A driving permit is fundamentally an official archive issued by the Government of India, allowing people to work or drive a mechanized vehicle, for example, an auto, motorbike, truck, transport, and so forth., on an open street, with no supervision. In India, a driving permit is issued by the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) or Regional Transport Office (RTO) of that specific state. The Motor Vehicles Act of 1988 states that no person without the Driving permit is approved to drive an engine vehicle in an open place.
Subsequently, on the off chance that you wish to drive an engine vehicle like auto or bike on streets, you should first hold a substantial driving permit in India. In the event that you are rehearsing to drive a vehicle, you should first get a Learners permit which will go about as a temporary permit and after that must take a test to fit the bill for getting a Driving Permit. With the coming of online offices that enable clients to apply for a Driving permit from the solace of their homes, getting a driving permit has turned into a simple undertaking.
Types of DL in India
Depending on the class of the vehicle, Indian applicants are awarded different driving licences. Also, the eligibility criteria varies for driving licences pertaining to different vehicle classes. Here are some of the popular vehicle classes for which a driving licence can be obtained in India.
| Vehicle Type |
| Motorcycles with engine capacity of 50 cc or less than 50 cc |
| Motorcycles with gear, motorcycles with a capacity of 50 cc or more, Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs) including cars |
| All Motorcycles types including Motorcycle with gear |
| Motorcycles of any cc but with no gears – including scooters and mopeds |
| Light Motor Vehicle for non-transport purposes |
| Light Motor Vehicle intended for commercial purposes |
| Heavy Passenger Motor Vehicle (also referred to as All India driving permit for trucks and cars or open licence) |
| Heavy Goods Motor Vehicle |
| Candidates holding a heavy vehicle driving licence can apply for heavy trailer licence |
Eligibility for Driving licence in India
The eligibility for driving licence in India depends on the class of vehicle and the type of driving licence. The eligibility criteria for different permanent Driving licence types in India are given below.
| Type of Permanent Driving licence | Eligibility Criteria |
| Motorcycles without gear (with a capacity of up to 50 cc) | The applicant must be at least 16 years old and must have the consent of parent or guardian if he is less than 18 years old. |
| Motorcycles with gear | The applicant should be at least 18 years old. |
| Commercial Heavy Vehicles and Transport Vehicles | The applicant should have completed 8th standard. The applicant must be at least 18 years old (in some states, the minimum age limit is 20 years). |
| General Requirement | The applicant must be conversant with traffic regulations and rules. The applicant must have valid age proof and address proof documents. |
Document Required for Driving licence
While applying for a driving licence, the candidate must submit all documents given below. Timely submission of all necessary documents will ensure a smooth and faster driving licence application process. Refer to the list given below to know what documents will be required while making an application for driving licence in India.
- Age Proof (any one of the below given documents)
- Birth Certificate
- PAN Card
- Passport
- 10th Class mark sheet
- Transfer certificate from any school for any class with date of birth printed on it.
- Proof of Address required for DL:
- Permanent Proof of address (any one from the following):
- Passport
- Aadhaar Card
- Self-owned house agreement
- Electricity bill (issued in applicants name)
- LIC bond
- Voters ID Card
- Ration card
- Current Proof of address (any one from the following):
- Rental agreement and electricity bill
- Rental agreement and LPG bill
- Permanent Proof of address (any one from the following):
- Other Requirements for Driving Licence:
- Duly filled application form (to get the application form for driving licence, visit the nearest RTO or download it from the online portal for your state)
- 6 passport sized photographs (when applying for Learners Licence)
- 1 passport sized photograph (when applying for driving licence)
- Application Fees
- If you are staying in other cities, as current address proof, you can present the rental agreement with one recent utility bill copy which can be gas bill or electric bill.
- Medical Certificate – Form 1 A and 1 which is to be issued by a certified Government doctor
- For all applicants over the age of 40 years, a Medical certificate is mandatory.
Procedure for Applying New Driving Licence Online
Candidates who are wanting to apply for another driving permit online can do it by going by the Sarathi site of the Road Transport and Highways Ministry. Pick ‘New Driving License’ choice from the ‘Sarathi Services’ segment on the website’oter-id/checks landing page. You will be diverted to another page that has all the data on it. In the wake of perusing every one of the guidelines, download the frame to your PC and top it off with the fundamental subtle elements.
Online Application Process for getting Driving Licence
The process for filling out an online application for a Learner’s Licence or Driving Licence is as follows:
- Visit the Sarathi website and download the driving licence application form.
- Fill in the form as per the instructions provided on the screen and click on ‘Submit’.
- In the case of minor applicants, the form is to be printed out and Part D is to be filled out and signed by the parent/guardian at the nearest RTO.
- Upload the documents to be submitted along with the application form (proof of age, proof of address, learner’s licence number).
- A Web Application Number will be generated after submission, which can be used to track the status of the application.
- Once the application has been processed, a notification will be sent via SMS.
How to Apply for a Driving licence in RTO or Offline in India?
The procedure to apply for a Driving licence in India is very simple and straightforward. The steps given below will help you understand how to apply for a Driving licence offline.
- The applicant has to obtain a Form 4 which is the application form for motor vehicle driving licence in india. The Form can be downloaded from the state transport website. Alternatively, the customer can also visit the nearest RTO to procure Form 4.
