Getting a driving licence in Uttar Pradesh follows the same national system used across most of India. People often search for "UP Parivahan" or "Sarathi UP", but licence applications, fee payment, slot booking and status checks all run on the Sarathi portal (sarathi.parivahan.gov.in), where you first select Uttar Pradesh from the state list. The Transport Department of Uttar Pradesh runs the RTOs that verify documents and hold driving tests.
This page explains how the UP learning licence (LL) and driving licence (DL) work, what has been confirmed for the state, and which national rules apply. We are an independent guide, not a government website, so every application has to be made on the official site.
UP Parivahan, Sarathi and the official sites
Three names get mixed up in searches for UP licence services:
- Transport Department, Government of Uttar Pradesh: the state department, with its own website at uptransport.upsdc.gov.in. Its pages could not be read for this guide, so we do not describe its contents.
- Sarathi: the national licence application system built by NIC. Uttar Pradesh is on the Sarathi state list, which means LL and DL services for UP are used through it.
- Parivahan and NextGen mParivahan: the Sarathi state 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 Sarathi.
The Sarathi state page itself asks you to use only parivahan.gov.in or the NextGen mParivahan app for DL services. Whatever you searched ("UP parivahan sewa", "e sarathi UP"), check the address bar before entering your Aadhaar number or paying.
UP learning licence online with Aadhaar
The Saharanpur district website (run on NIC) describes an online learner licence service on Sarathi for Uttar Pradesh that uses Aadhaar-based authentication and face recognition, an AI-proctored online test, no visit to the RTO, and immediate download of the LL after you pass. The National Government Services Portal describes the learner licence route in the same way.
The rules behind it are national. Since 1 April 2021, the learner licence process under Rule 11 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules works like this:
- Apply and pay online. Choose Uttar Pradesh on Sarathi, fill the LL application and pay the fee electronically.
- Watch the safe-driving tutorial. It must be completed within seven days of applying.
- Take the online test. An objective test on traffic signs and signals, road rules, duties after an accident, unmanned railway crossings and documents to carry, also within seven days, subject to availability.
- Score at least 60 per cent. That is the pass standard set by the rules.
- Download the LL. The learner licence is issued electronically in Form 3 once you pass.
If you fail, pay the retest fee on Sarathi and book again. Practise first with our LL mock test and read the learning licence test guide. Full details are on the learning licence page.
Driving licence online apply in UP after the LL
A learner licence is valid for 6 months anywhere in India. You can apply for the permanent DL 30 days after getting the LL, and you must apply before the LL expires, because a DL cannot be applied for on an expired LL.
The DL itself is not fully online. You apply on Sarathi, upload documents, pay, and book a driving test slot where online booking is offered for your RTO (it is not available at every RTO). On the day, you take a test of competence to drive before a Motor Vehicle Inspector.
National rules ask for proof of age and proof of residence. A Form 1A medical certificate is needed for transport vehicles and for applicants over 40; others give a Form 1 self-declaration. Since 1 September 2019 licensing can be done anywhere in a State, so a Lucknow, Kanpur, Ghaziabad or Noida resident is not limited to one office in principle. The full process is in our driving licence online apply guide and the documents required for driving licence checklist.
Driving licence fees in UP
We could not verify any UP-specific fee list. The central fees in Rule 32 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules apply across states, and states may add user or service charges on top, so the total you see on the Sarathi payment page is the figure that counts.
| Service | Central fee (Rule 32) |
|---|---|
| Learner licence, per class of vehicle | ₹150 |
| LL test or retest | ₹50 |
| Driving test or retest, per class | ₹300 |
| Issue of driving licence | ₹200 |
| Renewal of DL | ₹200 |
| Duplicate DL | ₹400 |
| Change of address or other particulars | ₹200 |
Fees in older search results ("driving licence fees in UP 2021") may be out of date: the duplicate DL fee and the late renewal wording were changed by the April 2021 amendment. See the full table on our driving licence fees page.
DL status UP and UP DL download
To check an application, open Sarathi, select Uttar Pradesh, choose Apply Online and then Application Status, and enter your application number. If the status says the application is under scrutiny and processing at RTO level, you need to visit the RTO for physical document verification and biometrics. Our DL status guide explains the other common situations.
For a copy of your licence, DigiLocker and mParivahan are the official digital routes. A MoRTH advisory of 9 August 2018 asked states to accept a DL shown electronically through DigiLocker or mParivahan as valid, and since 2018 the rules let you produce your licence in physical or electronic form. Step by step help is on the driving licence download page.
DL renewal UP and other changes
Renewal can be applied for from one year before expiry to one year after it. Since April 2021 you can file renewal with any licensing authority in the State. If you renew more than one year after expiry, you pay ₹300 plus ₹1,000 for each year or part of a year of delay, and mParivahan says the driving test must be retaken for the classes you need.
Renewal, duplicate DL, change of address and DL extract are all services on the Sarathi menu, and change of address and duplicate DL are among the Aadhaar-based contactless services notified nationally. See driving licence renewal, duplicate driving licence and change address on driving licence.
What we could not confirm for Uttar Pradesh
We prefer to say what is unknown rather than guess. For UP we could not confirm the date the state moved to Sarathi, any state-specific fee or service charge, or the official format of a UP DL number. The UP Transport Department website blocked automated reading, so helpline numbers and office lists should be taken from that site directly. When in doubt, the instructions on Sarathi and at your RTO are final.
Frequently asked questions
Is UP Parivahan the same as Sarathi?
Not exactly. The Transport Department of Uttar Pradesh runs the RTOs, while learner and driving licence applications for UP are made on the national Sarathi portal after selecting Uttar Pradesh.
Can I get a learning licence in UP without visiting the RTO?
The Saharanpur district site describes an Aadhaar-based online LL with face recognition and an AI-proctored test, with no RTO visit and an immediate download after passing. The district page does not say how applicants without Aadhaar authentication are handled, so ask your RTO in that case.
How do I check DL status in UP?
On Sarathi, select Uttar Pradesh, then Apply Online and Application Status, and enter your application number.
How much is the driving licence fee in UP?
The central fees are ₹150 per class for the LL, ₹50 for the LL test, ₹300 per class for the driving test and ₹200 for issue of the DL. States can add user charges, so check the total on the Sarathi payment page.
How soon after the LL can I apply for a DL in UP?
You can apply 30 days after getting the learner licence and must apply before it expires at 6 months.