New Learner’s License

This post is also available in: हिन्दी (Hindi)

You need to get a Learner’s License before you can apply for a Driving License, unless you have a Driving Certificate by a State accredited driving school. Given below is the online and in-person procedure for obtaining a Learner’s License:

Procedure for Applying In-Person

Follow the steps given below to get a new Learner’s License:

Step 1 – You should go to the RTO/RTA Regional Transport Office (RTO)/ Regional Transport Authority (RTA) of your state.

Step 2 – You should fill in and submit the application form. 

Step 3 – You should submit the required documents. 

• Proof of age (original and a self-attested copy)¹
• Proof of residence (original and a self-attested copy)¹
• 3 recent Passport-sized photographs²
• Declaration of physical fitness, which will be available on your state’s website or your state’s RTO’s office. For example,for Delhi, you can download the form here.  
• The prescribed fee. This fee varies across states. 

Step 4 – Thereafter, you should take and pass a preliminary learner’s test,³ which will test how well acquainted you are with traffic procedures, familiarity with the vehicle, etc. However, you need not take this test if you hold a certificate stating that you have adequate knowledge on the same.⁴ For example, in Delhi, this is the syllabus of the test. 

Step 5 – You must undergo a medical examination, where colour-blindness and movement of limbs will be examined. 

Step 6 – If you pass your tests, you can collect your Learner’s License once it is ready. Sometimes, the RTO may deliver it to your address, but you should ask the RTO for the details on this step. 

Step 7 – You can also check your application status here, with your application number and date of birth.  

Online Procedure

Follow the steps given below to get a new Learner’s License:

Step 1 – You should visit the website of Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, and click on “Apply Online”, and subsequently on “New Learner’s License”. This will redirect you to a page that will instruct you on how to fill out the application online. 

Step 2 – You should fill out the application form. 

Step 3 –You should upload the relevant documents, given above. 

Step 4 – You should submit the application.

Step 5 – You should take a print-out of the application along with the reference number and submit it at the relevant RTO.⁵ 

Step 6 – You should take and pass the learner’s test. The details are given above in Step 4 of the offline procedure. 

Step 7 – You should undergo a medical examination. The details are given above in Step 5 of the offline procedure. 

Step 8 – You can check your application status here, with your application number and date of birth. 

Step 9 –  You can collect your Learner’s License.  Sometimes, the RTO may deliver it to your address, but you should ask the RTO for the details on this step.   

If you require any additional help and support, please see here. 

Read this government resource to know more

1. Rule 4, Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989[↩][↩]
2. Rule 10, Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989[↩]
3. Rule 11, Central Motor Vehicles Rules[↩]
4. Rule 11(2)(d), Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989[↩]
5. Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, Sarathi, https://sarathi.parivahan.gov.in/sarathiservicecov2/sarathiHomePublic.do[↩]