A driving licence in India is issued by the Regional Transport Office (RTO) of your state under the Motor Vehicles Act, and today almost every step from application to fee payment runs through the Sarathi Parivahan portal. It is also the one document that unlocks everything else on the road: a car loan from SBI or HDFC Bank, a comprehensive motor insurance policy from ICICI Lombard or HDFC ERGO, a personal accident cover, a FASTag account and even a commercial vehicle permit all depend on a valid licence in your name. Whether you are a first-time rider, a family buying its first car on EMI, or a professional driver, the same online system handles all six licence services, and knowing the exact fee for each one saves you from paying an agent three times the official amount.
This guide explains how to apply for each type of driving licence service in India: the learner’s licence, the permanent driving licence, renewal, duplicate licence, address change or correction, and the International Driving Permit. For each one you will find the eligibility, the documents, the exact central fee and the realistic timeline, so you can plan a single RTO visit instead of three.
Driving Licence Services and Fees at a Glance
The fee structure is set centrally under the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, so the base amounts are the same across states. A few states add a small smart card or service charge on top, which is displayed at the time of online payment.
| Service | Central fee and validity |
|---|---|
| New Learner’s Licence | Rs 150 per vehicle class plus Rs 50 for the online test. Valid 6 months. |
| Permanent Driving Licence | Rs 200 for the licence plus Rs 300 driving test fee per class. Valid 20 years or until age 40, whichever is earlier, for private vehicles; 5 years for transport vehicles. |
| Licence Renewal | Rs 200 if applied within the grace period. Rs 300 plus Rs 1,000 for each year of delay after the grace period. |
| Duplicate Licence | Rs 200. Same validity as the original licence. |
| Address Change or Correction | Rs 200 for any endorsement or change in particulars. Validity unchanged. |
| International Driving Permit | Rs 1,000. Valid 1 year from the date of issue. |
Every payment is made online through the Parivahan payment gateway using UPI, net banking or a debit or credit card from SBI, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank or any other bank. Cash is not accepted at most RTO counters any longer, so keep the payment receipt PDF as proof.
Who Is Eligible for a Driving Licence in India
Eligibility depends on the class of vehicle you want to drive. Age is the main criterion, along with a valid learner’s licence and, for commercial classes, formal training.
- Gearless two-wheelers up to 50 cc: minimum age 16 years, with written consent of a parent or guardian.
- Motorcycles with gear and light motor vehicles (cars, jeeps, small vans): minimum age 18 years.
- Transport vehicles such as taxis, trucks, buses and goods carriers: minimum age 20 years in most states, Class 8 pass, and at least one year of holding a light motor vehicle licence.
- Hazardous goods vehicles: minimum age 20 years and a completed training course from an approved institute.
- Applicants must be medically fit. Those above 40 years, and all transport applicants, need Form 1A signed by a registered medical practitioner.
- Applicants must hold a valid learner’s licence for at least 30 days before appearing for the permanent driving test.
There is no upper age limit for a private licence, but after age 50 the licence is renewed every five years and a medical certificate is compulsory at each renewal.
Documents Required Across All Licence Services
Uploading clean scans of the right documents is the single biggest factor in getting an application approved without a rejection notice. The list below covers what the Sarathi portal asks for in almost every service.
| Document type | Accepted proofs |
|---|---|
| Proof of age | Birth certificate, Class 10 marksheet, passport, PAN card, Aadhaar with date of birth |
| Proof of address | Aadhaar, passport, Voter ID, electricity or water bill, rent agreement, bank passbook or statement from SBI, HDFC Bank or ICICI Bank, ration card |
| Passport photographs | Recent colour photo with white background, uploaded as JPEG under 20 KB |
| Signature | Scanned signature on white paper, JPEG under 20 KB |
| Medical certificate | Form 1A for applicants above 40, transport classes and all renewals after 40; Form 1 self-declaration for others |
| Existing licence | Learner’s licence for a permanent licence; original or FIR copy for renewal, duplicate and correction |
| Passport and travel proof | Valid passport, visa or air ticket for the International Driving Permit |
Applicants who already have Aadhaar-linked details on Sarathi can use Aadhaar eKYC to skip most uploads and, in many states, complete the learner’s licence entirely from home.
