A driving licence download usually means one of three things: keeping a digital copy of your DL in the mParivahan app or DigiLocker, downloading a learner licence (LL) or licence document from the Sarathi portal, or printing an electronic DL (e-DL) that your state has issued instead of a plastic card. This guide explains each option, what the law says about digital licences, and where to go when you actually need a new card.
Sarathi is the licence system built by the National Informatics Centre (NIC) and used by state transport departments across India. The National Government Services Portal lists licence document downloads among the services Sarathi offers, alongside applications, renewals, duplicates and status checks. This site is an independent guide, not a government website, so every download happens on the official sites we link to.
Ways to download or carry your driving licence
Pick the option that matches what you need. A digital copy is enough for most checks on the road, while a lost card needs a duplicate.
| Option | What you get | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| NextGen mParivahan app | Your DL shown electronically on your phone | Named in the 2018 MoRTH advisory as a valid way to show a DL. The Sarathi site itself tells people to use only parivahan.gov.in or the NextGen mParivahan app for DL services. |
| DigiLocker | Your DL as an electronic record | Also named in the 2018 advisory as legally recognised, at par with the original. |
| Sarathi portal | Learner licence (Form 3) after you pass, licence documents, DL extract | Choose your state first, then the service. The Sarathi service menu lists a DL extract option. |
| State e-DL | A printable electronic DL instead of a smart card | Rajasthan, for example, has issued only e-DLs since 1 April 2024. |
Is a downloaded or digital driving licence valid?
Yes, when it is shown the right way. On 9 August 2018 the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) issued an advisory asking states to accept a DL, RC and other documents presented electronically through DigiLocker or mParivahan as valid under the Motor Vehicles Act. Under the IT Act, 2000, such electronic records are deemed to be legally recognised at par with the original documents.
The rules then changed to match:
- 2 November 2018: G.S.R. 1081(E) amended Rule 139 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules so that documents, including the driving licence, can be produced in physical or electronic form.
- Later advisories: letters dated 19 November 2018 and 23 November 2019 asked states and union territories to make their enforcement agencies accept electronic documents.
- From 1 October 2020: if an enforcement officer validates your documents electronically, physical copies cannot be demanded, even where seizure is needed. The date, time and identity of the officer for any inspection are recorded on the portal.
Enforcement agencies can also record an impoundment electronically in VAHAN or SARATHI through eChallan, so a physical seizure of your documents is not needed.
The advisory names DigiLocker and mParivahan, so those are the safest digital forms to show at a check. Set one of them up before you need it, not at the roadside.
mParivahan app: DL in mParivahan
mParivahan is the official transport app. The Sarathi state selection page warns that vehicle, DL and eChallan services should be used only through parivahan.gov.in or the NextGen mParivahan app, and asks applicants to keep their mobile number updated in Vahan and Sarathi. A current mobile number matters because Sarathi services use OTP verification.
The 2018 advisory also says that if mParivahan or eChallan shows an in-force insurance policy for the vehicle, a physical insurance certificate should not be required. The mParivahan site publishes help pages too, for example its page on renewing a driving licence.
We do not describe the app's screens here because they can change. Follow the prompts in the app itself, and only install it from a source you trust.
Learner licence download (LLR download)
The learner licence is issued electronically. Since 1 April 2021, Rule 11 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules says the LL is issued in Form 3, in printable form, immediately after you meet the conditions: the online tutorial and the online test, where these apply. The National Government Services Portal describes the online route as application and fee payment, an AI-proctored test with Aadhaar-based authentication and face recognition, and an instant download once you clear it.
State guides say the same in their own words. The Tamil Nadu flow ends with downloading the LL after passing, and the Maharashtra faceless LL guide says you print the LL using an OTP. You need to pass with at least 60 per cent correct answers.
