Driving Licence in India

A driving licence is an official document that authorises an individual to drive a motor vehicle in India. As per the motor laws of India, holding a valid DL as per your RTO to drive legally in the country is mandatory. The application of a DL can be done both offline and online. Read below to learn more about driving licence in India, how to apply, its types, fees, eligibility and more.

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Types of Driving Licences in India

A vehicle driving licence is issued to owners based on the type of motor vehicle they drive. To drive legally on the roads of India, it is essential to be aware of these types of Driving licences. Let us learn about the types of driving licences issued in India in detail:

Learner's Licence: A learner's licence (DL) is issued before a permanent driving licence. It allows the vehicle owner to properly learn driving, traffic signs, symbols, etc. This type of DL is issued for 6 months, after which a vehicle owner can apply for a permanent licence.

Permanent Driving Licence: An individual who has passed the RTO written and driving test can apply for a permanent driving licence. A permanent licence is valid for 20 years and can be renewed.
This licence assures that you are well-versed in driving an LMV on the road and have a sound knowledge of all the traffic signals.

Commercial Driving Licence: A commercial driving licence is given to individuals who drive commercial vehicles, such as heavy or medium motor vehicles, for commercial purposes, such as transporting passengers or goods. This type of driving licence is mandatory for cars with 8 or more seating capacity.

International Driving Permit: This type of driving permit is given to Indians who want to drive in foreign countries. It is issued to individuals who hold a valid permanent driving licence and are residents of India.

Ways to Apply for a Driving Licence in India

An individual can apply for a driving licence in India offline or online. Both these ways are explained below. Take a look:

Online Application

Here is how you can apply for a driving licence online:

Step:1 Visit the official website of Parivahan Sewa

Step:2 From the online services tab, tap on the "Driving Licence Related Services" option

Step:3 From the list of states, select the state where you wish to apply for DL

Step:4 Now click on "Apply for Driving Licence"

Step:5 Add the details of the applicant

Step:6 Now upload scanned copies of the required documents

Step:7 Pay the driving licence application fees

Step:8 Book a slot for the driving licence test in your nearest RTO

Step:9 As per the scheduled date, apply for the test

Step:10 Once you pass the test, your DL will be approved

Step:11 The driving licence will be sent to your residential address.

Offline Application

To apply for a driving licence offline, you can follow the steps given below:

Step:1 Procure the Form 2 from your nearest RTO

Step:2 Fill in form 2, as it will be the application form for the driving licence

Step:3 Compile all the required documents and submit these documents along with Form 2 in your RTO

Step:4 Book a slot for a driving licence test

Step:5 Give the test on the assigned date

Step:6 Your driving licence will be issued once you pass the test.

Steps to Check Driving Licence Application Status

In case you want to check the status of your driving licence application, you can follow the steps mentioned below:

Step 1: Visit the Parivahan Sewa portal

Step 2: Click on the "Driving Licence Related Services" from the "Online Services" dropdown

Step 3: Select your state and click on the "Application Status" option

Step 4: Add the required details like application number and DOB of the applicant

Step 5: Enter the captcha and click on the Submit button

Step 6: The status of your driving licence will appear on the next page.

Driving Test Procedure in India

The procedure for driving licence tests for different vehicles is different in India. Let us understand each below:

Driving Licence Test for Cars

The driving test for cars is conducted to gauge the following skills:

Ground and road rules-related skills

Ability to drive on patterns like "U", "H", "T", "8", etc

Ability to do parallel parking

Ability to drive forward-backwards on a "S" shaped pattern

Driving Licence Test for Two-Wheelers/Three-Wheelers

For two and three-wheelers, the driving test sequence is as follows:

Ground and road rules-related skills

Drive on marks such as "T" and "8" without placing the foot down till the track is complete

What if you Fail the Driving Test?

If a candidate cannot pass the driving test per the guidelines mentioned above, he/she can reappear for the test after seven days. The fees for the test will have to be repaid to the RTO.

Eligibility Criteria for Obtaining a Driving Licence

To apply for a driving licence in any state of India, a candidate should be eligible for the following:

Candidates applying for a gearless two-wheeler DL must be 16 or older.