Applying for a New Learner’s Licence
The learner’s licence is the first document every driver needs. It allows you to practise on public roads under supervision, with an L plate displayed on the vehicle. Since 2021, most states allow the entire learner’s process, including the test, to be completed online through Aadhaar authentication.
The fee is Rs 150 for each class of vehicle you apply for and Rs 50 for the computerised test. Applying for two-wheeler and car together costs Rs 350 in total. The licence is valid for six months, and you must clear the permanent driving test within that window or apply again.
- Go to Sarathi Parivahan, select your state and choose “Apply for Learner Licence”.
- Fill Form 2 with your name, date of birth, address and the vehicle classes you need.
- Upload age proof, address proof, photograph and signature. Select Aadhaar authentication if your state offers it.
- Pay Rs 150 per class plus Rs 50 test fee.
- Take the online test of 15 to 20 questions on road signs and traffic rules. You need at least 60 percent to pass, and the questions are drawn from the road signs chart available on the portal.
- Download the learner’s licence PDF immediately on passing. States that do not offer the online test will give you a slot at the RTO for the same computer-based exam.
If you fail, you can reappear after seven days by paying only the Rs 50 test fee again. Practising with the free mock tests on the portal for an hour is usually enough to clear it on the first attempt.
How to Apply for a Permanent Driving Licence
The permanent driving licence is issued after you pass a practical driving test at the RTO or an accredited driver training centre. The application can be filed any time after 30 days and within 180 days of the learner’s licence issue date.
Step 1: Log in to Sarathi. Select your state, choose “Apply for Driving Licence” and enter your learner’s licence number and date of birth. The system pulls your details automatically.
Step 2: Fill Form 4. Confirm the vehicle classes you are applying for. You can only apply for the classes already listed on the learner’s licence.
Step 3: Upload documents. The learner’s licence, Form 1A medical certificate if applicable, and any training certificate from a driving school. Photograph and signature are reused from the learner’s application.
Step 4: Pay the fee. Rs 200 for the licence issue plus Rs 300 test fee for each class. A two-wheeler and car application costs Rs 800.
Step 5: Book the driving test slot. Choose the RTO or the automated driving test track, date and time. Slots open 30 days in advance and fill quickly in metro cities, so book the moment payment is confirmed.
Step 6: Appear for the test. Bring your own vehicle or one from a driving school, the original learner’s licence, the test slot printout and the vehicle’s registration and insurance papers. The vehicle must carry valid third-party motor insurance from an insurer such as ICICI Lombard, HDFC ERGO, Bajaj Allianz or Tata AIG.
Step 7: Pass the practical test. Two-wheeler tests cover the figure of eight, a slow ride and emergency braking. Car tests check H-pattern reverse, parallel parking, gradient start and a short road drive. Automated tracks record the test on camera and score it without an inspector.
Step 8: Receive the licence. The approval appears on Sarathi within one to three working days, and the smart card is dispatched by speed post within 15 to 30 days. You can download a digital copy through DigiLocker or mParivahan, which is legally valid during traffic checks.
Applicants who complete a course at an accredited driver training centre are exempt from the RTO driving test under the 2024 rules, and the centre’s certificate is uploaded in place of the test result.
Driving Licence Renewal Process and Fees
A private driving licence issued to someone under 30 is valid for 20 years or until age 40. After that, renewals are for 10 years until age 50 and then five years at a time. Transport licences are renewed every five years, or every three years in some states for hazardous goods.
Renewal can be filed up to one year before expiry. The grace period after expiry is 30 days without penalty, after which a late fee of Rs 300 applies plus Rs 1,000 for each year of delay. If the licence has expired for more than five years, you must reappear for the driving test.
