Driving Licence
A driving licence is an official document, which is issued by your respective State Government. A driving licence signifies that the licence holder is authorised to drive a motor vehicle on Indian roads. Motorised vehicles in this respect include two-wheelers, four-wheelers, and other types of vehicles.
A driving licence is a legal requirement under the Motor Vehicles Act of 1988. According to this Act, no one can drive in a public place without having a driving licence issued by either the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) or the Regional Transport Office (RTO). Let’s learn about the types of driving licence, its application process, fees, and more.
Types of Driving Licence
There are 4 main types of driving licences that are issued in India by the RTO:
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 within the specified time. Once you have learned how to drive, you can take a test for the permanent driving 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 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 a tad different as compared to the conditions of availing a permanent driving licence. The applicant should have cleared and completed class 8th examination to be able to have a commercial driving licence.
Eligibility to Get an Indian 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 two-wheeler or bike licence once you are 16 years or older. Once you turn 18, 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:
Vehicle Type |
Eligibility Criteria |
Motorcycles with gear + four-wheeler vehicles like cars |
Minimum 18 years old with sound knowledge of traffic rules |
Motorcycles without gear (capacity of up to 50CC) |
|
Heavy commercial vehicles |
|
Documents Need for Driving Licence Application
At the time of applying for your driving licence, you will be asked to provide several documents. Read on to know the list of documents you may need for your driving licence application:
New Driving Licence Rule From July 2022
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, from July 1, 2022, 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.
Driving Licence Application Fees
The following table gives an overview of driving licence fees and other related charges in India:
Purpose |
Amount |
Issue of learner’s licence in Form 3 for each class of vehicle |
₹150 |
Learner’s Licence test fee or repeat test fee, as the case may be |
₹50 |
Driving Licence issuance |
₹200 |
For test or repeat test (for each class of vehicle) |
₹300 |
Inclusion of another class of vehicle to the applicant’s driving licence |
₹500 |
Issue or renewal of licence to a school or establishment for imparting instructions in driving |
₹1,0000 |
Driving Licence renewal |
₹200 |
Driving licence renewal in case the application is submitted after the grace period |
₹300 (Additional fee of ₹1,000 shall be charged for delay of each year or part from the date of expiry of the grace period.) |
Endorsement or renewal of authorisation for vehicle carrying hazardous goods |
₹1,000 |
International Driving Permit issuance |
₹1,000 |
Issue of duplicate licence to a school or establishment for imparting instructions in driving |
₹5,000 |
An appeal against the orders of licensing authority referred to in rule 29 |
₹500 |
Any application made for change in address or other particulars recorded in the driving licence |
₹200 |
Difference Between a Learner’s Licence and a Permanent Licence
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.
Differentiating Criteria |
Learner’s Licence |
Permanent Licence |
Validity |
6 months |
20 years or until the driver attains 40 years of age |
Purpose |
Given to people who are just beginning/learning to drive |
Legal requirement to hold a valid licence to drive on public roads |
Sequence |
Is obtained before a permanent licence |
Can only be obtained 30 days after the learner’s licence has been issued |
How to Apply for a Permanent Licence
Here’s how you can apply for a driving licence from July 2022:
Step 1: Visit parivahan.gov.in from your mobile.
Step 2: Click on ‘Driving Licence’ button.
Step 3: Choose between Learning and Permanent Licence.
Step 4: Fill out the New Driving Licence Application Form 2022.
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.
What to do in Case of Loss of Driving Licence?
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.
While 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.
How to Get a Duplicate Driving Licence
To apply for a duplicate licence, you should be prepared with the following documents:
Take these documents to the Road Transport Office (RTO) where your application will be processed and you will be issued a duplicate driving licence.
International Driving Licence - How to Apply
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.
Smart Card 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 & fingerprint, blood group, body markings, etc. This information is also held by the RTO / RTA office in their systems.
Why Get a Smart Card Licence?
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.
To Conclude
If you wish to drive on the 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, 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!
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