Obtaining a 10 year license
- Miguelito
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Obtaining a 10 year license
I was going to wait until I completed the process, but it's raining out and I'm bored so I'll write about my experiences to date.
My license expired a month or so ago. I mentioned to a friend that I needed to renew my one year driving license, and I was told that his friend, a general, could help me get the 10 year license. OK, that sounded good. So, I began the process.
Indeed, the friend has taken care of all of the paperwork for me. I didn't have a residency certificate before, so he got that for me without me having to go to the Sangkat, which was nice. He did some other stuff, also nice. I was then told he would pick me up at 8 AM on a Friday for me to go and get my license.
He picked me up and took me to a driving school. I then signed something and they sat me at a computer and I took a 40 question multiple choice test, in English. The test covered a range of questions, some absolutely simple (such as: "How many lights does a street light have: 1, 2, 3, 4") to a bit more obscure (such as: "What is the speed limit inside of a build up zone: 20, 30, 40"). Many of them had horribly written English which made me laugh. During it, I was offered a book of answers for $5, so I bought it thinking that's what they wanted me to do. I was then immediately told the test didn't matter but finish anyways. I got 34 out of the 40 correct, which meant I failed. No problem. OK, next.
I was then driven, along with a girl from the school, across town and up to the General Department of Public Work and Transport. This is a somewhat large complex with multiple buildings and a lot going on, and is clearly where they issue licenses and do vehicle inspections. I was shuffled around the place a bit by my minder. I took the health exam, which was simply an eyesight test (I passed without my glasses on), and they asked me my height. I was then brought to another room, where I sat for a few minutes waiting for paperwork to be processed. Then, the girl told us I was done... for today. I was informed that they only do driving exams on Mondays, and that you need at least 5 days between this paperwork and the exam, so I would have to come back in ten days time to do the exam. She wanted me to come on Saturday to do a practice, which I objected to, but she insisted. The next day, Saturday, I was too busy, so I scheduled it for the following Saturday.
I ended up missing my practice day as I had a quick trip out of town. No problem, I was picked up at 8 AM on Monday to head back to the General Department of Public Work and Transport. Once there I waited for about an hour until I located a different girl from the school. I gave her my passport (and visa) yet again, and then we waited until I was called into another room. I gave a quick thumb print and was put into an exam room with computers, to take the actual written test (I guess the one at the school was a practice). They had the same questions, and the algorithm must choose them at random each time as I had the same questions three times. After ten minutes I hit finish, and I passed with 35 out of 40.
By now it was about 10:30, and I was told to return at 2 PM for the driving test. Apparently only Cambodians can take the driving test in the morning, and foreigners must take it in the afternoon.
Back there at 2 PM I waited with a group of people for about 30 minutes before our names were called out one by one, to give our thumb prints again. There was an "F" next to my name for "female" -- no problem he said, we will change it. They then started to call people one by one to take a car around the course.
Here is a picture of the course:
The group was mostly made up of Chinese, and an Indian or two, but there were a couple Westerners there. I talked with them, and they had each already taken the exam. One had failed the week before because he didn't stop at the right spot halfway through (unmarked) to receive further instructions. Another had failed as the tire of the car touched grass in the reverse parking area. One of them failed that day for exceeding 20 km/h. They were told to come back the following week, where it would cost $8 to take the exam again.
At about 3:45 PM my name was called so I walked out to get in the car. I was yelled out for trying to walk around the front of the parked (engine off) car; I needed to approach it from the rear. I then noticed it was an automatic, not a manual. I requested a manual (as I had mentioned I needed a few steps along the way), and I was told my form said automatic, and I was asked why it said automatic (as if I would know why they made an error in their paperwork). It was a scribble in pen that read that I was to have an auto, but they refused to change it. The woman from the school then told me I had to fail the exam today, and come back in a week. There was nothing they could do, because they needed a top boss to approve the change from auto to manual.
So, that's where I am at this point. Waiting to go back Monday afternoon at 2 PM to do this yet again. I found a receipt that they paid the school $100 to help facilitate things at the Department, which was indeed helpful I think. I was also told that there was a huge crackdown in April to prevent corruption, such as bribing to pass the exam, and as the written exam was computer based I don't think you could pay to pass that portion. The cars all have dash cams on them as well. It also seemed that they were very much looking for the smallest reason to fail people on the driving portion.
My license expired a month or so ago. I mentioned to a friend that I needed to renew my one year driving license, and I was told that his friend, a general, could help me get the 10 year license. OK, that sounded good. So, I began the process.
Indeed, the friend has taken care of all of the paperwork for me. I didn't have a residency certificate before, so he got that for me without me having to go to the Sangkat, which was nice. He did some other stuff, also nice. I was then told he would pick me up at 8 AM on a Friday for me to go and get my license.
