sarathi.parivahan.gov.in
Official Parivahan Portal
18 years
Min age for car/bike with gear
30 days
Min LL hold before DL apply
~₹400–600
Total LL + DL fees (approx)
Getting a driving licence in India is a two-stage process — you cannot skip straight to a permanent DL. You must first hold a Learner Licence for at least 30 days, then apply for the permanent licence. The entire process is now online via sarathi.parivahan.gov.in — no agent needed.
Stage 1 of 2
Stage 1 — Apply for Learner Licence (LL)
Stage 1Learner Licence — Online Application + Written Test
1
Visit sarathi.parivahan.gov.in → Click Driving Licence Related Services → Select your state from the dropdown
2
Click Learner Licence → Apply for LL. Create an account or login. Fill in personal details — name, DOB, address, Aadhaar number
3
Select vehicle category: MCWOG (motorcycle without gear), MCWG (motorcycle with gear), LMV (light motor vehicle / car), or both LMV + MCWG if you want all in one
4
Upload documents — proof of age and proof of address in JPG/PDF format under 1MB each. Fill and upload Form 1 (self-declaration of physical fitness)
5
Pay LL fee online — approximately ₹150–200 per vehicle class — via debit card, net banking or UPI via PayGov portal. Save the payment receipt
6
Book a LL test slot at your local RTO. In most states the written test is computer-based — 15 questions on traffic rules, road signs and basic driving rules. Pass with 60% (9/15 correct)
7
Visit RTO on the scheduled date with original documents + fee receipt. Pass the test → receive LL on the same day. If you fail, re-book after 7 days
💡 Study for the LL test via the VAHAN portal's mock test section or search "RTO LL test questions" — 70% of questions are about road signs and traffic rules you can memorise in 2 hours.
ℹ️ After Getting LL — What to Do
After getting your LL: (1) Display a red 'L' sticker on the front and rear of the vehicle while driving. (2) You must be accompanied by a licensed driver at all times. (3) You cannot drive on highways or carry passengers on a learner licence. (4) Hold the LL for minimum 30 days before applying for Permanent DL. LL validity is 180 days — apply for DL before it expires or you'll have to restart from LL.
Stage 2 of 2
Stage 2 — Apply for Permanent Driving Licence
Stage 2Permanent DL — Online Application + Practical Driving Test
1
Return to sarathi.parivahan.gov.in → select state → click Driving Licence → New Driving Licence
2
Enter your Learner Licence number and Date of Birth → click Get Details. Your LL data auto-populates. You must be at least 30 days past your LL issue date
3
Complete the application form — verify personal details, address, vehicle category. Upload any additional documents required by your state
4
Pay DL fee — approximately ₹200–300 per vehicle class + ₹200 for smart card — via PayGov online
5
Book a practical driving test slot at your RTO or designated automated test track. Choose a convenient date and time online
6
On test day: carry original LL, age proof, address proof and fee receipt. Pass the practical test — examiner assesses starting, gear changes, turning, reversing, parking and road behaviour
7
After passing: DL is dispatched to your registered address within 7 days via Speed Post as a smart card. Track delivery via mParivahan app or Parivahan portal → Application Status
🚫 If you fail the practical test, you can re-book after 7 days. There is no limit on retries but each attempt requires re-payment of test fee.
Age rules
Minimum Age for Driving Licence in India
16 yrs
Gearless Two-Wheeler
Up to 50cc only. Parental/guardian consent required. Example: scooter, moped.
18 yrs
Car + Motorcycle with Gear
LMV (car, jeep, van) and MCWG (motorcycle with gear). Most common category.
20 yrs
Transport / Commercial
Trucks, buses, taxis, autos. Must have held LMV licence for at least 1 year.
Documents checklist
Documents Needed for Driving Licence
📋 Proof of Age (any one)
- Aadhaar card
- PAN card
- Passport
- 10th class marksheet / certificate
- Birth certificate (municipal)
- Voter ID card
🏠 Proof of Address (any one)
- Aadhaar card
- Voter ID card
- Passport
- Electricity bill (under 3 months old)
- Gas bill or water bill (under 3 months)
- Rent agreement + utility bill
📄 Forms (fill online or download)
- Form 1 — self-declaration of physical fitness (non-transport)
- Form 1A — medical certificate (transport vehicles only)
- Form 2 — learner licence application
- Form 4 — driving licence application
📸 Photo and Signature
- Recent passport-size photograph (JPG, under 300KB)
- Scanned signature (JPG, under 100KB)
- Original documents to carry to RTO on test day
- For Stage 2: Valid Learner Licence (original)
✅ Check and Download DL on DigiLocker / mParivahan
Your Driving Licence is also digitally available on DigiLocker and the mParivahan app once issued. The digital DL on DigiLocker is accepted by traffic police across India as valid proof. You no longer need to carry the physical smart card — just show the mParivahan app screen during traffic checks. Download mParivahan from Play Store or App Store.
Common questions
Driving Licence FAQ 2026
16 years for gearless two-wheelers (up to 50cc) with parental consent. 18 years for Light Motor Vehicle (car, jeep) and motorcycles with gear. 20 years for transport/commercial vehicles (must already hold LMV licence for 1 year). Attempting to apply below the minimum age results in application rejection.
You need: Proof of age (Aadhaar, PAN, passport, 10th marksheet), Proof of address (Aadhaar, voter ID, utility bill under 3 months), passport-size photograph, scanned signature, and completed Form 1 (self-declaration of fitness). For Stage 2 (Permanent DL), you also need your valid Learner Licence. All documents are uploaded online — no physical submission until test day.
Fees vary by state but approximate figures: Learner Licence: ₹150–200 per vehicle class. Permanent DL: ₹200–300 per vehicle class + ₹200 for smart card fee. Total for LMV + MCWG: approximately ₹800–1,000. Paid online via PayGov on the Parivahan portal. Check your state's specific fees at sarathi.parivahan.gov.in.
A Learner Licence is valid for 180 days (6 months) from the issue date. You must hold the LL for at least 30 days before applying for permanent DL — and must apply before the 180-day validity expires. If you miss the window, you must restart from the LL stage. There is no grace period for expired LLs.
Track at sarathi.parivahan.gov.in → select state → Application Status → enter application number and date of birth. After DL is issued, check it on DigiLocker or the mParivahan app. DL delivery typically takes 7 working days after passing the practical test — dispatched via Speed Post to your registered address.