Getting a WB driving licence follows the same national system used across most of India: Sarathi, the licence application run on parivahan.gov.in. The Transport Department, Government of West Bengal, handles licences through its RTOs, and the online part happens on Sarathi after you select West Bengal.
We are an independent guide, not a government site. West Bengal's own transport pages could not be read during our research, so this page sticks to what we could verify and to the central rules that apply in every state. Where something is not confirmed for West Bengal, we say so instead of guessing.
What we could verify for West Bengal
| Question | What we found |
|---|---|
| Is West Bengal on Sarathi? | Yes. As of 16 October 2026 the Sarathi state selection page lists West Bengal among states with online licence services. |
| Who runs licensing? | Transport Department, Government of West Bengal (transport.wb.gov.in), which has a learner licence page on its site. |
| LL test from home? | Not confirmed for West Bengal. Sarathi shows the options available for your state when you apply. |
| State-specific fees? | Not confirmed. Central fees apply, and states may add user charges shown at payment. |
MoRTH's Year End Review 2023 also said Sarathi was implemented in all RTOs of 35 States and UTs except Telangana, which covers West Bengal.
WB driving licence online apply: the order of steps
Whether you live in Kolkata or a district town, the path to a permanent licence has two stages:
- Learner licence (LL). Apply on Sarathi using Form 2, pay the fee, complete the online safe-driving tutorial and the online LL test within seven days of applying, subject to availability. You need at least 60 per cent correct answers. The LL is issued electronically.
- Practice period. The LL is valid for 6 months across India. State transport pages such as Odisha and Puducherry say you can apply for the DL 30 days after getting the LL.
- DL application. Before the LL expires, apply for the DL on Sarathi, upload documents and pay the fee. You cannot apply on an expired LL.
- Driving test. Book a slot where online booking is offered (it is not available at every RTO), then take the test of competence for each vehicle class.
See the full walkthroughs: learning licence and driving licence online apply.
Since 1 September 2019, licensing can be done anywhere in a state. You are not limited to the RTO nearest your home within West Bengal.
Two wheeler driving licence in West Bengal
For a bike licence you apply for the motorcycle class on the same LL and DL forms. The general minimum age to drive is 18; Punjab Transport's published summary of the Act says a motorcycle of up to 50cc may be driven from 16. Every rider and pillion above four years of age must wear a protective helmet under Section 129, with an exemption for Sikhs wearing a turban.
Our two wheeler licence guide explains the classes and the test.
WB DL status, check and download
Status: on Sarathi, select West Bengal, click Apply Online, then Application Status, and enter your application number. If the status says the application is under scrutiny at RTO level, you need to visit the RTO for physical document verification and biometrics.
Check: services on an existing DL start with the DL number, date of birth and a captcha. Download: DigiLocker and mParivahan show your DL in digital form, and a MoRTH advisory asks states to accept these as valid documents.
Guides: DL status, online DL check and driving licence download.
Driving licence renewal online West Bengal
The renewal window is one year before expiry to one year after expiry. Renew within that window and no driving test is needed; apply more than a year after expiry and you have to take the test again. If you are 40 or older, or renewing a transport licence, you need a Form 1A medical certificate, which is now issued electronically on the portal.
A non-transport licence issued or renewed between age 30 and 50 is valid for 10 years. Other age bands are in our driving licence renewal guide with a validity checker.
Driving licence fees in West Bengal
West Bengal's own charges could not be verified. The central fees under Rule 32 are:
- Learner licence: ₹150 per class, plus ₹50 for the LL test.
- Driving test: ₹300 per class.
- Issue of DL: ₹200.
- Renewal: ₹200, or ₹300 plus ₹1,000 for each year or part of a year if you renew more than one year after expiry.
- Change of address: ₹200. Duplicate DL: ₹400.
mParivahan describes the amount payable as the prescribed fee plus any applicable user charges. The driving licence fees page has the complete table.
Traffic rules and fines in West Bengal
The penalties in the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act 2019 apply nationally, for example ₹5,000 for driving without a licence under Section 181. Under Section 200, however, each state notifies its own compounding amounts, so on-the-spot amounts in West Bengal can differ from the Act. We have not verified West Bengal's compounding list. Read our traffic fines and traffic rules pages for the national picture.
Frequently asked questions
How can I apply for a driving licence online in West Bengal?
Go to sarathi.parivahan.gov.in, select West Bengal and apply for a learner licence first. After holding the LL you apply for the DL and pass the driving test.
Can I give the learner licence test from home in West Bengal?
We could not confirm this for West Bengal. When you apply on Sarathi, the portal shows the test options available in your state.
How do I check my WB DL status?
On Sarathi, select West Bengal, open Apply Online, then Application Status, and enter your application number.
What is the driving licence cost in West Bengal?
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. State user charges, if any, are added on the payment page.
Is a downloaded West Bengal DL valid?
A DL shown through DigiLocker or mParivahan is treated as valid under a 2018 MoRTH advisory, and rules allow a licence to be produced in electronic form.