Choosing a Driving School in Lebanon After the 2025 Licensing Reforms

Lebanon's 2025 driving-licence reform requires every new applicant to complete a recognized driving-school programme — both theory and practical — before sitting the official test. The biometric licence card began rollout in October 2025. Choosing the right school matters more than ever.

Licence categories and minimum ages

• Category B (private car): minimum 18 years.
• Category A (motorcycle): age depending on engine size.
• Categories C and D (heavy goods, passenger transport): additional theory + medical + practical modules.

Evaluating a school

1. Licensing — verify the school appears on the official list published by the Vehicle and Driver Registration Authority.
2. Vehicle fleet — modern dual-control cars, both manual and automatic available.
3. Instructor-to-student ratio in theory class; one-on-one for practical hours.
4. Transparent pricing — total package (theory + practical + test fees) in writing, no surprise additions.
5. Pass-rate statistics — a school willing to share recent pass rates is a positive sign.

What the curriculum covers

• Highway code, signs, right-of-way, alcohol/drug limits.
• Vehicle controls, mirrors, parking (parallel, reverse, hill).
• Urban driving with merges and roundabouts (a Beirut speciality).
• Defensive driving, night driving, wet-road handling.
• Basic mechanical awareness — tyre check, fluid levels, warning lights.

The test day

You will sit a written theory exam, then a practical drive with an examiner. If you fail, you can re-take after a waiting period. Bring your ID, the school's completion certificate, and the test-fee receipt. Cars provided by the school often have a slight advantage — examiners are familiar with them.

After you get the licence

You still need third-party motor insurance to drive any vehicle on a Lebanese road. Many schools partner with insurance brokers who can quote a first-year policy with new-driver discounts.