A driving licence online apply on Sarathi is the second half of getting a licence in India. First you get a learner's licence (LL). After practising for at least 30 days, you apply for the permanent driving licence (DL), book a test and drive in front of an examiner. Everything up to the test is done on the official Sarathi portal, sarathi.parivahan.gov.in.
This guide covers who can apply, the documents, each step on Sarathi, the official central fees, how the driving test works, what happens after you pass and the most common problems. Rules are national, but states run the process, so we point out where your state may differ. If you do not have an LL yet, start with our learning licence guide.
A quick glossary: LL is the learner's licence, DL the driving licence, RTO the Regional Transport Office (your licensing authority), and class of vehicle means the type of vehicle the licence covers, such as motorcycle with gear or light motor vehicle (LMV).
Who can apply for a driving licence
- Age: you must be 18 to drive a motor vehicle in a public place. Punjab Transport notes that a motorcycle of up to 50cc may be driven from 16. For transport vehicles the minimum age is 20 under Section 4 of the Motor Vehicles Act, a position the Supreme Court recorded in 2024.
- A valid learner's licence: you must apply for the DL before your LL expires. An LL is valid for 6 months, and you cannot apply for a DL on an expired LL.
- 30 days of practice: state transport departments, including Odisha, Puducherry, Rajasthan and Delhi, say the DL can be applied for 30 days after the LL is issued.
- No education condition: since 23 September 2019 there is no minimum educational qualification for a driving licence.
- Health: a medical certificate in Form 1A is needed for transport vehicles and for applicants over 40. Mild to medium colour blindness no longer bars a licence.
Since 1 September 2019, licensing can be done anywhere in a state, so you are not tied to one RTO within your state. Age rules by class are explained in documents required for driving licence and LMV driving licence.
Documents required for a driving licence online apply
| Document | When it is needed |
|---|---|
| Valid learner's licence | Always, for a new DL |
| Proof of age and proof of residence | Always (Rule 14, Central Motor Vehicles Rules) |
| Application form printout (Tamil Nadu and Uttarakhand guides cite Form 2) and the fee receipt | Carry to the test |
| Medical certificate, Form 1A | Transport vehicles and applicants over 40; it is issued electronically on the portal and valid for six months |
| Driving certificate | Transport vehicle applicants |
| Documents of the test vehicle: RC, insurance, tax card, PUC | For the vehicle you bring to the test (Tamil Nadu list) |
| Form 5 and Form 15 | Only if you trained at a driving school (Tamil Nadu list) |
| Original documents | Carry them when you visit for the test |
Accepted proofs vary by state. As one example, Chhattisgarh Transport lists Aadhaar, passport, PAN, birth certificate and school certificates among proofs of age, and Aadhaar, passport, electricity bill, ration card with photo and voter card among proofs of address. The full list is on documents required for driving licence.
How to apply for a driving licence online: step by step
- Open Sarathi and select your state. Go to sarathi.parivahan.gov.in and choose the state where you hold your LL. Make sure you pick the right state.
- Choose the driving licence option. Uttarakhand describes this as "Apply for Driving License". You then pick your eligibility: holding a learner's licence (the usual case), a foreign DL, or a defence licence.
- Enter your LL details and fill the form. Fill in the details asked for and check the class of vehicle carefully.
- Upload documents. Upload clear scans of the documents your state asks for, plus Form 1A if it applies to you.
- Pay the fee online. The DL test fee and DL issue fee are paid on Sarathi, together with any state user charges.
- Book the driving test slot. Pick a date at your RTO. Online slot booking is not available at every RTO; if you see none, ask your RTO.
- Note your application number. It comes by SMS. Print the acknowledgement and the form.
- Go for the test. Take the fee receipt, the form printout, original documents and a roadworthy vehicle of the right class with its papers.
- Pass the test of competence. The test is conducted before a Motor Vehicle Inspector. After you pass, the licence is issued and you can track it with DL status.
If you realise after submitting that you also want another class of vehicle, the official Sarathi FAQ says one more class can be added through Modify Applications, Add Class of Vehicles. Existing classes cannot be removed from the application.
Driving licence fees for a new DL
Central fees come from Rule 32 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules (G.S.R. 1183(E) of 29 December 2016, amended by G.S.R. 240(E) in 2021). States add service or user charges on top; mParivahan describes this as "prescribed fees plus any applicable user charges".
| Item | Central fee |
|---|---|
| Test of competence to drive, or repeat test, each class | ₹300 |
| Issue of driving licence | ₹200 |
| Smart card type DL (Form 7), extra | ₹200 |
| Addition of another class to an existing DL | ₹500 |
What people actually pay, as published by some states:
- Tamil Nadu: DL single class ₹800, double class ₹1,100.
