A valid driver's licence is the one paper a checkpoint will always ask for.
Your car can be perfectly documented, but if your licence has lapsed, you are the problem.
The process is clear once you know the steps and what to have ready.
Here is how to get one, how to renew it, and how to keep it from lapsing.
What a driver's licence costs in 2026
Here are the current FRSC fees, after the June 2025 review.
For a private or commercial car licence, a 3-year licence is ₦15,000 and a 5-year licence is ₦21,000. Keke and motorcycle riders pay less: ₦7,000 for 3 years and ₦11,000 for 5 years.
The licence fee is not the whole bill. Budget for a medical and eye test, around ₦1,500 to ₦3,500, and the VIO driving test, often ₦1,000 to ₦2,000. For a first-timer, once driving school, tests, medical and biometric capture are added, the all-in cost usually lands around ₦45,000 to ₦50,000.
The card itself is cheap. It is the tests, medical and first-time extras that make up most of what a new applicant actually pays.
Who issues it, and what you need first
The driver's licence in Nigeria is issued through the FRSC, working with the state licensing offices and the Vehicle Inspection Office.
Before you start, one thing is non-negotiable. You need your National Identification Number.
A licence application is now tied to your NIN, so if you do not have one yet, register for it first.
With the NIN in hand, the rest is straightforward.
How to apply for a new licence
A first driver's licence runs through a set sequence.
- Start the application on the FRSC driver's licence portal and pay the fee.
- Take the driving test through an accredited Vehicle Inspection Office to get your certificate.
- Book and attend a licensing centre to capture your biometrics and photograph.
- Collect the temporary licence while the permanent card is produced.
- Pick up the permanent licence once it is ready.
Keep it with your vehicle papers, since a checkpoint can ask for both at once.
Get your licence sorted without the queue
Tell us whether you are applying or renewing. We will guide your FRSC application and process the paperwork through our driver's licence service.
Sort my licence on WhatsAppHow to renew
Renewal is lighter than a first application, but the principle is the same.
You reapply through the FRSC portal with your existing licence details, pay the renewal fee, recapture biometrics if asked, and collect the renewed card.
The one rule worth following: start before the old one expires.
Renewing a week early is admin. Renewing a week late is driving on a lapsed licence.
Three years or five
You choose how long the licence runs.
The licence is issued for either three years or five years, and you pick at application or renewal.
The five-year option costs more upfront but saves you a whole renewal cycle, which is usually the better deal if you plan to keep driving.
Either way, note the expiry the day you collect it.
Driving abroad
Your Nigerian licence is for Nigerian roads.
If you are travelling and plan to drive, you need an international driver's permit, which translates your licence for use in other countries.
It sits on top of your domestic licence rather than replacing it, and we cover it in its own international driver's permit guide.
Sort the home licence first, then the IDP.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get a driver's licence in Nigeria?
Apply through the FRSC portal, take the test through a Vehicle Inspection Office, capture your biometrics at a licensing centre, and collect the licence once issued. You need your National Identification Number to apply.
How do I renew a driver's licence?
Use the same FRSC portal: reapply with your existing details, pay the renewal fee, recapture biometrics if required, and collect the renewed licence. Start before the old one expires to avoid driving on a lapsed licence.
How long is a Nigerian driver's licence valid?
It is issued for either three years or five years, and you choose at application or renewal. The longer option costs more upfront but saves you a renewal cycle.
Do I need my NIN for a driver's licence?
Yes. A National Identification Number is required to apply for or renew a driver's licence, so register for your NIN first if you do not already have one.
The editorial team at Car Tracker Nigeria, drawing on two decades of vehicle tracking, recovery and fleet work across Nigeria to publish practical security guides.
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