An LMV driving licence is the licence most car drivers in India hold. LMV stands for light motor vehicle, one of the classes of vehicle (often shortened to COV) that a driving licence (DL) can cover under Section 10(2) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. One licence can carry several classes, for example a gearless scooter, a geared motorcycle and a car.
This guide explains each class in plain words, what LMV covers after the Supreme Court judgments of 2017 and 2024, how transport and non-transport licences differ, and how to add or drop a class. It is written by an independent guide, not a government office; applications are made on the official Sarathi portal.
Types of driving licence in India: the classes in the Act
Section 10(2) of the Motor Vehicles Act lists the classes of vehicle a licence can be granted for. In everyday language these are the "types of driving licence" in India.
| Class in the Act | What it means in practice |
|---|---|
| Motor cycle without gear | Gearless two-wheelers such as scooters and scooties |
| Motor cycle with gear | Geared motorcycles |
| Invalid carriage (now "Adapted Vehicle") | Vehicles adapted for persons with disabilities |
| Light motor vehicle (LMV) | Cars and other light vehicles |
| Transport vehicle | Commercial goods and passenger vehicles, including heavy ones |
| Road-roller | Road-rollers |
| Motor vehicle of a specified description | Any other vehicle type described for licensing purposes |
On cards and on Sarathi you will see short forms. The ones people search for most are MCWOG (motor cycle without gear), MCWG (motor cycle with gear) and LMV. We do not publish a full official code table because we could not verify one; if a code on your licence is unclear, fetch your details on Sarathi or ask your RTO.
Older licences may also mention medium or heavy goods and passenger vehicles. Amendment Act 54 of 1994 replaced those four classes in Section 10(2)(e) to (h) with a single class, "transport vehicle". People still call it an HMV or heavy licence.
LMV in driving licence: what it means and what it covers
"LMV" on your licence means you are licensed to drive a light motor vehicle. For a private car owner this is the class that matters. The question that has gone to court many times is whether an LMV licence also covers light commercial vehicles.
In Mukund Dewangan v Oriental Insurance (three-judge bench, reported 24 July 2017), the Supreme Court said an LMV licence holder can drive, without a separate endorsement:
- a transport vehicle or omnibus with gross vehicle weight up to 7,500 kg, or
- a motor car, tractor or road roller with unladen weight up to 7,500 kg.
A five-judge Constitution Bench upheld that view in November 2024, as explained in the next section.
Weight is the key test. If the vehicle's gross vehicle weight is 7,500 kg or more, do not rely on an LMV licence. Get the transport class added first.
Supreme Court ruling on LMV licences (November 2024)
On 6 November 2024 a five-judge Constitution Bench decided Bajaj Allianz General Insurance v Rambha Devi (CA 841/2018, 2024 INSC 840) unanimously. The bench was CJI D.Y. Chandrachud and Justices P.S. Narasimha, Hrishikesh Roy, Manoj Misra and Pankaj Mithal.
As reported, the Court held that a person holding an LMV licence can drive a transport vehicle with gross vehicle weight under 7,500 kg without a separate authorisation under Section 10(2)(e). It upheld Mukund Dewangan.
The reports also note what did not change:
- Medium and heavy goods or passenger vehicles above 7,500 kg still need the additional eligibility for the transport class.
- Special requirements continue for e-carts, e-rickshaws and vehicles carrying hazardous goods.
The ruling matters most to cab and small goods vehicle drivers.
Transport and non-transport licence: TR, trans and badge
Every class falls into one of two groups: non-transport (private use) or transport (commercial). When people ask about the "TR" or "trans" on a licence, they are asking whether it covers a transport vehicle. Since 1 April 2021 the Form 2 application no longer uses the older wording "LMV NTV" or "Light Motor Vehicle as Transport Vehicle".
| Point | Non-transport | Transport |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum age | 18 (16 for a motorcycle of up to 50cc, as stated by Punjab Transport) | 20, under Section 4(2) |
| Medical certificate (Form 1A) | Needed if you are 40 or older | Needed with the learner's licence application and the DL application |
| Validity | Depends on your age when issued or renewed (see below) | Five years (three years before the 2019 amendment) |
Non-transport validity under Section 14, as amended in 2019:
- Issued or renewed before age 30: valid until you turn 40.
- Issued or renewed at 30 to under 50: valid for 10 years.
- Issued or renewed at 50 to under 55: valid until you turn 60.
- Issued or renewed at 55 or older: valid for 5 years.
