Overview
In Mongolia, the driving licence exam is run by the police: in the capital by the police unit in charge of driving exams, and in the provinces by the traffic police unit of the local police body. The rules come from a 2019 joint order of the Minister of Labour and Social Protection and the Minister of Justice and Home Affairs (A/46 and A/09), published on the national legal database in Mongolian. This page follows that procedure. It may have been amended since, so confirm current details with the police.
The exam has two kinds, theory and practical, always taken in that order. If you fail theory you cannot take the practical exam. Each exam is graded only as pass or fail.
Who can apply
You must meet all of these:
You have reached the age allowed for the vehicle category under the Road Traffic Rules.
You hold a medical certificate stating you are fit to drive.
You have an assessment sheet from your driver training school.
For category C, you have practised driving category B for at least 3 months.
For category D, you have practised category B for at least 6 months.
For the additional category E, you have practised the base category for at least 6 months.
Bring an ID card or equivalent, the medical sheet, the training assessment sheet, one 4x6 cm colour photo taken in the last 3 months, and your existing licence if you are adding a category or hold a foreign licence.
Exam pattern
Theory
| Test | Questions | Time | Used for |
|---|---|---|---|
| General knowledge | 20 | 20 minutes | B; A or M for a first licence; foreign licence holders |
| Additional knowledge | 10 | 10 minutes | C and D |
The theory exam tests the Law on Road Traffic Safety, the Road Traffic Rules, the theory of safe driving, and first aid for road crash victims.
It can be on paper or on a device. You pass with 90 percent or more correct answers in the test you were given.
On paper, you write the number of your chosen answer in the answer table. A blank cell, more than one digit or a smudged answer counts as wrong.
Practical
Category B: a road driving test of at least 10 minutes. Time stopped by congestion or technical delays is not counted. B candidates trained on an automatic car may be tested in one, and the licence then carries an "automatic" note.
Categories C and D, and A or M for a first licence: a closed-field test, which must be completed within 10 minutes.
Adding category E, or adding A or M to an existing licence: field test only.
Field test tasks by category:
| Category | Tasks |
|---|---|
| A | Weave through 5 flags in a row, ride a figure of eight, ride slowly along a 15 metre line |
| C | Reverse into a bay from the right and the left, exit and reverse through a tunnel with size limits, hill start |
| D | Reverse into a bay from the right and the left, weave through 3 flags, park in a side bay |
| BE, CE, DE | Reverse into a bay from the right and the left, weave through 3 flags, tunnel with size limits |
| M | Tunnel with size limits, hill start |
You fail the field test if you touch or knock a pole or barrier, do not complete a task at the first attempt, fail to fit the side bay, miss a flag, stop short in the reversing bay, roll back or stall twice on the hill, or do not finish in time.
Marking and results
In the road test, mistakes cost 1, 3 or 5 points, and a total of 5 or more fails the test.
1 point: moving off with the parking brake on, not using the mirror, wrong or missing indicator, stalling the engine.
3 points: no seat belt, wrong lane position, wrong turn-round, ignoring a road marking, driving too slowly, wrong stop, not completing reverse parking at the first attempt.
5 points: breaking a signal or sign, not giving way to a priority vehicle, driving against traffic, breaking overtaking rules, not giving way at a pedestrian crossing, breaking railway crossing rules, speeding, failing to stop when needed.
The road test covers starting, changing direction, positioning, adjusting speed, overtaking, junctions, pedestrian crossings, stopping and reverse parking.
Cheating counts as a fail: talking, getting help, passing papers, or using books or phones.
How to apply
The driver training school sends your details to the police exam database at least 14 days before the exam. If you are taking a theory exam as a foreign licence holder, or retaking an exam, you send your own request at least 7 days ahead.
After the exam
You may retake a failed exam, with at least 7 days between attempts.
A theory pass is cancelled if you have not passed the practical exam within 6 months, and you take the theory exam again.
Once you pass everything, the police issue the licence under a separate licence-issuing procedure.
Preparation tips
Study the Law on Road Traffic Safety, the Road Traffic Rules, safe driving theory and first aid.
Aim for at least 90 percent in practice tests, since the pass line is high.
For categories C and D, practise the reversing, tunnel and hill start tasks, because one failed attempt fails the field test.
What score do I need in the Mongolian theory exam?
At least 90 percent correct in the test you are given: the 20-question general test, or the 10-question additional test for C and D.
Can I take the theory exam as a foreign licence holder?
Yes. A person with a licence issued abroad takes the general knowledge theory test, and sends the request at least 7 days before.