Priya completed her learner's licence test in March and then set the process aside. When she returned to the Sarathi portal in October to book her driving test, her learner's licence had expired and she had to begin again with a fresh application and a fresh fee. The rule she missed is not hidden, but it is rarely explained, a learner's licence is valid for six months and the permanent licence application has to be made within that window. This guide covers the full process, the timing rules, the documents, the fees and the mistakes that send applicants back to the start.
A driving licence application in India is completed in two stages on the Sarathi portal at sarathi.parivahan.gov.in. The first stage is the learner's licence, which requires an online test on traffic rules and signs. After a mandatory waiting period of 30 days, the applicant becomes eligible to apply for the permanent driving licence and take the driving test. Both applications, document uploads and fee payments are handled online. Only the driving test requires attendance in person, unless the applicant holds a Form 5B certificate from an accredited driver training centre.
Driving licence eligibility criteria and age limits in india
Eligibility is set by Section 4 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and depends on the class of vehicle.
Vehicle class | Minimum age | Additional condition |
Motorcycle without gear, up to 50cc | 16 years | Written consent from a parent or guardian |
Motorcycle with gear and light motor vehicle | 18 years | — |
Transport vehicle | 20 years | A light motor vehicle licence held for at least one year |
Applicants must also be able to read and understand traffic signs and must be medically fit to drive. A medical certificate in Form 1A, signed by a registered medical practitioner, is required for transport vehicle classes and for applicants above 40 years of age. Applicants below that age applying for a private licence usually complete a self-declaration of physical fitness in Form 1 instead.
Documents required for online driving licence application
Documents are uploaded to the Sarathi portal in digital form. Physical copies are carried only to the test appointment.
Requirement | Commonly accepted documents |
Proof of age | Birth certificate, passport, PAN card, school leaving certificate |
Proof of address | Aadhaar, passport, voter identity card, utility bill, ration card |
Photograph and signature | Recent passport-size photograph, scanned signature |
Medical fitness | Form 1A where applicable, otherwise Form 1 self-declaration |
Learner's licence | Required at the permanent licence stage |
Training certificate | Form 5 or Form 5B, where the applicant trained at a driving school |
If Aadhaar is used with e-KYC authentication, the portal draws name, date of birth, address and photograph directly from Aadhaar records. This removes most uploads and, in many states, removes the need to visit the RTO for identity verification.
Application readiness checker
Confirm each of the following before opening the portal. Incomplete preparation is the most common cause of a rejected or stalled application.
Age eligibility confirmed for the vehicle class being applied for
Aadhaar linked to a working mobile number, if using e-KYC
Scanned age proof and address proof, within the file size the portal accepts
Passport-size photograph and scanned signature
Form 1A completed and signed, if the applicant is above 40 or applying for a transport class
Written consent from a parent or guardian, for applicants aged 16 or 17
A payment method for the application and test fees
A calendar reminder set for 30 days after the learner's licence is issued
Learner's licence application process on the Sarathi portal
The learner's licence is a temporary permit that allows supervised driving while the applicant prepares for the driving test.
Open sarathi.parivahan.gov.in and select the state where the application is being made.
Choose the option to apply for a learner's licence and complete Form 2.
Complete Aadhaar authentication if the state offers the contactless route or upload the documents individually.
Pay the applicable fees online and save the receipt.
Book a slot for the learner's licence test.
Take the test, which covers traffic signs, road markings and basic driving rules.
Many states now allow the learner's licence test to be taken from home under camera supervision when Aadhaar authentication is used. Where that facility is not available, the test is taken at the RTO. An applicant who does not pass may retake the test after paying the repeat test fee.
The learner's licence is valid for six months across India. This is the window Priya lost and it is worth treating the issue date as a deadline rather than a starting point.
Permanent driving licence application process and driving test
The permanent licence application can be submitted 30 days after the learner's licence is issued and must be submitted before the learner's licence expires.
Return to the Sarathi portal and select the option to apply for a driving licence.
Complete Form 4 and link the learner's licence number.
Upload the training certificate in Form 5 or Form 5B, if a driving school was attended.
Pay the driving test fee and the licence issue fee.
Book a driving test slot at the RTO or the designated test track.
Attend the test with the vehicle of the applicable class and the original documents.
On passing, the licence is approved and the smart card is dispatched to the registered address.
A failed driving test can usually be retaken after a gap of seven days, on payment of the test fee again. If the learner's licence expires before the retest, the process restarts from the learner's stage.
Choosing between an RTO driving test and an accredited driver training centre
This is the decision most applicants get wrong, because the two certificates issued by driving schools are not equivalent.
