A heavy licence, often called an HMV licence (heavy motor vehicle), is what you need to drive trucks, buses and other large commercial vehicles. In the Motor Vehicles Act the old heavy and medium goods and passenger classes no longer exist as separate names: Amendment Act 54 of 1994 replaced them with one class, "transport vehicle". So when you apply on the Sarathi portal, you are applying for a transport licence.
This guide covers eligibility, documents, the online process, fees, training and testing, validity, renewal and the badge question. It is an independent guide, not the transport department.
Who needs a heavy licence after the 2024 Supreme Court ruling
In November 2024 a five-judge bench of the Supreme Court (Bajaj Allianz v Rambha Devi) held that an LMV licence holder can drive a transport vehicle with gross vehicle weight under 7,500 kg without a separate authorisation. As reported, the additional eligibility still applies to medium and heavy goods or passenger vehicles above 7,500 kg, and special requirements continue for e-carts, e-rickshaws and hazardous goods vehicles.
In practice:
- Car, cab or small goods vehicle under 7,500 kg gross vehicle weight: an LMV licence is enough under the ruling.
- Trucks, buses and other vehicles above 7,500 kg: you need the transport vehicle class, the heavy licence.
See LMV driving licence for how the classes fit together.
Heavy licence eligibility
| Requirement | What the rules say |
|---|---|
| Minimum age | 20 years for transport vehicles, Section 4(2), subject to Section 18 |
| Medical fitness | Form 1A medical certificate, required with the learner's licence application for a transport vehicle; issued electronically on the portal since 1 April 2021, valid six months |
| Driving certificate | Rule 14 CMVR (as amended 2021) asks transport-vehicle applicants for Form 1A plus a driving certificate |
| Education | No minimum qualification: Rule 8 CMVR was omitted on 23 September 2019 |
Some state pages still show older rules. Assam's page, for example, says 21 for transport vehicles, which conflicts with the 20 years in Section 4(2). The Act is the rule.
Documents for a heavy driving licence
- Proof of age and proof of residence (Rule 14).
- Form 1A medical certificate from a medical practitioner, issued on the portal.
- A driving certificate, which Rule 14 asks of transport-vehicle applicants. For DL applications in general, Tamil Nadu asks for Form 5 and Form 15 if you trained at a driving school.
- Your valid learner's licence for the transport class.
- Papers of the vehicle you will be tested in. Tamil Nadu lists RC, insurance, tax card and PUC.
Exact lists can vary by state. See documents required for driving licence.
How to apply for a heavy licence online
- Get your medical certificate. A medical practitioner issues Form 1A electronically on the portal.
- Apply for the learner's licence on Sarathi. Choose your state, fill Form 2 and select the transport vehicle class. Upload documents including Form 1A, and pay.
- Take the LL tutorial and test. The online test covers traffic signs, road rules, duties after an accident, unmanned railway crossings and documents. You need 60 per cent. Where Form 1A is needed, states such as Tamil Nadu ask the RTO to approve it before you get the test password, and Maharashtra requires an RTO visit before the test.
- Train. Learn on the type of vehicle you will drive, ideally at an accredited centre or a recognised school.
- Apply for the DL and book a test. Apply on Sarathi before your LL expires, upload documents, pay the fee and book a slot where online booking is available.
- Pass the test of competence. The test is held before a Motor Vehicle Inspector under Rule 15.
If you already hold a DL, the transport class is added to it. The general process is on driving licence online apply.
Training and the driving test
- Accredited Driver Training Centres (ADTC): rules in force from 1 July 2021 (G.S.R. 394(E)). Candidates who pass the test at an ADTC are exempt from the driving test at the RTO. ADTCs must have simulators and a dedicated test track.
- Training institutes: MoRTH's driver training scheme covers IDTRs, RDTCs and DTCs; guidelines revised on 15 January 2025 added driving simulators and automated test tracks.
- If you fail: pay the retest fee and book again. Under Section 9(5), someone who fails the re-test must complete a remedial driver training course.
Read more on driving school and driving test.
Heavy licence fees
| Item (Rule 32 CMVR) | Central fee |
|---|---|
| Learner's licence, per class | ₹150 |
| Learner's licence test or retest | ₹50 |
| Driving test or retest, per class | ₹300 |
| Issue of driving licence | ₹200 |
| Addition of another class to an existing DL | ₹500 |
| Hazardous goods endorsement or its renewal | ₹100 |
| Renewal of DL | ₹200 |
States add service charges, and some charge for a badge under state rules. Full table: driving licence fees.
Badge number in a driving licence
A badge is a transport driver's authorisation that some states issue under their own state rules, separate from the licence classes in the Act. Uttarakhand lists ₹100 for issue of a transport driver's badge, and Rajasthan lists ₹300 for a driver's badge or duplicate badge.
We could not confirm whether a separate badge is still mandatory nationally after the 2017 and 2024 Supreme Court judgments on LMV licences. Ask your RTO what your state requires before you start commercial driving.
Validity and renewal of a transport licence
- Validity: five years. The 2019 Amendment Act changed this from three years.
- Hazardous goods: three years, with renewal on conditions the Central Government prescribes.
- Medical certificate: Section 15 requires one at every renewal of a transport licence, whatever your age.
- Renewal window: from one year before expiry to one year after. After that, a late fee applies and you must retake the driving test.
See driving licence renewal for fees and steps.
Frequently asked questions
What is the age limit for a heavy licence?
The minimum age for a transport vehicle licence is 20 under Section 4(2) of the Motor Vehicles Act. Some old state pages show 21, which conflicts with the Act.
What is the full form of HMV?
HMV stands for heavy motor vehicle. In the Act, the heavy and medium classes were replaced in 1994 by a single transport vehicle class.
Is 8th pass needed for a heavy licence?
No. The minimum educational qualification was removed when Rule 8 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules was omitted on 23 September 2019.
Can I drive a truck on an LMV licence?
Only if its gross vehicle weight is under 7,500 kg, according to the November 2024 Supreme Court ruling. Heavier goods or passenger vehicles need the transport class.
How long is a heavy licence valid?
A transport vehicle licence is valid for five years. Each renewal needs a Form 1A medical certificate.
Can I apply for a heavy licence online?
Yes. The learner's licence, DL application, fee payment and slot booking are done on Sarathi; the driving test is taken in person, or at an accredited driver training centre.