Punjab Driving Licence Test Deadlines: Road Test Within 24 Hours of the E-Sign Test, Reported
Punjab is reported to require the licence road test within 24 hours of the e-sign test and the PSID paid in 7 days. See what we could and could not confirm.
Short answer: Since 17 September 2026, Punjab is reported to require applicants to take the road test within 24 hours of passing the e-sign test, and to pay the PSID within 7 days. If you miss a deadline, the testing process starts again. Book your road test before you sit the sign test.
You pass the sign test on a Tuesday morning, feel good, and plan the road test for the weekend. Under the reported rule, that plan fails. Your sign test result would expire after 24 hours and you would start over.
We have to be clear about our source. The new time limits were reported in the press from 17 September 2026. We looked for the rule on the DLIMS portal and its FAQ on 12 October 2026 and did not find it written there. So treat the deadlines below as reported, and confirm them at your licensing office before you plan.
The reported rule gives you three deadlines
Reports say candidates must now finish each stage of the licence test within a set time, one after the other. The stages are the e-sign test, the road test and the payment of the PSID, which is the payment slip number.
| Stage | Reported deadline | If you miss it |
|---|---|---|
| E-sign test passed | Road test within 24 hours | Sign test result becomes invalid |
| PSID generated | Pay within 7 days | Whole process cancelled |
| Any stage | Complete in the set time | Testing process restarts |
The reports describe the e-sign test as the first test. We read this as the computer based road sign test that applicants take at the licensing centre. Ask your centre to confirm the name.
What the official portal does say
The DLIMS portal is the Punjab government's licence system. It says the first full licence is earned at a licensing office, where you sit the sign test and the driving test. It also says payment is by PSID through ATM, online banking or mobile banking.
The portal's fee table lists a test fee for each category. It is Rs 50 for a motorcycle, Rs 100 for a rickshaw, Rs 150 for a car or jeep, and Rs 200 for a motorcycle plus car combination. After you pass, the licence fee and a Rs 480 courier charge follow. The full table is explained in the guide to a Punjab driving licence online after the learner stage.
A restart can mean paying a test fee again. We did not see a rule on whether the test fee is refunded or carried over, so ask before you pay.
How to plan your test day around the deadlines
The safe plan is simple. Make sure everything is ready before the first test, and keep the day free for both tests and for payment.
- Hold a valid learner licence. The steps are in the guide on how to get a learner driving licence in Punjab.
- Book or confirm the slot for both tests at your district licensing office.
- Practise the sign test first, so you pass it on the first attempt.
- Take the road test on the same day, or the next morning at the latest.
- Generate the PSID the moment you pass and pay it the same day.
- Download the receipt and keep the PSID number until the card arrives.
If you already passed the sign test and the clock is running
Do not wait. If you passed the sign test yesterday, go to the licensing office and ask whether your result is still valid. If it has lapsed, you will need to sit it again. That costs time but not much money, because the test fee is small.
If you have a PSID that is more than 7 days old and unpaid, expect the process to be cancelled. Ask the licensing office whether the old slip can still be paid or a new one is needed before you send any money.
If you are applying for something else, such as a heavy vehicle licence, the age and experience rules differ. They are covered in the guide to the HTV licence in Punjab.
Penalties still apply to unlicensed driving
Do not drive while you wait. Fines for driving without a licence and for other offences are listed in the table of Punjab traffic fines for bike, car and van drivers. Holding a learner licence lets you practise with conditions, but it is not a full licence.
Common questions
When did the new licence test deadlines start?
Reports date them from 17 September 2026. We could not find the rule written on the DLIMS portal.
How long do I have for the road test after the sign test?
Reports say 24 hours. After that the sign test result is invalid.
How long do I have to pay the PSID?
Reports say 7 days from when the PSID is generated. After that the process is cancelled.
Do I pay the test fee again if I restart?
We could not confirm this. Ask the licensing office before paying again.
Does the rule apply to renewals?
The reports describe the test process for new licences. Renewals do not involve the road test, so they should not be affected.
Where can I confirm the rule?
At your district licensing office, or on the DLIMS helpline 042-99202892.
How we verified this
What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.
We read the DLIMS portal home page and FAQ and its fee structure on 12 October 2026. The 24 hour and 7 day deadlines come from press reports of a rule from 17 September 2026, which we could not match to an official notice. Confirm them at the licensing office before you act.
About the author
Public Services and Education Journalist
Fajr Riaz is a journalist and content writer at Pakistan Era, based in Lahore. She covers the questions people meet in everyday life in Pakistan: how a public service works, what a change in the rules means, and where to find a reliable answer.
