How to get a driving licence in Linares: requirements, tests and appointments

Getting a driving licence is one of the most important formalities for many people in Linares: to get to work, take the children to school, travel to the countryside or work as a driver. In Linares, licences are issued by the Municipality's Traffic department (Dirección de Tránsito), and the process includes a medical test, a theory test and a practical driving test. In this guide we explain, using the information published by the Municipality of Linares, the requirements for each licence class, how to book an appointment, how to prepare for the tests and what happens if you fail.

Where to get a driving licence in Linares

The Linares Traffic department is at Manuel Rodríguez 754. This is where first licences are issued, renewals are done when a licence expires and duplicates are requested. For licences, appointments are booked online through the Municipality's system, transito.corporacionlinares.cl. Enquiries go to (73) 256 4657 and (73) 256 4662, or by email to licenciadeconducir@corporacionlinares.cl.

You must get your licence at the municipality closest to where you live, because that is where your records are checked and the tests are taken. If you live in Linares, that means the Linares Traffic department. Once you have passed everything, the Municipality produces the licence, the Traffic Director signs it, and within five working days it notifies the Civil Registry, which adds it to the National Register of Drivers.

Requirements for a class B licence in Linares

The class B licence is the most common: it lets you drive cars, pickups, vans and other vehicles with up to nine seats not counting the driver, or goods vehicles up to 3,500 kilos. To get it you must be at least 18 and have a certificate showing you completed eighth grade (primary school) or higher. At 17 you can also apply, as long as you have passed a course at a driving school and have permission from your parents or legal guardian.

For people over 18, driving school is not compulsory for class B, although it helps a lot, especially for the practical test. The Traffic Director also checks your good character using your criminal record certificate from the Civil Registry and your National Register of Drivers report. According to the Municipality of Linares, the only document you need to bring is your valid ID card; the Municipality checks the other records itself.

The tests: medical, theory and practical

The process includes three compulsory tests taken at the Municipality. The medical (or psycho-technical) test checks your eyesight, hearing, reaction time and coordination, and includes an interview with a doctor. The theory test is a set of questions about the Traffic Law, road signs and safe driving. And the practical test is a driving test on the street with a Traffic examiner, where you show that you can drive safely.

For the theory test, study the Libro del Nuevo Conductor (New Driver's Handbook) from CONASET, Chile's National Road Safety Commission, which you can download free at conaset.cl; it covers the subjects and the type of questions. For the practical test, practise on real streets in Linares with someone who holds a licence and in a vehicle with its papers in order. If you take a driving school course, it's best to do it in Linares, because many schools lend you their car for the practical test.

What happens if you fail a test

Failing doesn't end the process, but there are deadlines you need to know. According to the Municipality of Linares, if you fail the theory test the first time you have 25 working days to retake it. If you don't show up within that period or fail any of the tests again, the process ends and the licence is refused. After that first refusal you must wait 30 working days before starting a second process, which again gives you two attempts.

If you are refused again in the second process, from then on you must wait six months before each new attempt. If you fail the medical or practical test, you must book a new appointment with the staff of that section at least one day in advance. That's why it pays to prepare well from the first attempt: study the handbook, practise in good time and arrive rested on the day of the test.

Class C licence and professional licences

The class C licence is for motorcycles, scooters and mopeds. You must be 18, have completed primary school and pass the same three tests; driving school is not compulsory. Class D is for machinery such as tractors, backhoes or cranes, and besides being able to read and write you must prove you can operate the machine with a certificate from a driving school or your employer, or by showing that you own it.

Professional licences are for people who drive for a living. A1 lets you drive taxis; A2, taxis, ambulances and passenger vehicles with 10 to 17 seats; A3, public and school transport with no seat limit; A4, rigid trucks over 3,500 kilos; and A5, articulated trucks. In general you must be at least 20, have held a class B licence for two years or more and pass a theory and practical course at a professional driving school. A3 and A5 also require having held another professional licence for at least two years, or passing a special course with driving simulators.

Duplicate and renewal of your licence

If your licence has been lost, stolen or damaged, you can request a duplicate at the Traffic department, which handles this between 09:00 and 12:30. First you must permanently block the licence at the Civil Registry, and then bring to the Traffic department your valid ID card, a photocopy of the blocking receipt and two driving licence photos. If you got your licence in Linares the process is quicker; if you got it in another commune, the Traffic department must request your records from that municipality and it takes longer.

When your licence expires, you must go through the renewal check: you book an appointment just as for a first licence and retake some of the tests, such as the medical. Don't leave it until the last day, because driving with an expired licence is an offence and can lead to a fine at the Linares Local Police Court. Once you have your licence, our guide to the vehicle permit in Linares will also come in handy.

Driving licences in Linares: frequently asked questions

Where do I book a licence appointment in Linares? At transito.corporacionlinares.cl, the Traffic department's appointment system.

Which documents should I bring? For a class B licence, your valid ID card. Also keep your eighth-grade (or higher) certificate to hand in case you are asked for it.

Is driving school compulsory? Not for class B, unless you are 17. It is compulsory for professional licences.

How much does a licence cost? Each municipality sets the fee, and it varies by licence class: check with the Traffic department before your appointment. With the right information and good preparation, getting your driving licence in Linares can be a simple process.