Driving licence in Lebanon

A Lebanese driving licence is a driving licence issued by the government of Lebanon. It authorises its holder to operate various types of motor vehicles on highways and some other publicly accessible roads. It is issued by each individual district (Arabic: قضاء, Kadaa).

As a domestic non-electronic identification, the driving licence has remained in a leading position, because most of the population have to have a licence anyway, and a driving licence is valid for almost every situation where non-electronic personal identification is needed even though they are not officially recognized as such.

International use

Lebanon allows non-residents to use regular licences issued by other states and countries. Lebanon bears the legal right to suspend an individual's driving privilege within its borders for traffic violations.

Lebanon's visitors who hold overseas driving licences may be required to take a driving test before they qualify for a full Lebanese licence. However, those from countries with similar road rules are only required to take a theory test (similar to the learner licence test) within a year of arrival or, for $40, convert their licence to a full Lebanese driving licence without any further tests (e.g. Jordan); until this time they may continue to drive on their foreign driving licence provided it is either written in Arabic, French, or English, or has an authorized translation available.

Types of licences

Unrestricted licences are driving licences that most Lebanese drivers have in order to drive.
Hardship licences for minors are driving licences that are restricted to drivers between 14 and 15 (sometimes up to 16) who need to drive to and from home and school because of serious hardships, e.g. the driver's family has financial or medical problems; the driver needs to get to work or school and has no other practical way of getting to work or school. A hardship licence for minors is distinct from hardship licences granted for drivers with revoked or suspended licences.
Provisional licences are functionally the same as a driving licence, but are typically issued to new drivers under the age of 17, i.e. 15–16 years old.
Chauffeur licences are functionally the same as a passenger car licence, but also allow its holder to drive a taxi, limo, or other livery vehicle for hire. In Lebanon, chauffeur licences are not considered commercial or professional driving licences, and (assuming the driver already holds a regular passenger licence) a road test is usually not required to convert it to a chauffeur licence, a short written exam on taxi-specific driving laws and/or a background check is required. This type of licence is typically, though not universally, called Class E.
Motorcycle licences cover motorcycles only; frequently combined with a regular driving licence.
Enhanced licences establish nationality in addition to driving privileges. A Lebanese passport, Lebanese identity card, or another document proving citizenship is required to apply for this type of licence. Motorcycle and commercial driving licences (see above and below) usually can also be issued as enhanced licences.

Classes of licences

The Lebanese driver licensing system is split into six classes of licence. Class 1 ("car licence") permits its holder to drive most cars: light vehicles, moped, tractor and all-terrain vehicles. On the other hand, Class 6 ("motorcycle licence") allows its holder to ride motorcycles. Classes 2, 3, 4, and 5 ("heavy vehicles licence") allow their holders to drive heavy vehicles of varying degrees depending on the carried class.

Classes 1 and 6 licences are obtainable if the driver is 18 or older; the minimum age used to be 16 before 1 August 2011.

This table shows which licence is required to drive which vehicles:

Vehicle	Class 1 (Car)	Class 2 (Medium Rigid)	Class 3 (Medium Combination)	Class 4 (Heavy Rigid)	Class 5 (Heavy Combination)	Class 6 (Motorcycle)
Car or light rigid vehicle	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Car or light rigid vehicle with trailer	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Moped	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Motorcycle	No	No	No	No	No	Yes
Tractor or farm machinery	Up to 4500 kg (all licences) Up to 6000 kg (full licence) Up to 18,000 kg if driven at 40 km/h or less (restricted and full licence)	Up to 18,000 kg	Up to 18,000 kg	Yes	Yes	No
Heavy rigid vehicle (Weight > 3500 kg)	Up to 4500 kg (all licences) up to 6000 kg (full licence)	Up to 18,000 kg Yes if vehicle has two or fewer axles	Up to 18,000 kg Yes if vehicle has two or fewer axles	Yes	Yes	No
Heavy rigid vehicle with light trailer (Weight > 3500 kg, trailer weight ≤ 3500 kg)	Up to 4500 kg (all licences) up to 6000 kg (full licence)	Up to 18,000 kg vehicle	Up to 18,000 kg vehicle	Yes	Yes	No
Heavy combination vehicle (Weight > 3500 kg, trailer weight > 3500 kg)	No	Up to 12,000 kg	Up to 25,000 kg	Up to 12,000 kg	Yes	No

Additional endorsements

Professional drivers are usually required to add endorsements to their Commercial Driver's Licence in order to drive certain types of vehicles that require additional training, such as those equipped with air brakes. The training and testing requirements are regulated by the Lebanese Department of Transportation. Endorsements are as follows:

P: Passenger Transport (buses carrying 16 or more persons, vans for hire carrying 11 or more persons)
H: Hazardous Materials (requires a TSA background check as well as an extensive written exam. The driver must be a Lebanese Citizen or permanent lawful resident to obtain an H or X endorsement.)
M: Metal coil
N: Tank vehicles (required for carrying liquids in bulk)
T: Double/triple trailers (road trains) (Class A licences only)
X: Hazardous materials and tank combination
L: Air brake (road vehicle)
S: School bus (in addition to a standard bus endorsement, more stringent TSA and Criminal Offender Record Information background checks are required)