He picked me up and took me to a driving school. I then signed something and they sat me at a computer and I took a 40 question multiple choice test, in English. The test covered a range of questions, some absolutely simple (such as: "How many lights does a street light have: 1, 2, 3, 4") to a bit more obscure (such as: "What is the speed limit inside of a build up zone: 20, 30, 40"). Many of them had horribly written English which made me laugh. During it, I was offered a book of answers for $5, so I bought it thinking that's what they wanted me to do. I was then immediately told the test didn't matter but finish anyways. I got 34 out of the 40 correct, which meant I failed. No problem. OK, next.
I was then driven, along with a girl from the school, across town and up to the General Department of Public Work and Transport. This is a somewhat large complex with multiple buildings and a lot going on, and is clearly where they issue licenses and do vehicle inspections. I was shuffled around the place a bit by my minder. I took the health exam, which was simply an eyesight test (I passed without my glasses on), and they asked me my height. I was then brought to another room, where I sat for a few minutes waiting for paperwork to be processed. Then, the girl told us I was done... for today. I was informed that they only do driving exams on Mondays, and that you need at least 5 days between this paperwork and the exam, so I would have to come back in ten days time to do the exam. She wanted me to come on Saturday to do a practice, which I objected to, but she insisted. The next day, Saturday, I was too busy, so I scheduled it for the following Saturday.
I ended up missing my practice day as I had a quick trip out of town. No problem, I was picked up at 8 AM on Monday to head back to the General Department of Public Work and Transport. Once there I waited for about an hour until I located a different girl from the school. I gave her my passport (and visa) yet again, and then we waited until I was called into another room. I gave a quick thumb print and was put into an exam room with computers, to take the actual written test (I guess the one at the school was a practice). They had the same questions, and the algorithm must choose them at random each time as I had the same questions three times. After ten minutes I hit finish, and I passed with 35 out of 40.
By now it was about 10:30, and I was told to return at 2 PM for the driving test. Apparently only Cambodians can take the driving test in the morning, and foreigners must take it in the afternoon.
Back there at 2 PM I waited with a group of people for about 30 minutes before our names were called out one by one, to give our thumb prints again. There was an "F" next to my name for "female" -- no problem he said, we will change it. They then started to call people one by one to take a car around the course.
Here is a picture of the course:
The group was mostly made up of Chinese, and an Indian or two, but there were a couple Westerners there. I talked with them, and they had each already taken the exam. One had failed the week before because he didn't stop at the right spot halfway through (unmarked) to receive further instructions. Another had failed as the tire of the car touched grass in the reverse parking area. One of them failed that day for exceeding 20 km/h. They were told to come back the following week, where it would cost $8 to take the exam again.
At about 3:45 PM my name was called so I walked out to get in the car. I was yelled out for trying to walk around the front of the parked (engine off) car; I needed to approach it from the rear. I then noticed it was an automatic, not a manual. I requested a manual (as I had mentioned I needed a few steps along the way), and I was told my form said automatic, and I was asked why it said automatic (as if I would know why they made an error in their paperwork). It was a scribble in pen that read that I was to have an auto, but they refused to change it. The woman from the school then told me I had to fail the exam today, and come back in a week. There was nothing they could do, because they needed a top boss to approve the change from auto to manual.
So, that's where I am at this point. Waiting to go back Monday afternoon at 2 PM to do this yet again. I found a receipt that they paid the school $100 to help facilitate things at the Department, which was indeed helpful I think. I was also told that there was a huge crackdown in April to prevent corruption, such as bribing to pass the exam, and as the written exam was computer based I don't think you could pay to pass that portion. The cars all have dash cams on them as well. It also seemed that they were very much looking for the smallest reason to fail people on the driving portion.
You can pay me.Miguelito wrote:as the written exam was computer based I don't think you could pay to pass that portion
So do you know if the other barangs passed?
I ask because your experience is exactly the same as what I’ve heard from others - anything to make you give up trying!
I wonder if the general guy just went through the motions so as to not “lose face”. I was told in 2016 that it wasn’t possible to pay bribes and such anymore by my fixer, after I’d paid $400 for my 10 year. I also failed both exams but the fixer just said with a wink “It’s ok. I fix for you already”.
The same person who fixed mine did the same for another barang and that guy didn’t even have to go to PP. It just turned up at his house.
I’m hoping I’ll just be able to renew for another 10 years at Aeon 2 when mine runs out in October..
..2026.
Last edited by YaTingPom on Wed Jul 18, 2018 3:26 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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- ផោមក្លិនស្អុយ
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So you paid just for someone to lead you from area to area at the test centre?
And they paid the test centre $100? What was the $100 for - you don’t seem to have received any preferential treatment to me when I did it by myself (I can’t remember exactly but think it cost around $20).
