How to Apply for a Driving Licence Online in India: Learner’s Licence, Test and Download Process

nuvellozaPublished 20 Jul 20269 min read

Last updated: 20 July 2026

How to Apply for a Driving Licence Online in India: Learner’s Licence, Test and Download Process

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Applying for a driving licence in India usually involves two stages:

Applying for a Learner’s Licence
Applying for a Permanent Driving Licence after holding the learner’s licence for the required period and passing the driving test

Applications are handled through the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways’ Sarathi Parivahan platform and the relevant state transport authority.

The exact online facilities, document requirements, test process, appointment system and RTO visit requirements can differ from one state to another.

Important: Nuvelloza.com is an independent informational website. We are not affiliated with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Parivahan Sewa, Sarathi, any RTO, DigiLocker or mParivahan.

Driving Licence Application Overview

Particular	Details
First stage	Learner’s Licence
Second stage	Permanent Driving Licence
Official service	Sarathi Parivahan
Learner’s Licence validity	Six months
Minimum waiting period for permanent DL	30 days after issue of Learner’s Licence
Driving test	Required for a permanent licence
Application mode	Online, with RTO visit where required
Digital licence	Available through DigiLocker or mParivahan where records are available
Final authority	State transport department or licensing authority

The official Parivahan guidance states that a Learner’s Licence is valid for six months and that a person can apply for a new Driving Licence after holding it for at least 30 days.

What Is a Learner’s Licence?

A Learner’s Licence allows a person to practise driving a particular class of vehicle under the applicable learner conditions.

It is not the same as a full permanent driving licence.

A learner must:

Follow learner-driving restrictions
Display the required learner sign
Practise with appropriate supervision where required
Follow traffic and safety rules
Apply for the permanent licence before the Learner’s Licence expires

If the Learner’s Licence expires, the applicant may need to apply for a new one rather than simply renew the expired licence.

Eligibility by Vehicle Type

General age requirements include:

Vehicle category	General minimum age
Motorcycle without gear up to 50cc	16 years, subject to applicable consent and rules
Private LMV or motorcycle with gear	18 years
Transport vehicle	20 years, subject to state and licence conditions

Parivahan guidance confirms that private LMV and motorcycle-with-gear applicants generally need to be 18, while transport-vehicle applicants generally need to be 20.

Applicants below 18 should check the specific conditions for low-capacity motorcycles and parental or guardian consent.

Documents Commonly Required

Document requirements vary by state and applicant.

Possible documents include:

Aadhaar Card
Passport
Voter ID
Birth certificate
School certificate
Address proof
Age proof
Passport-size photograph
Medical declaration
Medical certificate where required
Signature
Existing Learner’s Licence
Mobile number
Other documents requested by the state portal

PAN Card is not universally required for every driving-licence application.

Applicants should rely on the document checklist shown after selecting their state on the Sarathi portal.

Step 1: Apply for a Learner’s Licence Online

Open the Official Sarathi Portal

Visit the official Sarathi driving-licence services platform.

Select your state before starting because the available services depend on the state transport department.

Official Parivahan instructions direct applicants to open Sarathi, select the concerned state and choose the new Learner’s Licence application service.

Select the Learner’s Licence Service

Choose the option for:

New Learner’s Licence
Application for Learner’s Licence
Another similarly named state service

The wording may differ slightly.

Fill In Personal Details

Enter information such as:

Full name
Date of birth
Address
Mobile number
Vehicle class
Identity details
Medical declaration

All details should match the supporting documents.

Complete Aadhaar Authentication Where Available

Some states may provide Aadhaar-based authentication and faceless services.

Other applicants may need to visit the RTO for:

Document verification
Photograph
Signature
Biometrics
Learner’s test

A fully online process is not available in every state.

Upload Documents

Upload clear documents in the required format and file size.

Avoid:

Cropped documents
Blurred photographs
Expired proof
Mismatched names
Unreadable scans

Pay the Applicable Fee

Complete the fee payment through the method provided by the portal.

Under the central fee schedule, common base fees include:

₹150 for issue of a Learner’s Licence for each vehicle class
₹50 for the Learner’s Licence test or repeat test
₹300 for a driving-competence test or repeat test for each vehicle class
₹200 for issue of a Driving Licence

Additional service charges or state-level amounts may apply, so applicants should pay the amount displayed by the official portal.

Book the Test or Appointment

Depending on your state, you may need to:

Book an online test
Attend a test at the RTO
Schedule document verification
Complete biometric verification

Do not assume that the Learner’s Licence test can be completed from home in every state.

Attend the Learner’s Test

The test may cover:

Traffic signs
Road rules
Signals
Safe-driving practices
Driver responsibilities
Penalties
Basic vehicle knowledge

After approval, the Learner’s Licence may be available for printing or download in supported states.

Step 2: Practise Driving

The Learner’s Licence is generally valid for six months.

You must normally hold it for at least 30 days before appearing for the permanent-licence driving test.

During this period:

Practise the correct vehicle class
Follow learner restrictions
Learn parking and reversing
Practise traffic-sign recognition
Follow lane discipline
Learn safe use of mirrors and indicators
Avoid driving without required supervision

Step 3: Apply for a Permanent Driving Licence

After the minimum waiting period:

Return to the Sarathi portal.
Select your state.
Choose the new Driving Licence application option.
Enter your Learner’s Licence number and date of birth.
Complete the application.
Upload documents where requested.
Pay the applicable fee.
Book the driving-test slot.
Save the acknowledgement and receipt.

