An online DL check lets you confirm the details held for your driving licence: your name, address, classes of vehicle and how long the licence is valid. On the official Sarathi portal, the licence record is fetched with your DL number and date of birth. Your licence can also be shown digitally in DigiLocker or mParivahan.
This guide explains each official way to check a licence, what a DL extract is, how to read validity, where to find your DL number, and why searching for a licence by name is not an official option. If you want to track a new application rather than an issued licence, use DL status instead. sarathiportal.com is an independent guide and cannot look up licences.
Ways to do a driving licence check online
| Method | What you need | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Sarathi, services on DL | DL number, date of birth, captcha; then OTP to proceed with a service | Seeing and confirming your licence details before renewal or changes |
| Sarathi, DL extract | Your licence details, through the DL extract service on the Sarathi menu | Getting an extract of your licence record |
| DigiLocker or mParivahan | Your account on the app or site | Carrying and showing a valid digital copy |
| Your RTO | Visit with identity proof | When the online record is missing or wrong |
Check DL details with DL number and date of birth on Sarathi
The Uttarakhand Transport Department describes the Sarathi "Services on DL" flow, which starts by fetching your licence:
- Open Sarathi and choose your state. Use the official state selection page and pick the state that issued your licence.
- Open the services on an existing DL. Choose the driving licence services for a licence you already hold.
- Enter DL number, date of birth and captcha. Sarathi fetches the details held for your licence.
- Review the details. Check name, date of birth, address, classes of vehicle and validity.
- Stop here, or continue to a service. If something is wrong or due, you can confirm or update details, verify with OTP and choose a service such as renewal, duplicate or change of address.
Enter the DL number exactly as printed on your licence or shown in DigiLocker, and your date of birth as it appears on the licence. If the record does not load, check both of these first.
What is DL extract?
DL extract is a service listed on the official Sarathi menu, and Delhi's Transport Department lists it among its DL services. As the name says, it is an extract of the details recorded for your licence. A 2026 news report on Telangana's faceless DL services lists extracts among them, and the 2022 national list of online services includes an LL extract for learner's licences.
Fees or charges, if any, are shown by your state on Sarathi. If you need the extract for a job, visa or court purpose, ask the requesting office which form of record it accepts.
How to check driving licence validity
Once your details load, look at the validity date. Validity depends on the type of licence and your age when it was issued or renewed (Section 14, as amended in 2019):
| Licence and age at issue or renewal | Valid for |
|---|---|
| Non-transport, before age 30 | Until you turn 40 |
| Non-transport, age 30 to under 50 | 10 years |
| Non-transport, age 50 to under 55 | Until you turn 60 |
| Non-transport, age 55 or older | 5 years |
| Transport vehicle | 5 years |
You can renew from one year before expiry to one year after. If you renew more than one year after expiry, mParivahan says the driving test must be retaken, and late fees apply. See driving licence renewal, which also has a validity checker.
DL number: what it is and how to find it
Your DL number is the unique number of your licence in the licensing records. Licensing authorities keep a National Register of Driving Licences updated in real time, and Sarathi uses your DL number with your date of birth to find your record.
Where to find your DL number:
- Printed on your licence card or e-DL print.
- On your digital licence in DigiLocker or mParivahan.
- On any renewal or service receipt from Sarathi.
We do not publish a "DL number format" because no official page we could verify sets one out. Copy the number exactly as it appears on your licence. If you have lost your licence and do not know the number, contact the RTO that issued it. Under Rule 18A, a duplicate can be issued for a lost, torn or mutilated licence when the details are on the Portal. See duplicate driving licence.
Can you check a driving licence by name?
Many people search for "dl search by name" or "check driving licence number by name". The official Sarathi flows published by transport departments do not offer a name search: they ask for the DL number and date of birth, and use OTP for any change. This protects licence holders, since a name alone cannot identify one person.
Be careful with apps or websites that promise to find any licence by name or phone number, or that ask for your OTP. The official Sarathi page tells users to use DL services only through parivahan.gov.in or the NextGen mParivahan app.
DigiLocker and mParivahan: checking and showing your licence
A MoRTH advisory of 9 August 2018 asked States to accept a DL shown through DigiLocker or mParivahan as valid under the Motor Vehicles Act; such records are deemed legally recognised at par with the originals under the IT Act, 2000. Rule 139 was amended in November 2018 so that the licence can be produced in physical or electronic form.
From 1 October 2020, if an enforcement officer validates your documents electronically, physical copies cannot be demanded, and the date, time and identity of the officer doing the check are recorded on the portal. Learn how to save your licence on driving licence download.
Details wrong or missing? What to do
- Address changed: apply for change of address on Sarathi; it is available online with Aadhaar authentication. See change address on driving licence.
- Name, date of birth, photo or signature wrong: these corrections are among the DL services made available online with Aadhaar in 2022. The central fee for a change of particulars is ₹200.
- Record not found: check that you chose the state that issued the licence and typed the number exactly. If it still fails, contact the issuing RTO.
- Licence expired: renew it. Within one year after expiry no new test is needed; after that, the test must be retaken.
For how to sign in to each service, see Sarathi login.
Frequently asked questions
How can I check my driving licence details online?
Open Sarathi, select your state and the services on an existing DL, then enter your DL number, date of birth and captcha. The details held for your licence are shown.
Can I check a driving licence by name?
The official Sarathi flows do not offer a name search. They use the DL number and date of birth, which protects licence holders' data.
What is a DL extract?
DL extract is a service on the official Sarathi menu that gives an extract of the details recorded for your licence. Any charges are shown by your state on Sarathi.
How do I find my DL number if I lost my licence?
Check DigiLocker or mParivahan, or any old Sarathi receipt. If you cannot find it, contact the RTO that issued the licence and ask about a duplicate.
Is a licence shown in DigiLocker or mParivahan valid for police checks?
Yes. MoRTH has told States to accept it as valid, and since 1 October 2020 an officer who validates documents electronically cannot demand physical copies.
Is DL check the same as DL status?
No. A DL check looks up an issued licence by DL number and date of birth. DL status tracks a pending application by its application number.