The documents required for driving licence applications in India are simple once you know which stage you are at: learner licence (LL), driving licence (DL), or a later service such as renewal. At every stage you prove your age and your address, and depending on your age and the vehicle, you add a self-declaration of fitness or a medical certificate.
This guide lists the documents accepted, the driving licence age limit for each kind of vehicle, what each official form is for, and what to carry to the driving test. Rules here come from the Motor Vehicles Act and the Central Motor Vehicles Rules; where a state publishes its own list, we say so. This site is an independent guide; you upload documents on the official Sarathi site.
Driving licence documents list at a glance
| Stage | Documents |
|---|---|
| Learner licence | Proof of age, proof of address, photo and signature, Form 2 application (it includes a fitness self-declaration since April 2021), Form 1A if you are applying for a transport vehicle or are over 40 |
| Driving licence test | Form 2 printout, your valid LL, fee receipt, original documents, and the test vehicle's RC, insurance, tax card and PUC (Tamil Nadu list); Form 5 and Form 15 only if you trained at a driving school |
| Transport vehicle DL | Proof of age and residence, Form 1A medical certificate and a driving certificate (Rule 14) |
| Renewal | Existing DL, Form 2, Form 1 (non-transport) or Form 1A (transport, or 40 and over) |
| Duplicate, address or name change | DL details, plus the proof the portal asks for, such as a new address proof |
Since 2021, Rule 14 no longer asks for three copies of documents. On Sarathi you upload them; you bring originals when you visit an office.
Proof of age and proof of address
Rule 14 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, as amended in 2021, requires proof of age along with proof of residence. Chhattisgarh Transport publishes this list of accepted documents (its page may be dated, and other states may differ):
| Proof of date of birth | Proof of address |
|---|---|
| Birth certificate | Aadhaar |
| Matriculation certificate or recognised board marksheet | Passport |
| Passport | Election card |
| Aadhaar | Electricity bill or landline bill |
| PAN | Ration card with photo |
| Election photo ID | Post office passbook or depository account statement |
| CGHS card | Employer certificate or Gazetted officer certificate |
| Affidavit before a magistrate | Domicile certificate |
For the fully online (faceless) learner licence, you authenticate with Aadhaar. Under the March 2021 notification, a person without an Aadhaar number could use the Aadhaar Enrolment ID slip until the number was assigned. Maharashtra's guidance says the fully online route works only if your present address matches Aadhaar and you need no medical certificate; otherwise you visit the RTO for verification.
Driving licence age limit in India
Minimum ages come from Section 4 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, which the 2019 amendment did not change.
| Vehicle | Minimum age |
|---|---|
| Motorcycle of up to 50cc | 16, as stated by Punjab Transport (Telangana and Andhra Pradesh add guardian consent) |
| Motorcycles above 50cc, cars and other non-transport vehicles (LMV) | 18 |
| Transport (commercial) vehicles | 20 |
No person under 18 may drive a motor vehicle in a public place, apart from that 50cc exception. The Supreme Court in 2024 recorded the age eligibility as 18 for LMV and 20 for transport vehicles. An Assam Transport page says 21 for transport vehicles, which conflicts with Section 4(2).
The rules summarised here set minimum ages only. What changes as you get older is the paperwork: a Form 1A medical certificate from 40, and shorter validity after renewal from 50 and from 55. See driving licence renewal for the validity bands.
Underage driving is costly. Driving without a licence or underage carries a ₹5,000 fine under Section 181. Under Section 199A, an offence by a juvenile can lead to a ₹25,000 fine for the guardian or owner, and the juvenile cannot get an LL or DL until age 25.
