Driving License Renewal Process

How to Renew Drivers License?

As you know, you need a driving licence to drive your motor vehicle on Indian roads. It is one of the mandatory documents a vehicle owner should procure at all times. Considering the driving licence comes with long validity, most people tend to forget its approaching expiry date.

If your driving licence is due for renewal, here are the steps you need to follow to renew your driving licence in India.

1. Visit the Regional Transport Office (RTO) website.

2. Select the ‘Driving Licence’ tab.

3. You will be redirected to a new page. Click on the ‘Renewal of Driving Licence’ option.

4. Apply for the Smart Card Driving Licence and pay the required fee of Rs. 200.

5. Upload the necessary documents for verification.

6. Upon successful verification, the new driving licence will be delivered to you shortly.

Keeping all the vehicle-related documents up to date will ensure that you do not face any penalties for missing documents when asked by a traffic police officer. In this section, we’ve explained in detail everything you need to know about the driving licence renewal process.

Why Renew Your Driving Licence?

According to The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, it is mandatory to own a valid driver’s licence. It is an official document that is certified by the Indian Government as a legal proof to permit you to operate your vehicle on public roads.

It also means that the owner of the licence is well-acquainted with traffic regulations and rules. A fine of ₹5000 or/and imprisonment up to 3 months as a punishment on those driving without a valid driver’s licence is imposed under Section 177 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.

Having a licence alone is not enough, though. Once expired, it is mandatory to renew it to legally drive your vehicle on public roads.

Where Do I File an Application to Renew My Driving Licence?

You need to submit the duly filled DL renewal application form with the requested documents at your nearest RTO. On the other hand, you can submit the application online as well. The driving licence for non-transport vehicles is renewed for five years, and it is renewed for three years for transport vehicles. It usually takes 20 days after submitting the application to procure the renewed driving licence.

Driving Licence Renewal Form

A Driving Licence Renewal Form is what you should look for when renewing your DL. This document can be easily downloaded from the concerned RTO website or is available at the local RTO office.

The Form 9 –

• Form of Application for Renewal of the Driving Licence is quite simple to understand.

• The document has a few informational queries that the applicant needs to fill out. A significant portion of these queries is related to the existing DL information. 

• After duly filling the form, the applicant should attach the requested documents as mentioned above before proceeding with the driving licence renewal process.

Steps for Renewal of Driver’s Licence

Most transport-related services can be availed from the RTO (Regional Transport Office) website.

On the website, for driving licence renewal after the expiry of driver’s licence, you have to select your state of residence. Once selected, you have to follow the steps given below:

1. Select “Apply Online” on the left side of the menu on Parivahan website Source: https://parivahan.gov.in/parivahan/

2. Then, click on “Services on Driving licence”

3. You will receive instructions on how to fill in your application form. Read them thoroughly before proceeding. Click ‘Next’ when you’re done.

4. Enter your Birth date and current licence number and press “Go”

5. Next, you will come across “Required Services” which will display only those services which are applicable to your existing driving licence. You must select “Renewal” from the given options.

6. You will then be required to fill in any other relevant personal and/or vehicle-related details given in the form.

7. Once you follow all these steps, you will be redirected to an Acknowledgement page where you will be able to view your application ID (It is recommended that you print it). You will also receive an SMS on your registered mobile number with all the details.

8. You will need to visit the RTO and submit the requisite forms and documents.

9. Your documents will then undergo verification.

10. Upon verification, you will receive your license either on the same day or within a period of 15 days.

If you prefer not to go via the website route, you can collect the form from your nearest RTO. After you fill in the form and submit the required documents, the RTO officials will verify them. If you have applied for renewal at the same RTO from which you received your initial license, you should receive your renewed license within the same day. However, if you have applied at a different RTO, the process may take a couple of weeks.

Documents for Driver’s Licence Renewal

The list of documents required for renewing a driving licence in India are as follows:

Fees for Driving Licence Renewal

The fees for driving licence renewal are as follows:

Driver’s Licence Renewal - Validity

Validity of a permanent driver’s licence is 20 years, or until the owner reaches the age of 50. For those whose licence has already expired, a grace period of 30 days without penalty is provided for renewal. If you choose to renew your licence after 30 days, you would be charged an applicable penalty. Those who do not renew their licence within 5 years of expiry will have to apply for a new one.

On the other hand, the validity of a renewed licence for a transport vehicle is 5 years and that of a transport vehicle is 3 years.

Duplicate Driving Licence

At times, people tend to lose/misplace important vehicle-related documents in case of accidents. Besides, a driving licence can get damaged or stolen as well. However, if this happens to you, do not panic or apply driving licence renewal. Instead, visit the nearest RTO and get a duplicate driving licence. We have explained the steps to obtain a duplicate driving licence below.

Document Required for Duplicate Driving Licence

1. Submit the duly filled driving licence renewal application form

2. Submit the copies of the FIR, affidavit, or complaint letter (as needed)

3. Duly filled Form 1

4. Clearance report from the traffic police

5. Proof of address

6. Fee Payment receipt for obtaining a duplicate driving licence

7. Medical fitness certificate

Steps to Apply for a Duplicate Driving Licence Online

1. Fill the duplicate driving licence application form online

2. Submit the necessary documents

3. The RTO will verify the submitted documents and your application and issue the duplicate driving licence shortly

Steps to Apply for a Duplicate Driving Licence Offline

If you do not want to apply for a duplicate driving licence online, you can easily obtain it offline. Just follow the steps given below:

1. Visit your nearest RTO

2. Ask for Form LLD – the application form for obtaining a duplicate driving licence

3. Fill the form and attach the requested documents

4. Pay a nominal fee of Rs. 200 to process your application

5. Once you submit the application, you will receive a receipt that can be used until you receive the duplicate driving licence.

Conclusion

Adhering to traffic and road safety norms is crucial for Indian drivers. One key part of doing so is ensuring you carry a valid driving license and renewing it as and when necessary.

Another key angle is taking out a comprehensive insurance policy. Once you’ve taken care of the DL renewal part, bike insurance and car insurance policies available on Finserv MARKETS will handle the insurance portion.

With Motor Insurance on Finserv MARKETS, policyholders get access to instant claim settlement, a large network of 4000+ garages across India and much more. With your new insurance policy and renewed license, you’ll be well equipped to head out on the road.

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