An LL is valid across India for 6 months. Keep the PDF safe, because you will need the LL details when you apply for your driving licence online. Read more in our learning licence guide.
e-DL download and print: how it works in Rajasthan
Some states have moved from plastic cards to electronic licences. The Rajasthan Transport and Road Safety Department says that from 1 April 2024 it issues only e-DL and e-RC, does not issue smart cards, and does not charge the ₹200 smart card fee. Its page says the e-DL is legally valid, and that a print can be downloaded from Parivahan or obtained at e-Mitra centres or e-Mitra Plus machines, where a fee is charged.
Under the central fee table (Rule 32), a smart card type DL in Form 7 costs an additional ₹200. Whether your state still issues smart cards or only e-DLs is decided by your state, so check your state transport department's site. Our driving licence state wise page links to each one.
How to download or print from Sarathi, step by step
- Open the official site. Go to sarathi.parivahan.gov.in using the official button on this page and select your state first. Every service starts from your state.
- Choose the service. Pick the option that matches what you need: your learner licence print, the DL extract, or application status for a pending application.
- Enter your details. Pending applications are found with the application number that Sarathi sent you by SMS. Services on an existing DL start with your DL number, date of birth and a captcha.
- Verify with OTP where asked. The OTP comes to your mobile, which is why Sarathi asks you to keep your number updated.
- Save the PDF. Download it and keep a copy on your phone and one on paper.
If you have not yet passed the test, there is nothing to download yet. You can follow progress on the DL status page.
Driving licence receipt and RTO receipt printouts
When you submit a new learner licence application, an application number is generated and sent by SMS, and you can print the acknowledgement and the prefilled form. Keep these papers. For the driving test, the Uttarakhand Transport Department tells applicants to visit with the fee receipt, Form 2 and original documents.
Two payment rules from Sarathi's own help material are worth knowing before you click pay:
- Sarathi cannot refund a double payment. You must contact the RTO or transport department.
- Cancelling an application on Sarathi is permanent. The file is closed and fees are not refunded.
If you need to upload a photo and signature later, Sarathi's help material says this is done through Apply Online, then Application Status, using your application number.
Lost card or just need a copy? Download vs duplicate
A download gives you a digital or printed copy of a licence that exists. It does not replace the card itself. If your licence card is lost, torn or mutilated, you apply for a duplicate under Rule 18A, which has been in force since 1 April 2021. The central fee for a duplicate licence is ₹400, plus any state user charges. Our duplicate driving licence guide has the full process.
In the meantime, a DL shown through DigiLocker or mParivahan is legally recognised, so setting up one of them helps while you wait. To confirm your DL details and validity, see online DL check.
Look-alike sites and agents sometimes offer a paid driving licence PDF download. The Sarathi page itself warns people to use only parivahan.gov.in or the NextGen mParivahan app. Never share your OTP with anyone.
Frequently asked questions
How can I download my driving licence online?
Carry it digitally through the NextGen mParivahan app or DigiLocker, or use the Sarathi portal after selecting your state. If your state issues an e-DL, like Rajasthan since 1 April 2024, a print can be downloaded from Parivahan.
Is a driving licence in mParivahan or DigiLocker valid?
Yes. A MoRTH advisory of 9 August 2018 asked states to accept a DL shown through DigiLocker or mParivahan, and Rule 139 was amended in November 2018 so a DL can be produced in physical or electronic form.
Can traffic police ask for the physical card if I show my DL in the app?
From 1 October 2020, if an officer validates your documents electronically, physical copies cannot be demanded, including where seizure is needed.
How do I download my learner licence?
The LL is issued electronically in Form 3 as soon as you meet the conditions, which usually means passing the online test with at least 60 per cent. You can then download it on Sarathi.
I lost my driving licence. Is downloading it enough?
A digital copy in DigiLocker or mParivahan is legally recognised, but it does not replace a lost card. To get a new card, apply for a duplicate DL, which has a central fee of ₹400 plus state charges.
Does every state still give a smart card DL?
No. Rajasthan, for example, has issued only e-DLs since 1 April 2024 and no longer charges the ₹200 smart card fee. Check your state transport department's site for its current practice.