- Completely fill the application form and submit it with other documents like age proof and address proof at the RTO in the jurisdiction in which you live. Also, schedule a slot for Driving licence test at the RTO and pay the fee for taking the test.
- Be present at your Driving licence test center on the specified time and date. Once you clear the test, your driving licence will be awarded on the spot or will be sent to your registered address.
- Also, if you are taking driving lesson from a Driving school, the school will help you apply for a driving licence.
Format of Driving Licence in India:
The driving licence in India has a format. Let us understand this particular format by using an appropriate example:
Let us say that you stay in Bangalore and the vehicle you own has the licence plate number KA-01-2009-0004558 (reference use only).
- The first two characters KA indicate the state where the vehicle is registered. In this example, it is Karnataka.
- 01 is the city code.
- 2009 is the year when the licence was printed and given to the user.
- The following digits form the unique identification number for the user.
Test Procedure for Driving licence in India
You must undergo a driving licence which will test your driving skills and knowledge on road rules & signals and pass the test to get your driving licence. Here are some of the important points regarding the driving licence test procedure in India.
- You can apply for a permanent Driving licence after 30 days from the date of issuance of Learners licence. The application for permanent Driving licence must be filed within 180 days from the issue date of Learners licence.
- Submit all relevant documents (including driving licence test slot booking slip if you have booked the slot online) and pay the fees for taking the Driving licence test at the designated counter. Get the receipt and approach the allotted track cabin to take the test.
- You must be present in person for the Driving licence test at least an hour before the allotted time. You will have to take a test before or along with the Motor Vehicle Inspector (MVI) at the designated track.
- Different states have different test tracks and procedures. Generally, for two-wheelers, you will be asked to drive a two-wheeler in a path designed in shape of number 8. Also, the Motor Vehicle Inspector will check if you are using indicators and relevant hand signals while driving. You will have to trace the shape of number 8 in your vehicle without your legs touching the ground.
- For a four wheeler driving licence, the Motor Vehicle Inspector will ask you to ride the car in a track and will note your skills. You must show proper hand signals, use the indicator and apply brakes wherever necessary. Also, shift the gears smoothly and use side & rear view mirrors while driving.
How long does it take to get the Driving Licence after passing the test?
To avail a driving licence test, you must follow a certain procedure:
- You must fill the online form and take an appointment at the RTO office for your learning test. A few multiple choice questions will be asked during your test at the RTO. You will find a wide range of questions on the website, which might be asked during your learning licence test. Once you pass that test, you will receive a receipt. With this receipt, you will have to collect your learning licence.
- After one month has passed from the date of issuance of your learning licence, you will have to take an appointment for a driving test. During this test, the questions that will be asked will be related to the vehicle for which you are getting the licence (two wheeler/four wheeler). Once you pass this exam too, you will get a receipt. This particular receipt will serve as your driving licence till the time you receive the real driving licence by speed post.
What to do if your Driving Licence is Lost?
Every driver in India needs to have a driving licence. Without this document you are not allowed to drive in the country. If you lose your driving licence, you will have to apply for a duplicate one to be able to drive.
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Things to do if you lost your Driving Licence:
- Go to the police station that has jurisdiction over the area where you lose your driving licence.
- Lodge a complaint and make sure you get a copy of the First Information Report (FIR).
- Visit the Notary office to get an affidavit on a stamped paper. The affidavit will act as a proof that you took an oath before the concerned officer (executive magistrate/notary public/first class judicial magistrate) that your licence is lost.
You will have to pay a small fee for the notary service and the stamped paper.
International Driving Permit (IDP) in India
A global Driving permit is issued to an inhabitant Indian who holds a substantial Indian Driving permit. A global driving license (IDP) enables an Indian resident to drive engine vehicle in a remote nation. The global driving grant (IDP) has various dialect interpretation of the current driving permit and is like a travel permit in appearance. In spite of the fact that the procedure for acquiring an IDP shifts from state to express, the general procedure stream is specified underneath.
The application procedure for a worldwide driving permit differs from state to state. Do connect with the closest RTO or your State Transport office to know the total application process and the rundown of records required.
Why do you need a Driving licence in India?
Apart from the fact that a person must hold a driving licence to legally drive a motor vehicle in India, the uses of a driving licence are many. Here are some of the reasons as to why you need a driving licence in India.
- Important Document of Personal IdentificationOften, while travelling or visiting a pub, you are asked to display an ID. At this point, most of us conveniently reach into our wallets to pull our driving licences. So, another rather important purpose which a driving licence fulfills is as a widely recognized form of personal identification. Among other documents like passports, PAN cards, Voter ID Cards, Aadhar Cards, driving licences too are a widely accepted form of personal identification.
- Make Commuting EasierCommuting these days is an extremely stressful activity. Using public transport might not be everyone’s cup of tea. Also, owning a vehicle provides you with the freedom of being mobile, as and when you need. Considering that, if you wish to purchase a car or motorbike to commute, you will need to obtain a driving licence prior to doing so.
- Compulsory Legal RequirementIf you wish to drive, in India or even abroad, you are required to hold a valid driving licence to do so. A driving licence is an important document indicating your ability to operate or drive a motorised vehicle.