CDL restrictions

CDL licences can be restricted through any of the following ways:

B: Corrective Lenses are required while operating a motor vehicle.
C: A mechanical aid is required to operate a commercial vehicle.
D: A prosthetic aid is required to operate a commercial vehicle.
E: The driver may only operate a commercial vehicle with an automatic transmission.
F: An outside mirror is required on the commercial vehicle.
G: The driver of a commercial vehicle is only allowed to operate during daylight hours.
K: Drivers are authorized to drive a commercial vehicle.
L: Drivers are restricted from operating a commercial vehicle with air brakes. This restriction is issued when a driver either fails the air brake component of the general knowledge test or performs the road skills test in a vehicle not equipped with air brakes.
M: CDL-A holders may operate CDL-B school buses only.
N: CDL-A and CDL-B holders may operate CDL-C school buses only.
O: Driver limited to pintail hook trailers only.
T: Sixty-day temporary licence.
Z: Alcohol Interlock Device required in the commercial vehicle.

Foreign officials and diplomats

In rare exceptions, Lebanon issues driving licences to foreign officials and diplomats.

Drivers licensing laws

To obtain a restricted driving licence, one must be 18 or older. Drivers under 18 are usually required to attend a comprehensive driver's education program either at their high school or a professional driving school and take a certain number of behind-the-wheel lessons with a certified driving instructor before applying for a licence.

Driving a school bus also requires a CDL. However, the minimum age to drive a school bus is typically higher, usually 25. Professional drivers who are aged 18–20 typically cannot be licensed to drive tractor trailers, hazardous materials, or school buses.^[1]

Use as identification and proof of age

Driving licences issued in Lebanon have a unique number or alphanumeric code issued by the issuing city's Department of Motor Vehicles (or equivalent), usually show a photograph of the bearer, as well as a copy of his or her signature, the address of his or her primary residence, the type or class of licence, restrictions and/or endorsements (if any), the physical characteristics of the bearer (such as height, weight, hair colour, and eye colour), and birthdate. To be compliant with international standards, the orientation of a driving licence for persons under the age of 18 is vertical, while a driving licence for those 18 or older is horizontal. Since the driving licence is often used as proof of a person's age, the difference in orientation makes it easier to determine if a person is legally allowed to purchase or consume alcohol (Lebanon's legal drinking age is 18^[2]).

Obtaining a driving licence

The Lebanese driving licence can be obtained after finishing a driving school and passing a two-stage test, the theory test and practical tests.

A total of 45 hours of theory classes are required for all categories, these classes now covering the previously optional subjects such as the Lebanese traffic law, defensive driving and first aid. After attending the classes, students take a 30-question computerized theory test. Successful candidates need to score a minimum of 24 correct answers and have less than 5 wrong answers.^{[contradictory]}

Document Requirements

Lebanese identity card
Individual and family status records (Arabic: إخراج القيد الفردي والعائلي) whose date of issuance does not exceed three months
Criminal record status (ورقة ان لا حكم عليه)
Proof of residence (ورقة افادة سكن من مختار المحلة)
Two recent photos (Size: 4.3 × 3.5 cm)
Five official stamps (Arabic: طوابع رسمية) (Costing £L1,000 each)

Non-driver identification cards

Non-driver identification cards are driving licences that provide identification for people who do not drive.

The New Lebanese Road Safety System (LRSS)

This system is applicable to Probationary and Competent Driving Licences. This system ensures:

i - To ensure of safety road guaranteed
ii - Ensure driver discipline, responsible and tolerate with other road users

Road penalties associated with LRSS demerit point

15 points - Driving or control motor vehicle under alcohol or drug.
15 points - Driving dangerously
15 points - Driving without tolerate
15 points - Racing on road
15 points - Refuse to take breath, urine or blood test without any reason
10 Points - Failed to follow traffic light
10 points - Failed to display P plate
10 points - Exceeding road speed over 40 km/h
8 points - Exceeding road speed over 26–40 km/h
8 points - Fail to give priority to ambulance, firefighter, police, custom, or Road Transportation Department car (with siren)
8 points - Fail to stop at junction
5 points - Ignore traffic sign or regulation
5 points - Using exhausted tire
5 points - Fail to bring driving licence (probationary)

References

^ http://www.isf.gov.lb/files/law243.pdf ^{[bare URL PDF]}
^ "Minimum Legal Age Limits". International Alliance for Responsible Drinking. Retrieved 2023-07-20.

[1] ttp://www.isf.gov.lb/files/law243.pdf ^{[bare URL PDF]}

[2] "Minimum Legal Age Limits". International Alliance for Responsible Drinking. Retrieved 2023-07-20.

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