Organization : Inland Revenue Department
Type of Facility : Obtaining Driver’s Licence
Country: St. Kitts & Nevis
Website : https://www.sknird.com/
Obtaining Driver’s Licence :
The Saint Christopher and Nevis Licensing Authority (Traffic Department) of the Royal Saint Christopher and Nevis Police Force is tasked with the responsibility of administering Driver and Vehicle Licences and is empowered under the Chapter 15.06 Vehicles and Road Traffic Act.
Related : Inland Revenue Department St. Kitts & Nevis Corporate Tax Return Filing : www.statusin.org/8311.html
The Licensing Authority works closely with the Inland Revenue Department which issues both the drivers licence card and the vehicle licence decal, after payment of the appropriate fees.
Following are the procedures that govern renewal of driver licences. While this site gives you a brief outline of the basic rules and guidelines, you should also read the Chapter 15.06 Vehicles and Road Traffic Act to get a proper understanding of the mandate of the Licensing Authority. The act also specifies the various fines for persons who try to circumvent the law and clearly identifies the responsibilities of vehicle owners.
It is important to note that to operate a vehicle, both the driver and the vehicle must be licenced and the vehicle is always driven on the left side of the road. There are no exceptions to these rules.
Obtaining Your Driver’s Licence:
An applicant for a drivers licence must first be issued with a Learner’s Authority (permit) from the Inland Revenue Department. The applicant must be at least seventeen (17) years of age at the time of the application. You must have Proof of age (i.e.: passport, birth certificate or social security card). A Learners Authority is valid until the 31st December in each year. If the Learners Authority is received after July 1st in any given calendar year, the fee is reduced by fifty percent (50%). An individual learning to drive must have a valid learners permit and be accompanied by a licenced driving instructor. The cost of the Learner Authority for one year is EC $ 62.50. On the 1st day of July the fee is reduced to EC $ 31.25.
When the applicant is ready to take the driving tests, they must schedule a time with the Licensing Authority to take the written exam. Having passed the written exam you will then be scheduled for a driving (road) test with an examining officer. On successful completion of the driving test, a Certificate of Competency is issued and must be collected from the Inland Revenue Department, where after payment of the required fees, the drivers licence is issued.
To obtain a drivers licence you must first present:
** A valid learners authority,
** Two (2) pieces of ID (i.e.: passport, social security card, national identification card).
** Other supporting documents may be required.
It is illegal to drive a motor vehicle without a valid drivers licence. A Certificate of Competency is not a licence to drive.
Renewal Of A Driver’S Licence:
Persons Residing In Saint Christopher (St. Kitts) And Nevis:
A permanent drivers licence is valid for a maximum period of three years and as little as two years, depending on the date it was renewed. The licence always expires on the holder’s date of birth. The Inland Revenue Department recommends that drivers examine their licence before their birthday to ensure that it has not expired.
Drivers Licences must be renewed before the printed expiration date. However, they cannot be renewed more than 30 days before the expiration date. Renewal of a licence is completed at the Inland Revenue Department during regular operating hours of, 8:00am to 3:00pm, Monday through Friday.
Replacement Of Driver’s Licences:
If a licence is lost or stolen, it must first be reported to the police. The fee for replacing a licence is seventy-five dollars ($ 75.00). If the stolen/lost licence is valid, the new licence will be issued with the same expiration date. If the stolen/lost licence has expired, the holder will be required to renew the licence as outlined under the
Renewal Of Drivers Licence and the fee is EC$ 187.50.