Driving licence forms explained: Form 1, 1A, 2 and more
| Form | What it is for |
|---|---|
| Form 1 | Self-declaration of physical fitness, for non-transport licences |
| Form 1A | Medical certificate from a medical practitioner |
| Form 2 | Application for a learner licence on Sarathi; Tamil Nadu describes the DL application on Sarathi as Form 2, and mParivahan lists Form 2 for renewal |
| Form 3 | The learner licence itself, issued electronically in printable form |
| Form 4A | Application for an International Driving Permit (Delhi Transport) |
| Form 5 and Form 15 | Driving school forms, needed at the DL stage only if you trained at a driving school (Tamil Nadu) |
| Form 7 | Smart card type driving licence |
| Form 8 | Permanent surrender of one or more vehicle classes (Rule 17A) |
You may see Form 4 mentioned on other websites as the DL application. The state transport pages we checked describe the DL application on Sarathi as Form 2, so follow the form the portal gives you.
Medical certificate (Form 1A): who needs it
- Transport vehicles: Form 1A is required with a learner licence application for a transport vehicle, and at renewal of a transport licence.
- Age 40 and over: applicants over 40 need Form 1A, and since 1 April 2021 non-transport renewal applicants aged 40 or older must provide one.
- Everyone else: a self-declaration in Form 1 is enough. Since April 2021, Form 2 itself includes a self-declaration of physical fitness.
Since 1 April 2021, Form 1A must be issued electronically on the portal and is valid for six months (it used to be one year). In Tamil Nadu's online LL flow, applicants over 40 upload Form 1A, and the RTO approves it before the test password is sent. Delhi's transport department lists a find a doctor service among its DL services.
Mild to medium colour blindness no longer bars you from getting a DL, and adapted vehicles for persons with disabilities can be registered and licensed.
What to carry to the driving test
The Tamil Nadu transport department lists the Form 2 printout, your valid learner licence, and the documents of the vehicle you will use for the test: RC, insurance, tax card and PUC certificate. Form 5 and Form 15 are needed only if you trained at a driving school. Uttarakhand tells applicants to come with the fee receipt, Form 2 and original documents.
For an adapted vehicle test, the vehicle must be duly registered as an adapted vehicle. If you passed the test at an Accredited Driver Training Centre, you are exempt from the driving test at the RTO. Read our driving test guide to prepare.
Uploading documents on Sarathi
Upload limits are shown on the form and can differ by state. Rajasthan, for example, asks for documents in grayscale, under 1 MB, as JPG, JPEG or PDF, and a photo and signature of about 10 to 20 KB each. If you need to upload a photo and signature after submitting, Sarathi's help material says this is done through Apply Online, then Application Status, with your application number.
There is no minimum educational qualification for a driving licence: G.S.R. 681(E) of 23 September 2019 removed it. E-rickshaw and e-cart applicants must complete at least ten days of training under Rule 8A.
Ready to start? Follow our learning licence guide, then driving licence online apply, and check the driving licence fees before you pay.
Frequently asked questions
What documents are required for a driving licence in India?
Proof of age, proof of address, a photo and signature, and Form 1 or Form 1A for fitness. At the driving test you also bring your learner licence and the test vehicle's papers.
What is the minimum age for a driving licence in India?
18 for cars and motorcycles above 50cc, and 20 for transport vehicles. Punjab Transport states that a motorcycle of up to 50cc may be driven from 16.
Is there a maximum age limit for a driving licence?
The rules summarised here set minimum ages only. From 40 you need a Form 1A medical certificate, and from 55 each renewal is valid for 5 years.
Is Aadhaar mandatory for a driving licence?
Aadhaar is one accepted proof of age and address, and it is used for the faceless online services, which are voluntary. States keep an office route too; In Andhra Pradesh, for example, a 2026 news report on its home LL test said applicants without Aadhaar e-KYC use the RTO.
What is Form 1 and Form 1A for a driving licence?
Form 1 is a self-declaration of physical fitness for non-transport licences. Form 1A is a medical certificate from a medical practitioner, needed for transport vehicles and for applicants over 40.
Do I need educational certificates to get a DL?
No. The minimum educational qualification was removed in September 2019. A school certificate can still serve as proof of date of birth.