahead of time that has passed and can tell you all the details of the test. That was my first mistake. Some people get lucky and pass on the first try, and other friends of mine have had to go through the course because they failed the direct test twice. I have been out of town for over a month, but will be coming back this week and will be signing up for my 2nd try. It normally takes about 2 weeks for your test date, so hopefully with a little luck I will have my license by the end of January! Good luck as well!!
697
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EW GURU
Latest post on 02 January 2011 - 13:29
There was a post about this a few months ago... http://www.expatwoman.com/forum/messages.aspx?TopicID=121779 I know someone who took it and said she had the same experience as this poster. In my opinion, I think you just have to be/act really confident and I don't really see where the driving lessons are going to help! Good luck!!