Online Driving Licence - Application Process

A driving licence is an official document issued by the specific state government, allowing the individual to drive a motor vehicle on Indian roads. A driving licence is mandated under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, in the absence of which you can be penalised for driving on roads.

First, you must apply for a learner’s licence by attempting an online test. Later, you can obtain a permanent driving licence. You can apply for a permanent driving licence 30 days after the issuance of the learner’s licence that is valid for 6 months.

Let’s learn about the types of driving licence, its application process, fees, and more.

There are 4 main types of driving licences that are issued in India by the RTO.

•  Learning Licence

Before you get a permanent driving licence issued under your name, you receive a learning licence in India. The validity of this document is six months. This licence permits you to drive vehicles to learn how to drive a two-wheeler or four-wheeler. This is allowed up to a specified time. Once you have learned how to drive, you can take a test for the permanent driving licence.

• Permanent Licence

Once you appear for a driving test and pass the exam, you will be provided with a permanent driving licence. Indian citizens, who are 18 years old or above are eligible to apply for a permanent driving licence. This document is provided as a permit to drive private vehicles like cars and bikes.

• International Driving Permit

As the name suggests, people who wish to drive a vehicle outside of India need an international driving permit. Unlike the Indian driving licence, the international driving licence is valid for a year only. After your international driving permit expires, you will need to apply for it again.

• Commercial Driving Licence

The commercial driving licence is provided to people who drive heavy motor vehicles like a bus or a truck. These vehicles can be passenger/goods-carrying vehicles. The eligibility criteria for this licence are different as compared to the conditions of permanent driving licence. The applicant need to clear and complete a class 8th examination to have a commercial driving licence.

The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 has clear eligibility rules when it comes to getting a driving licence. To operate a two-wheeler, you can get a bike licence once you are 16 years or older. Once you turn 18 years old, you can operate four-wheelers as well. To be able to operate transport vehicles, you need to be at least 20 years old. 

Even foreigners can obtain an Indian driving licence, as long as they furnish the required driving licence documents. You can know more about the driving licence age limit from the table given below.

At the time of applying for your driving licence, you will be asked to provide several documents. Here’s the list of documents you may need for your driving licence application.

• Aadhaar Card

• Ration card

• Birth Certificate

• Passport

• Pan Card

• Passport Size Photo

• Form 1 and 1A for medical certificates

The new rules for issuing driving licences are much easier than before. These rules have come as good news for citizens who want to apply for a driving licence. The Government of India (GOI) has set up multiple private driving schools across the nation under the respective state transport departments, or the GOI.

As per the rules for making a new driving licence, an individual wouldn’t have to visit the RTO and give a driving test. However, if a driving licence is issued without a driving test, what would be the basis of the DL?

Citizens need to register for DL in any recognised driving school. The school will issue a certificate to candidates who pass the test, and a driving licence will be provided based on this certificate.

The following table gives an overview of driving licence fees and other related charges in India.

A learner’s licence is a basic licence issued to people who are still learning to drive their vehicles. Getting a learner’s licence is the first step in acquiring a permanent licence. Once you have enough practice driving your vehicle on your learner’s licence, you can choose to appear for the main exam that will grant you your permanent licence.

Here’s how you can apply for a driving licence:

• Step 1: Visit parivahan.gov.in

• Step 2: Click on the ‘Driving Licence’ button

• Step 3: Choose between Learning and Permanent Licence

• Step 4: Fill out the New Driving Licence Application Form

• Step 5: Submit the form and finally pay the Application Fees

• Step 6: Select the Driving Test Centre near you and book your appointment

• Step 7: Finally give your test and wait for your New Driving Licence to arrive

In case your licence is lost or stolen, you should follow the given steps to retrieve it:

• File an FIR (First Information Report) with the nearest police station. It should be the police station near the site as the matter will fall under their jurisdiction.

• After the complaint has been lodged, visit a notary office to get an affidavit about the same on a stamped paper.

• There is a chance that you may get your driving licence back. However, in case you do not, it is always advisable to get a duplicate driving licence

To apply for a duplicate licence, you should be prepared with the following documents.

• FIR

• Photocopy of the original licence

• Details of licence

• Passport size photographs

• Proof of age

• Proof of residence

Take these documents to the Road Transport Office (RTO) where your application will be processed and you will be issued a duplicate driving licence.

A smart card driving licence is nothing but a DL in a more secure and digital form. A smart card DL is made using a tamper-proof plastic that has an embedded microchip of 64kb. This 64kb microchip contains all the important relevant information about the licence holder.

Essentially, it contains all the biometric data of the applicant, including retina scan, thumb and fingerprint, blood group, body markings, etc. This information is also held by the RTO/RTA office in their systems.

An international licence is a special driving licence that enables you to drive your vehicle in different countries. An international driving licence carries the name of the country for which it is issued. It also carries the visa number of the holder.

Also referred to as an International Driving Permit, this document is valid for a year. In case you need to extend your international driving licence, you will need to apply for renewal. Follow the given steps to apply for an international driving licence.

Fill the form for an international driving licence available at RTO. Furnish the required documents along with a duly filled form. The documents include:

• Proof of your address

• Passport and its photocopy

• A valid visa

• A medical certificate

• A cover letter explaining why you want an international driving licence

• Passport size photographs

• Payment of application fee for the licence

The application is then processed and either you can collect the licence yourself or they can send it to your postal address.

Since a smart card driving licence saves and stores all information on a chip, it is difficult to duplicate or misuse. The information cannot be erased. Moreover, it is very portable. The driving licence will be safe from issues like wear and tear as well.

If you wish to drive on Indian roads, you must know the traffic laws and the importance of having a licence. Obey the traffic laws at all times. Do not violate the rules, and be considerate to other drivers on the road. Purchasing a motor insurance policy is mandatory and forms a major part of road safety as well.

You can purchase motor insurance (for your car or two-wheeler) on Bajaj Markets and financially secure yourself against liabilities you may face on the road. With car insurance policies and two-wheeler insurance, you get access to 24/7 roadside assistance and cashless claims across 4,000+ network garages across India. Get your insurance policy from Bajaj Markets and you’re all set to hit the road!