Driving License

A Driving License (DL) is an official document, issued in the form of a card, by the Regional Transport Office (RTO) or Regional Transport Authority (RTA) of each State, under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways,  which permits you to drive one or more types of vehicles, such as a motorcycle, car, etc. on a public road, and it also serves as a proof of identification.

You can apply for a DL in any state where:

• You either live or ordinarily conduct business, or
• Where your driving school from where you have taken your training¹ is located.

Please note that you can hold only one DL at a time.² Your DL will be valid throughout India, i.e you can use your DL to drive in any state in India.³ See here for information on the time periods of validity.

Electronic Driving License 

Now, you can also carry an electronic copy of your Driving License in the DigiLocker or mParivahan app.⁴ The electronic form of Driving License is just as valid as a physical copy. If you drive a motor vehicle without possessing a DL, you can be punished with jail time of up to 3 months and/or a fine of Rs. 5,000.⁵

You can get a DL only if:

• You are an adult,⁶ i.e. above 18 years of age.
• You hold a valid Learner’s License,⁷ which is a temporary license which is valid for 6 months from the date it is issued to you.
• You are not disqualified from holding a Driving License.¹  
  

You can obtain a new DL, update your DL, renew your DL and get a duplicate DL. If you require any additional help and support, please see here.

Read this government resource to know more

1. Section 9(1), Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. [↩] [↩]
2. Section 6(1), Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. [↩]
3. Section 13, Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. [↩]
4. Rule 139, Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989. [↩]
5. Section 181, Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. [↩]
6. Section 4(1), Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. [↩]
7. Rule 14(1)(a), Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989. [↩]