Karnataka RTO Learner's Licence (LLR) Test Study Guide

Road signs across Karnataka are displayed in a bilingual format, with Kannada and English shown together. The symbols, shapes, and colours follow the national IRC 67 code, while the script used in place names reflects Kannada as the state's official language. Expect the test to confirm that signs are bilingual Kannada and English rather than single-language.[3][4]

Karnataka's hill sections in the Western Ghats drive several state-specific items. Long descents, hairpin bends, and rockfall zones mean ghat driving etiquette and engine braking are tested directly. Applications are made to the Karnataka Transport Department, and most learners complete identity verification, payment, and the LLR test end-to-end on the Parivahan Sarathi portal.[3]

• Karnataka registration plates begin with the state code KA, in the format KA-XX-LL-NNNN (for example KA-01 Bengaluru Central, KA-03 Bengaluru East, KA-05 Bengaluru South).
• A yellow or red-bordered triangular sign showing falling rocks warns of a landslide-prone or rockfall area, common on Western Ghats hill roads. Reduce speed and stay alert, especially during and after rain.
• When two vehicles meet on a hill, the uphill vehicle has right of way because restarting on a steep gradient is much harder. The downhill driver pulls over at the nearest safe spot.
• On a long Ghats descent, use the same gear you would need to climb that slope so the engine brakes the vehicle. Do not coast in neutral or ride the clutch, which removes engine braking and can overheat the brakes.
• In Bengaluru, the default urban speed limit for cars on most arterial roads is about 50 km/h, with school, hospital, and BMTC bus priority zones often posted at 30 to 40 km/h.
• Bengaluru City Police actively enforce BIS-marked helmets for both rider and pillion, and run regular BAC checks under the MV Act.

Karnataka follows the national IRC 67 sign system. Signs fall into three families by shape and colour. Place names appear in Kannada and English, but the shapes and colours are identical to the rest of India.[4]

1. At an uncontrolled intersection, give way to traffic approaching from your right, per Section 119 of the MV Act and the Rules of the Road Regulations in left-hand-traffic India.
2. On a hill, give way to the uphill vehicle; the downhill driver pulls over at the nearest safe spot.
3. Pedestrians on a zebra crossing have priority; drivers must stop and let them cross.
4. Give way to emergency vehicles with sirens by moving to the left and stopping if necessary.

• Bengaluru arterial roads default to about 50 km/h for cars, with school, hospital, and bus priority zones posted lower at 30 to 40 km/h.
• Overtake from the right. Overtaking is prohibited on curves, hill crests, at junctions, and wherever visibility is restricted.
• Never overtake when it would endanger oncoming traffic; the ban applies on every Karnataka highway and city road under the Rules of the Road Regulations 1989.
• State and local limits override national maximums, so always follow the posted sign.

• BAC limit: 30 mg per 100 ml of blood (0.03%) under Section 185 of the MV Act 1988. Karnataka enforces this through state police and city traffic checks, with imprisonment possible for repeat offences.
• Helmets: both rider and pillion must wear a BIS-marked protective helmet under Section 129. Bengaluru City Police enforce this, including for pillion riders.
• Seatbelts are mandatory for the driver and front passenger, and increasingly enforced for rear passengers.
• Carry a valid Driving Licence, vehicle Registration Certificate (RC), insurance certificate, and a current Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate under Sections 130 to 131 of the MV Act and CMVR.
• Digital documents in DigiLocker or mParivahan are accepted by traffic police under MoRTH guidelines.