A duplicate driving licence replaces a licence card that has been lost, torn or mutilated. It is not a new licence: the licensing authority reissues the same licence from the records already held on the Sarathi portal. Since 2021, a duplicate DL has been one of the Aadhaar-based contactless services, so in many states you can apply for duplicate DL online without visiting the RTO (Regional Transport Office).
This guide covers when you need a duplicate, how to apply online, the fees, how to check status, and how to keep driving legally while you wait. This site is an independent guide, not a government website; you apply on the official Sarathi site.
When do you need a duplicate DL?
Rule 18A of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, in force since 1 April 2021, covers a licence that is lost, torn or mutilated. The common situations are:
- Your driving licence card is lost or stolen.
- The card is damaged, faded or torn so that it cannot be read.
- The card is mutilated, for example broken or cut.
If your licence has simply expired, you need a driving licence renewal, not a duplicate. If your address, name or photo is wrong, you need an update; see change address on driving licence.
How a duplicate driving licence is issued
Under Rule 18A, the licensing authority issues the duplicate directly if your licence details are on the portal. If they are not, it issues the duplicate after the original licensing authority confirms your details electronically through the portal. So if your licence is old and its details are not on the portal, there is an extra confirmation step between the two offices.
All licensing authorities update a National Register of Driving Licences in real time. A 2019 government release said Sarathi had a built-in check to flag duplicate licences by matching personal details, which is one reason to apply only through the official route.
How to apply for duplicate driving licence online
- Open Sarathi and pick your state. Use the official button on this page. The state comes first for every service.
- Fetch your licence details. Enter your DL number, date of birth and the captcha.
- Confirm details and verify OTP. Check what appears and verify with the OTP sent to your mobile. In the Aadhaar-based route you authenticate with Aadhaar.
- Select the duplicate DL service. Choose it from the services listed for your licence.
- Upload documents. Upload whatever the portal asks for at this step.
- Pay the fee online. Save the receipt and your application number.
- Track and receive. Follow the application status until the card is issued.
This is the flow for services on an existing DL as described by the Uttarakhand Transport Department. Slot booking is needed only for services that involve a test, such as adding a class or renewing more than a year after expiry, so a duplicate does not normally need one. In Maharashtra, faceless duplicate DL started on 2 June 2022 with no additional fees, and the card is sent by speed post. Haryana's faceless services, as reported in 2023, need your Aadhaar details to match your DL record.
If Aadhaar authentication fails because your name or date of birth does not match your licence record, the contactless route may not work. In that case, ask your RTO how to proceed.
Duplicate driving licence fees
| Item | Amount | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Issue of duplicate licence (central, Rule 32) | ₹400 | Added from 1 April 2021 |
| Smart card type DL in Form 7 | ₹200 extra | Only where your state issues smart cards |
| Puducherry, total charged (example) | ₹550 | Includes state charges |
The central fee sits under Rule 32 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules. States add service or user charges, so the duplicate DL fees on the Sarathi payment page are usually higher than ₹400. Rajasthan's own state rules list a duplicate licence fee of ₹200 alongside the central table, so check your state's page. Our driving licence fees page lists every item.
Duplicate DL status check
To check duplicate DL application status, open Sarathi, select your state, click Apply Online, 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.
Two warnings from Sarathi's help material: a double payment cannot be refunded by Sarathi itself, and cancelling an application is permanent with no refund. See DL status for more on reading status messages.
Duplicate driving licence download and driving while you wait
While your duplicate card is on its way, a digital copy helps. A MoRTH advisory of 9 August 2018 asked states to accept a driving licence shown through DigiLocker or mParivahan as valid, and Rule 139 was amended in November 2018 so a licence can be produced in physical or electronic form. From 1 October 2020, if an officer validates your documents electronically, physical copies cannot be demanded.
If your state issues e-DLs, you may be able to download and print one instead of waiting for a card. Rajasthan, for instance, has issued only e-DLs since 1 April 2024. Read driving licence download for details.
Application for a lost driving licence: practical tips
- Find your DL number first. The online flow starts with your DL number and date of birth. If you saved your licence in DigiLocker or mParivahan, or kept a photo or photocopy, the number is there. Our online DL check guide explains what you can look up once you have it.
- Keep your mobile number current. The Sarathi site asks applicants to keep their mobile number updated, since OTPs are sent to it.
- Apply in your state. Choose the state where your licence record is held when you start on Sarathi.
- Theft or misuse. If the card was stolen and you worry about misuse, you can report it to the police. Whether your RTO wants a copy of that report is not set in the central rules we checked, so follow what the portal or RTO asks for.
Use only the official Sarathi site, parivahan.gov.in or the NextGen mParivahan app, as the Sarathi page itself advises. Do not pay unofficial sites that promise a duplicate licence download.
Duplicate learner licence
If you lost your learner licence rather than your DL, a duplicate LL is also among the services notified for online use with Aadhaar authentication in September 2022. The LL is issued electronically in Form 3 in printable form, so keep the PDF you downloaded when you passed. Read more in our learning licence guide.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get a duplicate driving licence online?
Open Sarathi, select your state, enter your DL number and date of birth, choose the duplicate DL service, upload any documents asked for and pay online. In many states this is a contactless Aadhaar-based service.
What is the fee for a duplicate driving licence?
The central fee is ₹400 under Rule 32. States add service charges, so the final amount on the payment page is higher, for example ₹550 in Puducherry.
Do I need to visit the RTO for a duplicate DL?
Usually not, if you use the Aadhaar-based route and your details match. If the status says the application is under scrutiny at RTO level, you must visit for document verification and biometrics.
Can I drive while my duplicate DL is being made?
You can show your licence electronically through DigiLocker or mParivahan, which MoRTH asked states to accept as valid in 2018.
Will my duplicate licence have a new number or new validity?
A duplicate replaces the card for your existing licence from the records on the portal; it is not a renewal. If your licence has expired or is close to expiry, look at renewal as well.
How do I check my duplicate DL status?
On Sarathi, select your state, click Apply Online, then Application Status, and enter your application number.