Badge. Some states issue a transport driver's badge under their own rules. Uttarakhand lists a badge fee of ₹100, and Rajasthan lists ₹300 for a driver's badge or duplicate badge. Whether a separate badge is still needed nationally after the 2017 and 2024 judgments could not be confirmed, so ask your RTO before you drive commercially.
LMV cab driving licence: can you drive a taxi?
Under the 2024 judgment, the licence itself is not the barrier: an LMV holder can drive a transport vehicle under 7,500 kg gross vehicle weight without separate authorisation. That covers most cars used as cabs.
A licence is only one part of commercial driving, though. Your state may have badge rules, and the vehicle needs its own commercial papers. Regulation 38 of the 2017 driving regulations says you must carry the DL, registration certificate, insurance, fitness, tax and PUC certificates and show them on demand.
DL, LL, LLR and other licence terms explained
- DL: driving licence. DL ka full form is simply driving licence.
- LL: learner's licence, issued in Form 3 and valid for 6 months. You need one before applying for a DL. See the learning licence guide.
- LLR: another name some states use for the learner's licence, for example in Puducherry's fee list and Andhra Pradesh's "LLR Online STALL".
- COV: class of vehicle, for example in Rajasthan's "surrender of class of vehicle (COV)" service.
- Conductor licence: a separate licence for bus conductors, also handled on Sarathi.
- IDP: international driving permit, issued on the basis of your Indian DL for driving abroad.
- Sarathi and Parivahan: Sarathi is the licence system built by the National Informatics Centre; VAHAN is its counterpart for vehicle registration. Parivahan is the Hindi word for transport.
How to add another class to your driving licence
To add a class (say LMV to a two-wheeler licence), you get a learner's licence for the new class, pass the driving test in that vehicle, and apply for the endorsement on Sarathi.
| Item (Rule 32 CMVR) | Central fee |
|---|---|
| Learner's licence, per class | ₹150 |
| Learner's licence test or repeat test | ₹50 |
| Driving test or repeat test, per class | ₹300 |
| Addition of another class to a DL | ₹500 |
States add service or user charges, so the payment page may show more. See driving licence fees for the full table.
Still waiting on an application? After submitting, you can add one more class through Modify Applications, Add Class of Vehicles. Classes already on an application cannot be removed from it.
Dropping a class. You can permanently surrender one or more classes using Form 8 under Rule 17A. The authority deletes the class within seven days, and the fee is ₹200.
Special categories: e-rickshaws, adapted vehicles, hazardous goods
- E-rickshaw and e-cart: since 1 April 2021, Rule 8A requires at least ten days of training before applying.
- Adapted vehicles: persons with disabilities can register an adapted vehicle and get a DL for it. The driving test must be taken in a duly registered adapted vehicle.
- Colour blindness: mild to medium colour blindness no longer bars you from getting a DL.
- Hazardous goods: an endorsement is needed, with a fee of ₹100 for the endorsement or its renewal. Since 2019 the Act sets the validity for this at three years, with renewal on conditions the Central Government prescribes.
How to see which classes are on your licence
For any service on an existing DL, Sarathi asks for your DL number, date of birth and a captcha, then shows your details. You can also view your licence in DigiLocker or mParivahan; MoRTH has asked states to accept these electronic copies as valid. See online DL check for the steps.
Frequently asked questions
What does LMV mean in a driving licence?
LMV means light motor vehicle, the class that covers cars. Under the 2024 Supreme Court ruling it also covers transport vehicles with gross vehicle weight under 7,500 kg.
How many types of driving licence are there in India?
Section 10(2) of the Motor Vehicles Act lists seven classes: motor cycle without gear, motor cycle with gear, invalid carriage (now adapted vehicle), light motor vehicle, transport vehicle, road-roller and motor vehicle of a specified description. Learner's licences, conductor licences and international driving permits are separate documents.
Can I drive a taxi with an LMV licence?
The Supreme Court held in November 2024 that an LMV holder can drive a transport vehicle under 7,500 kg gross vehicle weight without separate authorisation. Check your state's badge rules with your RTO before driving commercially.
What is COV in a driving licence?
COV means class of vehicle, such as motor cycle with gear or LMV. Your licence lists each class you are allowed to drive.
Does an LMV licence let me ride a motorcycle?
No. Motor cycle with gear, motor cycle without gear and light motor vehicle are separate classes in Section 10(2). Each class has to be on your licence.
What is the minimum age for a transport licence?
Section 4(2) of the Motor Vehicles Act sets 20 years for transport vehicles. The Supreme Court recorded the same age in 2024.