- Puducherry: DL fresh single class ₹850, two classes ₹1,150.
- Delhi: permanent DL fee including smart card shown as ₹400.
- Rajasthan: from 1 April 2024 only e-DL is issued, no smart card, and the ₹200 smart card fee does not apply.
The amount shown on the Sarathi payment page for your state is the one that counts. See the full table and a calculator on driving licence fees.
The driving test: what to expect
To get a DL you must pass a test of competence to drive, under Rule 15 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, before a Motor Vehicle Inspector. The test is for the class of vehicle you applied for, so bring that type of vehicle. Applicants for an adapted vehicle need a duly registered adapted vehicle.
- Tracks: some states use automated test tracks. Andhra Pradesh had 10 automated driving test tracks running in July 2025. Kerala's department says its test Part I uses an "8" track for two and three-wheelers and an "H" track for four-wheelers, followed by a road test.
- If you fail: pay the retest fee (₹300 per class centrally) and book another slot. Tamil Nadu says a failed test can be retaken after 7 days, with no retest for 60 days after three failures. Odisha says the retest fee is payable for 3 times only.
- Remedial training: under Section 9(5), as amended in 2019, an applicant who fails the re-test must complete a remedial driver training course.
Preparation tips and test day advice are on our driving test page.
Driving school route: skipping the RTO test
MoRTH notified rules for Accredited Driver Training Centres (ADTC) by G.S.R. 394(E) dated 7 June 2021, effective 1 July 2021. Candidates who pass the test at an accredited centre are exempt from the driving test at the RTO when they apply for a licence. These centres must have simulators and a dedicated driving test track. Since a 2022 amendment, trainees must pass the test of competence to get the proficiency certificate.
Note on news reports: in May 2024, media said that "from 1 June 2024" tests could be taken at private driving schools. No new 2024 notification was found; the framework is the 2021 ADTC rules, which apply only to accredited centres. Ask the school whether it is accredited before you pay. More on driving school.
After you pass: getting your licence card or e-DL
How the licence reaches you depends on your state:
- Rajasthan issues only e-DL from 1 April 2024; a print can be downloaded from Parivahan or obtained at e-Mitra centres.
- Kerala's department says the DL card is sent within a week.
- Maharashtra sends the card by speed post for its faceless DL services such as renewal and duplicate.
Whatever your state, you can keep a digital copy in DigiLocker or mParivahan. MoRTH has told States to accept these as valid, and since 1 October 2020 an officer who checks your documents electronically cannot demand physical copies. See driving licence download.
How long your new driving licence is valid
Validity was changed by the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act 2019 (Section 14):
| 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. Details on driving licence renewal.
Common problems with a DL application and fixes
| Problem | What to do |
|---|---|
| LL has expired | You cannot apply for a DL on an expired LL; the process must be restarted with a new LL. |
| Status says "Application is under scrutiny and processing at RTO Level" | Visit the RTO for physical document verification and biometrics. |
| No online test slots | Online slot booking is not available at every RTO. Contact your RTO. |
| Missed the test date | Ask your RTO how to rebook; it depends on the slots available. |
| Fee paid twice | Sarathi cannot refund it; contact your RTO or the transport department. |
| Want to cancel and reapply | Cancelling on Sarathi is permanent and fees are not refunded. Fix the issue instead where you can. |
Use only sarathi.parivahan.gov.in to apply. sarathiportal.com is an independent guide and cannot submit or track applications.
Frequently asked questions
How many days after the learner's licence can I apply for a DL?
State transport departments such as Odisha, Rajasthan and Delhi say 30 days after the LL is issued. You must apply before the LL's 6 month validity ends.
Can I get a driving licence fully online without visiting the RTO?
The application, documents, payment and slot booking are online, but you must pass a driving test. That happens at the RTO, unless you pass the test at an Accredited Driver Training Centre.
Which form is used for a new driving licence on Sarathi?
Tamil Nadu and Uttarakhand transport guides cite Form 2 for the DL application on Sarathi. Form 1A, the medical certificate, is added for transport vehicles and applicants over 40.
What is the fee for a new driving licence?
Centrally, ₹300 per class for the test and ₹200 for issue of the licence, plus state user charges. Tamil Nadu, for example, lists ₹800 for a single class.
Can I apply for a DL at any RTO?
Since 1 September 2019, licensing can be done anywhere in a state. Select the correct state on Sarathi and choose an RTO there.
What happens if my learner's licence expires before the test?
You cannot apply for a DL on an expired LL. You would need to start again with a new learner's licence.