And they paid the test centre $100? What was the $100 for - you don’t seem to have received any preferential treatment to me when I did it by myself (I can’t remember exactly but think it cost around $20).
- Miguelito
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I passed the written, but thanks for the offer.Alexandra wrote:You can pay me.Miguelito wrote:as the written exam was computer based I don't think you could pay to pass that portion
YTP, I saw one of the barangs fail, but a Chinese kid of about 18 pass. I left before the other barang (who had failed the week before, and was coming down from Siem Reap) attempted. Perhaps I'll see him again on Monday.
- Miguelito
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Yea, to be honest I'm not really sure what I got from the school for the $100. They did lead me around, and I didn't have to wait long for the medical, and never had to think about filling in any paperwork. It was just arranged for me, I didn't make a conscience decision to say "I'll pay a school." They seem to be the ones that fucked up the automatic/manual bit.ផោមក្លិនស្អុយ wrote:So you paid just for someone to lead you from area to area at the test centre?
And they paid the test centre $100? What was the $100 for - you don’t seem to have received any preferential treatment to me when I did it by myself (I can’t remember exactly but think it cost around $20).
How was the driving test for you? Did you pass first time?
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Yes and No.Miguelito wrote:Yea, to be honest I'm not really sure what I got from the school for the $100. They did lead me around, and I didn't have to wait long for the medical, and never had to think about filling in any paperwork. It was just arranged for me, I didn't make a conscience decision to say "I'll pay a school." They seem to be the ones that fucked up the automatic/manual bit.ផោមក្លិនស្អុយ wrote:So you paid just for someone to lead you from area to area at the test centre?
And they paid the test centre $100? What was the $100 for - you don’t seem to have received any preferential treatment to me when I did it by myself (I can’t remember exactly but think it cost around $20).
How was the driving test for you? Did you pass first time?
I did motorbike and car at the same time. 2 written and 2 practical tests. Passed both the theory tests and passed the the motorbike practical, failed the car practical - on a dodgy violation - I’m not convinced I did anything wrong. So in a pique of stubbornness I refused to do a retest and just extended my foreign license. Had a bit of a row with the deputy director of the centre - he was refusing to transfer my foreign license and wanted me to do the retest.
I won (or lost) and now have a 10 year moto license and a 1 year car license
It was frustrating to be failed on something I didn’t think i did wrong. And I didn’t want to spend another afternoon waiting around to do the test - whilst I was pissed off to fail it was the wasting time that clinched it for me. At the time I was too busy to spend another day at the test centre. Probably wouldn’t do the same again, I’d swallow my pride and do a retest.
Unless the school are getting you to the front of the line for the test then it absolutely isn’t worth it Migs. The forms are easy, the medical straightforward. The only hassle is the waiting around.
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Yeah, unfortunately your appointment time is shared with 25 other people & you need to wait your turn to do the test.violet wrote:I thought I read appointments could be made?
I was the only long nose when I did mine as it was all Chinese. Some women broke down crying even before the test. Others just crashed into each other before even starting and some even made it round the course! If you fail you have to stop and get out the car and do the walk of shame (like what I did!) back to the “pits” where everyone waits.
Thinking about it I don’t even think I did a medical.
Thinking about it I don’t even think I did a medical.
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When I did my test a few years back it was indeed a bizarre experience. I had paid a driving school a couple of hundred bucks to apply for the test and when I showed up at the test centre I was presented with a certificate showing that I had x number of hours instruction (which I hadn't). Was then shown into a room with 15 or so others most of whom were French speakers with a couple of Indians. We we given a theory paper to complete in English which stumped the Frenchies but was simple enough. Not having ever seen a copy of the Cambodian highway code (if indeed such a thing exists) I answered as I saw fit. After the papers were marked I was the only one deemed to have passed and was allowed to do the practical while all the others were sent home. It was a blisteringly hot day and I was shown to a beaten up old Camry and told to drive around the car park course on my own. There were two examiners but they quickly scarpered back inside out of the heat. When I had finished the very simple course they asked me to do a parallel parking exersize which was a piece of piss and all they seemed to be interested in. That was it. A few weeks later I received a 5 year licence which a couple of years ago I renewed for a further 5 years for 40 bucks.
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Except for the above post, which seems strange, has anyone actually passed this 10 year test?
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When I was there I saw 2 foreigners pass the retest (1 Brit and one American).Wayward Woods wrote:Except for the above post, which seems strange, has anyone actually passed this 10 year test?
I only saw one foreign person, out of about 20 people pass first time. He was Chinese. There were some spectacular failures. Including one person (Chinese) who answered his phone mid test and another lady (Chinese again) who failed inside 15 metres when she mounted the curb whilst trying to drive in a straight line.
I failed both but got a licence anyway.Wayward Woods wrote:Except for the above post, which seems strange, has anyone actually passed this 10 year test?
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