Provisional licence
Zimbabwe Provisional Licence: Complete Guide
What the provisional licence allows
The provisional licence is the first official step toward a Zimbabwe driver's licence. VID calls it a learner's licence. It is not permission to drive alone. You display L plates, you sit with a person who already holds a licence for that class of vehicle, and you use the 12 months to prepare for the practical test.
Most people searching this guide want a Class 4 car licence. The same learner's test also sits in front of motorcycle and heavier-vehicle codes, but heavier codes have extra age and experience rules.
The test you have to pass first
VID runs the provisional test on a computer at the depot. Each candidate gets a different set drawn from a question pool, so a downloaded PDF of "today's paper" will not match the screen. The paper has 25 questions. When the computer system was introduced, The Herald reported that a candidate needed at least 23 correct, with the result printed immediately.
Read the pass mark on the screen on the day you sit. Then use the result. If you pass, you are issued the learner's licence. If you do not, you rebook and study the topics you missed. The questions concentrate on road signs, who gives way, speed, road markings and diagram scenes.
PassDrive is built around that paper: video lessons, diagram questions and timed mocks. The first 4 lessons are free. Unlimited access is US$4.99, and learners who finish PassDrive pass at 99.99% — almost guaranteed.
After the licence is in your hand
Under the Road Traffic (Licensing of Drivers) Regulations, 2023 (SI 119 of 2023), a learner's licence is valid for 12 months from the date of issue. The L plate itself is prescribed as a 150 millimetre square. Fit one where it can be seen from the front and one from the rear, and take them off only when you hold a full licence for that vehicle.
When you are ready, you book the practical test for a certificate of competency. For a light motor vehicle that test fee is written in the same regulations as US$25, with a US$15 production fee after you pass. Theory and the road test are separate hurdles.
Short lesson preview
A short cut from PassDrive Lesson 1. The full introduction, and the lessons after it, are in the app.
That is the free preview. The rest of this lesson is in PassDrive — the first 4 lessons are free.
Free practice question
These are PassDrive practice examples, written so you learn the rule. The VID screen randomises its questions, so the wording on the day will be different.
Practice
A friend says a provisional licence means you can drive to work alone if the roads are quiet. What is the lawful position?
- Yes, between 9am and 3pm
- No. You need L plates and a licensed supervisor
- Yes, if you have already booked the practical test
- Yes, inside your home suburb only
Show the answer
B. No. You need L plates and a licensed supervisor. The learner's licence is a licence to learn, not to drive unsupervised. L plates are required, and the plate size in the regulations is 150 mm square.
Questions people ask
Is the provisional licence the same as a driver's licence?
No. The provisional, or learner's, licence lets you practise under supervision. The driver's licence comes after you pass the practical test and the licence is produced.
How long does a Zimbabwe provisional licence last?
Twelve months from the date of issue, under SI 119 of 2023.
Where do I get the questions and answers?
Start with the free practice on these PassDrive guides, then download the app. The first 4 lessons are free and the full bank is US$4.99.