Candidates applying for LMV DL have to be 18 years old or above.

A candidate must be at least 20 years old and have passed 8th class for commercial vehicle DL.

Candidate must have a valid learner's licence

Must clear the driving test to receive DL.

Fees for Driving Licence in India

The fees for obtaining a driving licence in India are as follows:

Type of Service	Fees
Issue of learner’s licence	Rs. 150
Issue of a driving licence	Rs. 200
Issue of International Driving Permit	Rs. 1,000
Renewal of driving licence	Rs. 200

Documents Required for Obtaining a Driving Licence

To get a driving licence, an applicant will need the following documents:

Proof of age (any birth certificate, PAN card, passport, or high school certificate)

Address proof ( any voter ID, ration card, passport, LIC policy bond, state or central govt. payslip)

Application in Form 2

Form 1A

6 copies of passport-size photos

Form 1 (physical fitness)

Prescribed fees

Form 5

Steps to Apply for a Driving Licence Renewal in India

The validity of a private driving licence is 20 years, after which it has to be renewed for the next 10 years. Here is how to renew driving licence in India online:

Visit the Sarathi Parivahan portal

Select the state of your DL

Click on Driving Licence Renewal from the "Driving Licence" menu

Fill out the application form

Click on the "Next Button"

Visit the RTO on the scheduled date

Once passed, your DL will be issued.

Steps to Apply for a Duplicate Driving Licence

If you have lost your driving licence, you can also apply for a duplicate one from the Parivahan Sewa portal. Here is how to do it:

Visit the VAHAN Sarathi portal

Click on the "Driving License" section

Choose the state from the list

Click on the "Apply for duplicate DL" service

Submit your DL application on the portal

Visit your nearest RTO and submit your application, required documents and receipt from the Sarathi portal

Your DL will be verified, after which a duplicate DL will be sent to your residential address.

Importance of Having a Valid Driving Licence in India

A valid driving licence is mandatory in India to drive legally. If the traffic police catch you driving a vehicle without a DL, you will have to pay a heavy traffic fine and may also face imprisonment. A driving licence is an essential document because it gives an individual the legal authority to drive their vehicle on Indian roads.

Moreover, a valid DL can also be used as evidence of personal identification. You can show your DL as an ID in places like government offices and airports, as a DL is equivalent to other forms of personal identification like PAN cards, Aadhar cards, Voter IDs, etc.

Apart from being mandatory, getting a driving licence is essential to raise a valid claim under your vehicle insurance policy. Your insurer will only approve your motor insurance claim if you present a valid driving licence.

Frequently asked question

mParivahan is a Government-owned mobile application that contains all vehicle-related information. A DL available on this app is valid and can be downloaded.

A virtual driving licence can be downloaded from the mParivahan app. Visit the app and download a PDF of your driving licence in DigiLocker. You can also see the Parivahan portal and download your DL from the website.

To know the application status of your driving licence, follow the steps mentioned below:

Select the state from where you have registered your DL
On the next screen, select the "Application Status" option from the "Apply Online" menu
Enter your application number, date of birth and captcha code
Click on "Submit"
The details of your DL application will be displayed.

Follow these steps to book a driving licence appointment online:

Visit the Sarathi Parivahan website
From the homepage, click on "Driving Licence."
Select the state from where the service is to be taken
Click on "Appointments" from the list of mentioned services
Click on the "Slot Booking" option at the top of the page
Select for which DL you wish to book your slot
Enter the application number, DOB and date verification captcha
Make an appointment on the desired date
Visit the RTO on the scheduled date with the required documents

An international driving permit can be issued to applicants who hold a valid Indian DL and are residents of India. To apply for an international driving licence, an application must be made in Form 4A or in writing to the respective RTO, specifying the countries to be visited, the stay duration, and other specific details.

To get your address changed in the vehicle driving licence:

Visit the Sarathi Parivahan website
Click on "Driving Licence" from the homepage
Select the state of your DL
From the list of services, click on "Apply for Change of Address."
Read the instructions and click on the "Continue" button
Enter your DL number, DOB, and captcha
Click on the "Proceed" button
Fill in the address you want to change in the new DL,
and Submit.