- Open Sarathi, select “Apply for DL Renewal” and enter the licence number and date of birth.
- Fill Form 9. Upload the old licence, a recent photograph and Form 1A medical certificate if you are above 40 or applying for a transport class.
- Pay Rs 200, or Rs 200 plus the applicable late fee.
- Most states process renewals without a visit. Where a visit is required, book a slot for photograph and biometric capture.
- The renewed smart card arrives by post; the digital copy is available immediately on approval.
Renew before expiry rather than after. Apart from the late fee, driving on an expired licence invalidates the own-damage section of your motor insurance policy in the event of a claim, whether the policy is with HDFC ERGO, ICICI Lombard or any other insurer.
Getting a Duplicate Driving Licence
A duplicate licence is issued when the original is lost, stolen, damaged, mutilated or the details have become unreadable. It carries the same licence number, classes and expiry date as the original. The fee is Rs 200.
The key document is proof that the original is unavailable. For loss or theft, file an online FIR or a General Diary entry with the local police and download the copy. For a damaged card, the old card itself is submitted.
- Select “Apply for Duplicate DL” on Sarathi and enter the licence number and date of birth.
- Fill Form LLD, giving the reason and the FIR or GD number.
- Upload the FIR copy or the damaged card, along with a photograph and signature.
- Pay Rs 200 online.
- If the licence was issued by an RTO in another state, a No Objection Certificate from the issuing RTO may be requested; the portal handles this request electronically in most cases.
Until the duplicate arrives, you can drive using the DigiLocker or mParivahan copy of your licence, which police are required to accept under the 2018 Ministry of Road Transport notification.
Address Change and Correction in a Driving Licence
Any change in your particulars, whether a new address after relocation, a spelling correction in your name, a corrected date of birth or an updated photograph, is treated as a “change of particulars” and costs Rs 200. Adding a new vehicle class costs the same Rs 200 plus the Rs 300 test fee for that class.
Address change is the most common request because insurers, banks and employers compare licence addresses against Aadhaar. A mismatch can delay a car loan from SBI or HDFC Bank or a policy renewal.
- Choose “Change of Address in DL” or “Change of Particulars” on Sarathi.
- Fill the relevant section of Form 9 or Form 4, indicating what is changing.
- Upload the new address proof, such as Aadhaar with the updated address, or the document supporting the correction, such as a birth certificate for date of birth.
- Pay Rs 200.
- If you have moved to another state, the application goes to the new RTO, which requests your record transfer from the original RTO. This takes a few extra days.
Name corrections beyond a minor spelling change usually require a gazette notification or a court affidavit, and date of birth corrections are allowed only once, with a strong documentary proof.
Applying for an International Driving Permit
An International Driving Permit (IDP) is a booklet issued by the RTO that translates your Indian licence into multiple languages and allows you to drive in more than 150 countries that follow the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic. It is valid for one year and is issued only against a valid permanent Indian licence.
The fee is Rs 1,000, and the permit must be applied for from the RTO that issued your licence or the RTO in whose jurisdiction you currently live. Since 2021, the IDP is printed in a standard format across India so that foreign authorities recognise it uniformly.
- Select “Apply for International Driving Permit” on Sarathi and enter your licence details.
- Fill Form 4A with the countries you intend to visit.
- Upload a valid passport, a valid visa or a confirmed air ticket, your driving licence, a Form 1A medical certificate and passport photographs.
- Pay Rs 1,000.
- Book an appointment at the RTO for verification of original documents. The IDP is usually handed over the same day or within two to three working days.
Countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, the UAE and most of Europe accept the IDP for short stays, typically up to 90 days or the validity of your visa. Rental companies also require it before releasing a vehicle. Carry the Indian licence together with the IDP, as the permit is not valid alone.