Route | Certificate issued | Driving test at the RTO |
Accredited driver training centre, under Rules 31B to 31J of the CMVR | Form 5B | Exempted |
Ordinary driving school, under Rule 24 of the CMVR | Form 5 | Still required |
No formal training | None | Still required |
The exemption applies only to a Form 5B certificate from a centre that has been formally accredited by the State Transport Authority or an agency notified by the Central Government. A certificate from a conventional driving school does not remove the test requirement and the licensing authority retains the final decision on issuing the licence in every case. Before enrolling for a course on the promise of an exemption, confirm the centre's accreditation status with the State Transport Department.
Driving licence fees and charges
Central fees are prescribed under the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989. States add service charges, postal charges and in some cases a test track charge, so the total payable differs by state.
Service | Indicative central fee |
Learner's licence issue | Rs. 150 |
Learner's licence test or repeat test | Rs. 50 |
Driving test or repeat test | Rs. 300 |
Issue of driving licence | Rs. 200 |
Renewal of driving licence | Rs. 200 |
International Driving Permit | Rs. 1,000 |
Treat these figures as indicative. The amount displayed on the Sarathi portal at the time of payment is the amount payable and it should be verified there rather than assumed. Pay only through the portal's own payment gateway and download the receipt at each stage.
Driving licence application status tracking
An application does not confirm itself. Tracking it is how an applicant learns that a document was rejected or that a verification step is pending.
Status can be checked on the Parivahan portal under driving licence related services, using the application number and date of birth or through the mParivahan mobile app. Common status descriptions include under processing, pending verification, approved and dispatched. A status of pending verification usually indicates a document mismatch or an incomplete upload and it is resolved by correcting the document rather than by waiting.
Once approved, the licence can be viewed digitally through mParivahan or DigiLocker. A digital licence produced through either application is treated as valid for verification purposes.
When Priya returned to the Sarathi portal months after obtaining her learner's licence, she realised the application had not stalled because of a technical issue. The learner's licence itself had expired before she applied for the permanent driving licence. A quick check of the issue date during the six-month validity period would have reminded her to complete the next stage on time and saved her the effort and cost of starting the process again.
Driving licence validity periods
Validity for a private licence is set by age under Section 14 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, as amended in 2019.
Age at issue or renewal | Validity |
Below 30 years | Until the age of 40 |
30 to 50 years | 10 years |
50 to 55 years | Until the age of 60 |
Above 55 years | 5 years |
A licence to drive a transport vehicle carries a shorter validity and separate renewal conditions. Renewal applications may be made in advance of expiry and a licence renewed after a long lapse may require a fresh test.
Common reasons for driving licence application rejection
Address proof that does not match the RTO jurisdiction selected in the application
Name spelling that differs between the application and the Aadhaar or age proof
Learner's licence allowed to expire before the permanent licence application
Applying for the permanent licence before the 30-day waiting period is complete
Form 1A missing where the applicant is above 40 or applying for a transport class
Photograph or signature uploaded in an unsupported format or size
Driving licence and motor insurance
A valid driving licence is a legal requirement for road use and it also matters after an incident. Where a claim is made, the driving licence of the person who was driving is part of the verification record and the licence must cover the class of vehicle involved.
Zurich Kotak General Insurance may require driving licence details during policy issuance, a policy correction or claim assessment. A licence that has expired or that does not cover the vehicle class being driven, can complicate that assessment. Keeping the licence current and adding the correct vehicle class before driving a different category of vehicle, protects the reader on both the regulatory side and the insurance side.
Conclusion
Applying for a driving licence online is a two-stage process with one timing rule at its centre. The learner's licence opens a six-month window, the permanent licence application becomes possible after 30 days and everything else is document preparation and fee payment. Applicants who lose time usually lose it to an expired learner's licence or a document mismatch, not to the RTO.
If you already hold a learner's licence, open the Sarathi portal today and check its issue date, so you know exactly how many days remain in your window.
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Frequently asked questions
Can the entire driving licence process be completed without visiting the RTO?
Almost all of it can. Application, document submission and fee payment are online and several states permit the learner's licence test from home using Aadhaar authentication. The driving test requires attendance unless a Form 5B certificate from an accredited driver training centre applies.
What happens if the learner's licence expires before the driving test?
The learner's licence cannot be extended. A fresh learner's licence application, including the test and the fee, has to be made before the permanent licence process can continue.
Can an application be made in a state other than the state of residence?
The application must be made to the licensing authority with jurisdiction over the applicant's address and the address proof submitted must support that jurisdiction.
Is a driving school certificate mandatory for a driving licence?
No. Formal training is not compulsory for private vehicle classes. It becomes relevant only when the applicant wants the driving test exemption available through an accredited driver training centre.
How long does the smart card licence take to arrive?
Dispatch timelines vary by state and by the postal service. The application status page shows when the licence has been approved and dispatched and the digital licence is usually available through mParivahan or DigiLocker before the card arrives.
Can a licence be used for a vehicle class it does not mention?
No. Driving a class of vehicle not endorsed on the licence is treated as driving without a valid licence. A separate application is required to add a vehicle class.
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