A valid Learner’s Licence for the relevant vehicle class is required for a permanent Driving Licence application.

Step 4: Attend the Driving Test

Attend the designated RTO or test centre on the appointment date.

Carry:

Learner’s Licence
Application acknowledgement
Fee receipt
Appointment slip
Original supporting documents
Appropriate test vehicle where required
Other documents listed by the state authority

The driving test may assess:

Starting and stopping
Steering control
Reversing
Parking
Use of mirrors
Indicators
Hill control where relevant
Road awareness
Traffic-rule compliance
Vehicle handling

Passing the test does not always mean the physical card is issued immediately. The licensing authority must process and approve the application.

How to Check Driving Licence Application Status

Applicants can generally check status through Sarathi by selecting:

State
Application Status
Application number
Date of birth
Captcha

Possible statuses may include:

Application submitted
Documents pending
Scrutiny at RTO
Test slot booked
Driving test result
Approved
Licence printing
Dispatched

An application shown as under scrutiny may require physical verification or biometric completion at the RTO.

How to Download a Driving Licence Online

A digital Driving Licence may be accessed through:

DigiLocker
mParivahan

The licence record must be available in the government database and successfully linked to the user.

Download Through DigiLocker

General steps:

Open DigiLocker.
Create an account or sign in.
Search for the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
Select Driving Licence.
Enter the requested licence details.
Fetch the issued document.
Save it in the issued-documents section.

Documents fetched directly from the issuer into DigiLocker carry the same legal validity as their physical counterparts under the applicable digital-document framework.

Access Through mParivahan

Users may also add or access available Driving Licence details through the official mParivahan application.

Follow the identity-verification and licence-linking process shown in the app.

Is a Screenshot of the Licence Valid?

A simple photograph, gallery image or screenshot should not be treated the same as an authentic digital document.

The legally recognised digital record should be displayed through the issued-document section of DigiLocker or the official mParivahan platform, where it can be verified.

DigiLocker states that issued digital Driving Licence and Registration Certificate records can be verified through the digital signature or QR code and are recognised at par with original documents.

Common Problems and Solutions

Learner’s Test Option Not Available Online

Your state may require an RTO visit.

Follow the instructions shown after selecting the state.

Application Is Under Scrutiny

You may need to visit the concerned RTO with original documents, the acknowledgement and fee receipt.

Unable to Print Learner’s Licence

Use:

Sarathi
Select state
Learner’s Licence
Print Learner’s Licence
Enter application number and date of birth

The exact service is available only in supported states.

Learner’s Licence Expired

An expired Learner’s Licence generally cannot be used for the permanent test. The applicant may need to apply for a new Learner’s Licence.

Driving Licence Not Showing in DigiLocker

Possible reasons include:

Incorrect licence number
Date-of-birth mismatch
Old record not digitised
State database not updated
Recent licence still processing

Contact the relevant state transport department if the licence details are missing from the national register.

Failed the Driving Test

Applicants can generally book a repeat test after following the applicable state rules and paying the repeat-test fee.

Important Safety Tips

Use only the official Parivahan and Sarathi portals.
Avoid agents promising a licence without a test.
Never share an OTP or password.
Do not pay money to a personal UPI account.
Upload genuine documents.
Attend the driving test yourself.
Do not use a fake medical certificate.
Check the vehicle class carefully.
Keep the application number and receipt.
Use DigiLocker or mParivahan for authentic digital records.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I apply for a Driving Licence completely online?

The application can generally be started online, but the test, biometrics or document verification may still require an RTO visit. The process varies by state.

How long is a Learner’s Licence valid?

It is generally valid for six months.

When can I apply for the permanent licence?

After holding a valid Learner’s Licence for at least 30 days.

Is Aadhaar compulsory?

Aadhaar-based authentication may be available or requested for certain services, but document and authentication rules vary by state and service.

Is PAN Card compulsory?

No, PAN is not a universal requirement for every driving-licence application.

Can a 16-year-old apply?

A 16-year-old may apply for an eligible motorcycle without gear up to the permitted engine capacity, subject to the applicable consent and legal requirements.

Can an 18-year-old apply for a car licence?

Yes, an eligible applicant aged 18 or above may generally apply for a private LMV Learner’s Licence.

Is the DigiLocker Driving Licence valid?

An issued Driving Licence fetched directly into DigiLocker is legally recognised at par with the physical document under the applicable rules.

Can I drive using only a Learner’s Licence?

You may practise only under the conditions applicable to learner drivers. A Learner’s Licence is not the same as a permanent licence.

Can I get a licence without a driving test?

A permanent licence normally requires the prescribed test of competence. Avoid anyone promising approval without the legal process.

Final Words

The online Driving Licence process is straightforward when completed through the official Sarathi Parivahan platform.

Remember:

Apply for a Learner’s Licence first.
Complete the learner test.
Practise safely.
Wait at least 30 days.
Apply for the permanent Driving Licence.
Pass the driving test.
Track the application online.
Access the digital licence through DigiLocker or mParivahan.

Disclaimer

This article is provided for general informational purposes only.

Nuvelloza.com is not affiliated with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Parivahan Sewa, Sarathi, DigiLocker, mParivahan, any RTO or state transport department.

Eligibility, documents, fees, portal options, test procedures and appointment requirements may vary by state and may change.

Applicants must verify the latest process through the official Parivahan and state transport portals before applying.

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Nuvelloza’s editorial team is responsible for researching, reviewing, and maintaining this guide.