Motor Insurance, Car Loans and Your Driving Licence
A valid driving licence is not only a legal requirement but a financial one. Every motor insurance policy in India, whether third-party or comprehensive, carries a condition that the vehicle must be driven by a person holding a valid and effective licence for that class of vehicle. If the licence is expired, of the wrong class, or only a learner’s licence without a supervising driver, the insurer can repudiate the own-damage claim and, in some cases, recover the third-party payout from the policyholder.
This is why insurers such as ICICI Lombard, HDFC ERGO, Bajaj Allianz, Tata AIG and New India Assurance ask for the licence number at the time of claim. Keeping the licence renewed protects the zero depreciation cover, no claim bonus and roadside assistance add-ons you pay for every year. The compulsory personal accident cover of Rs 15 lakh for the owner-driver is also payable only when the owner holds a valid licence.
- Car and two-wheeler loans from SBI, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Axis Bank and Bajaj Finance require a licence or another photo ID as part of KYC, and many lenders now offer lower interest rates to applicants with a clean licence and no traffic challans on the Parivahan record.
- Commercial vehicle finance for taxis, trucks and buses requires a transport licence with the matching class, and the loan is disbursed only after the licence is verified on Sarathi.
- Ride-hailing and delivery platforms verify the licence through the Parivahan API before onboarding, and a licence with a pending correction or an expired date fails this check.
- Credit cards with fuel surcharge waivers, such as those from SBI Card, HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank, are often bundled with vehicle loans and require the same KYC.
Treat the licence, the insurance policy and the vehicle registration as one set. Renew all three on time and keep digital copies in DigiLocker so that a traffic check, an insurance claim or a loan application never stalls on a missing document.
Total Cost Planning for Each Licence Service
The central fee is only part of the real cost. Driving school training, medical certificates and smart card charges add up, so it helps to budget for the full amount before starting.
- Learner’s licence for two-wheeler and car: Rs 350 in fees plus Rs 100 to Rs 200 for a Form 1A medical certificate if required.
- Permanent licence for two-wheeler and car: Rs 800 in fees, plus Rs 3,000 to Rs 8,000 for driving school lessons if you do not have a vehicle to practise on, plus Rs 200 to Rs 300 for the smart card in some states.
- Renewal: Rs 200, or Rs 500 to Rs 5,500 if you are late by several years, plus a medical certificate.
- Duplicate: Rs 200 plus any state smart card charge.
- Address change or correction: Rs 200.
- International Driving Permit: Rs 1,000 plus a medical certificate.
Agents outside RTOs often quote Rs 2,000 to Rs 5,000 for a “package”. Every service listed here can be done directly on Sarathi, and the total fee is displayed before payment, so there is no reason to pay a middleman.
Fraud Alert and Common Mistakes
- Sarathi Parivahan is the only official portal. Websites with similar names that ask for card details or promise a licence without a test are fraudulent.
- Never hand your original licence or Aadhaar to an agent. Applications are filed under your own login and mobile OTP.
- Check the vehicle class code before paying. Applying for LMV-NT when you need MCWG cannot be changed after the test is booked without a fresh fee.
- Do not miss the 180-day window on the learner’s licence. Reapplying costs the full learner fee again.
- Book the driving test slot immediately after payment. In cities like Delhi, Bengaluru and Mumbai, the next available slot can be three to four weeks away.
- Keep the DigiLocker copy of your licence linked to your Aadhaar. It is accepted during traffic checks and avoids fines for not carrying the card.
- Update the licence address whenever Aadhaar changes, since motor insurers and lenders cross-verify both during claims and loan approvals.
Conclusion
India’s driving licence system has moved almost entirely online, and the fees are fixed and transparent: Rs 150 plus Rs 50 for a learner’s licence, Rs 200 plus Rs 300 per class for a permanent licence, Rs 200 each for renewal, duplicate and corrections, and Rs 1,000 for an International Driving Permit.
Apply on Sarathi Parivahan, upload clean documents, book your test slot early and renew before expiry. Following these steps keeps you legal on the road, keeps your motor insurance claims valid and saves you from paying agents for work you can finish yourself in under an hour.