A Driving Licence (DL) is issued by your state's Regional Transport Office (RTO) under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. While its primary purpose is to authorize you to operate motor vehicles, it is recognized by the Reserve Bank of India as an Officially Valid Document (OVD). This means you can use it to open bank accounts, apply for loans, and complete KYC verification anywhere in India.

Issued by Regional Transport Office (RTO) · Ministry of Road Transport and Highways

• Opening a savings or current account
  accepted as an Officially Valid Document (OVD) for identity and address proof

• Credit card applications
  accepted as ID and address proof

• Loan applications
  acts as a primary KYC document for personal, auto, and home loans

• Mutual funds and demat accounts
  valid for completing SEBI-mandated KYC

• Fixed deposits
  serves as valid identity proof

• Post office schemes
  accepted for KYC in government savings schemes

• Purchasing insurance
  serves as valid age and address proof for life and general insurance

• Indian citizens aged 18 and above (for all motor vehicles)

• Indian citizens aged 16 to 18 (for gearless motorcycles up to 50cc, with parental consent)

• Foreign nationals and NRIs residing in India with valid visas and address proofs

• Commercial drivers aged 20 and above (varies by state)

• Individuals below 16 years of age

• Individuals without a valid Learner's Licence

• Individuals who fail the driving test or medical fitness criteria

• Proof of age
  any one of birth certificate, school certificate, PAN card, or passport

• Proof of address
  any one of Aadhaar card, passport, voter ID, or utility bill

• Learner's Licence
  original valid learner's permit

• Passport size photographs
  usually 3-4 recent photos

• Medical certificate
  Form 1A required for transport vehicles or applicants above 40 years of age

1. 1

   Visit the Sarathi Parivahan portal (sarathi.parivahan.gov.in)

2. 2

   Select your state from the dropdown menu

3. 3

   Click on 'Apply for Driving Licence'

4. 4

   Fill the applicant details and enter your Learner's Licence number

5. 5

   Upload required documents and photo/signature if not fetched via Aadhaar e-KYC

6. 6

   Pay the application fee online

7. 7

   Book a slot for your driving test

8. 8

   Print the application receipt and visit the RTO for the test on the scheduled date

1. 1

   Visit your nearest RTO or RLA office

2. 2

   Collect Form 4 for DL application

3. 3

   Fill the form and attach copies of age and address proof, along with photos

4. 4

   Submit the original Learner's Licence

5. 5

   Pay the prescribed fee at the counter

6. 6

   Book a slot for the driving test

7. 7

   Appear for the driving test on the allotted day with a vehicle

8. 8

   Receive the DL via speed post after passing

• Sarathi Parivahan official portal (sarathi.parivahan.gov.in)

• Your local Regional Transport Office (RTO)

• Local driving schools (who assist with the RTO process)

• State-specific citizen service portals (like e-Mitra or CSCs)

• mParivahan official mobile app

• Sarathi Parivahan portal under 'DL Search'

• DigiLocker app by fetching the document using the DL number and Date of Birth

• Offline via traffic police handheld devices verifying the smart card chip or QR code

• Smart Card DL
  standard plastic card with a microchip issued by most states

• Booklet/Paper DL
  older format, mostly phased out but still valid

• e-DL (DigiLocker/mParivahan)
  digital copy accepted by traffic police and banks under the IT Act

• International Driving Permit (IDP)
  booklet accompanying the DL for driving abroad

1. 1

   Open the DigiLocker app or website

2. 2

   Go to 'Search Documents' and select 'Ministry of Road Transport and Highways'

3. 3

   Choose 'Driving License'

4. 4

   Enter your DL number and Date of Birth

5. 5

   Click 'Get Document' to fetch the verified digital copy

6. 6

   Alternatively, use the mParivahan app to create a virtual DL

1. 1

   Visit the Sarathi Parivahan portal and select your state

2. 2

   Click on 'Services on DL (Renewal/Duplicate/AEDL/Others)'

3. 3

   Enter your DL number and DOB to proceed

4. 4

   Select the required service (Change of Address, Name Change, Replacement)

5. 5

   Upload the supporting proof (e.g., Aadhaar for address change)

6. 6

   Pay the processing and smart card fee

7. 7

   Visit the RTO for biometric verification if required by your state

8. 8

   Receive the updated DL via post

1. 1

   Visit sarathi.parivahan.gov.in

2. 2

   Select your state

3. 3

   Click on 'Application Status' on the right side of the top menu

4. 4

   Enter your Application Number, Date of Birth, and the captcha code

5. 5

   Click 'Submit' to see the current stage of processing

1. 1

   File an FIR or Lost Article Report online with the local police (mandatory in many states for lost DL)

2. 2

   Apply for a Duplicate DL via the Sarathi portal under 'Services on DL'

3. 3

   Upload the FIR copy (if lost) or DL details

4. 4

   Pay the duplicate DL fee (approx ₹400-500 including smart card)

5. 5

   Submit forms to the RTO

6. 6

   Receive the new smart card via post

• Aadhaar linking
  highly recommended for e-KYC and contactless RTO services, but not strictly mandatory for driving

• Mobile number linking
  essential to receive OTPs for online Parivahan services and DL status updates

• A Driving Licence is classified as an Officially Valid Document (OVD) by the RBI, making it equal to Aadhaar or Passport for KYC

• A DL issued in one state is valid for driving across the entire country

• The e-DL in DigiLocker or mParivahan is legally equivalent to the physical card under the Motor Vehicles Act

• Driving without a valid DL attracts a fine of ₹5,000 under the amended Motor Vehicles Act

• You cannot hold more than one DL in India; having multiple is a punishable offence

• Passing a computer-based test on traffic rules is mandatory to get the Learner's Licence before applying for a permanent DL

• The microchip on the smart card stores your biometric data and traffic violation history

• You must apply for a permanent DL within 6 months of receiving your Learner's Licence

• Address mismatch => ensure the address on your DL matches your current residence before applying for a loan

• Submitting an expired DL => banks strictly reject expired driving licences for KYC; renew it first

• Unclear photocopy => banks will reject copies where the photo, signature, or DL number is blurred

• Applying in the wrong RTO => you must apply in the RTO jurisdiction where you currently reside

• Failing to link mobile number => causes you to miss important delivery updates or OTPs for online Parivahan services

• Letting the Learner's Licence expire => you only have 6 months to pass the practical test before the learner's permit expires

• Missing the test slot => failing to show up at the RTO at the scheduled time requires paying the fee again and rebooking

• Never share your physical DL with unknown agents promising quick renewals

• Do not upload your DL on unverified lending apps to avoid identity theft and loan fraud

• Always cross out the photocopy of your DL and write 'Submitted to [Bank Name] for [Purpose] on [Date]' to prevent misuse

• Check your challan status regularly on the eChallan portal to ensure no one is misusing your vehicle or DL details

• Store a digital backup in government-approved apps like DigiLocker instead of relying on phone gallery photos

• Do not pay touts outside the RTO; the entire application and fee payment process is online and transparent

• Keep the smart card away from magnets or extreme heat to prevent damaging the microchip

• MoRTH toll-free helpline: 1073 (for road accidents)

• Parivahan technical support: 0120-4284444 (6 AM to 10 PM)

• Email: helpdesk-sarathi@gov.in

• State RTO helplines vary by state

• parivahan.gov.in
• sarathi.parivahan.gov.in
• morth.nic.in
• rbi.org.in

Last checked: 4 November 2026

Rules, fees and timelines change. Always confirm on the official website before you apply.