Driving Licence Apply Online: Sarathi Parivahan Guide

You can apply for a driving licence online in India through the Sarathi portal at sarathi.parivahan.gov.in. The process has two stages: first a learner’s licence (LL), then the permanent driving licence (DL) after a practical test. Application, document upload, fee payment, and test slot booking all happen online; you visit the RTO only for the tests, and in several states even the learner’s test can now be taken from home.

What the Sarathi portal does

Sarathi is the national driving licence platform run by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. Every state RTO processes licence applications through it, so the steps below are broadly the same whether you are in Lucknow, Pune, or Guwahati. What varies by state is the slot availability, whether the learner’s test is online or at the RTO, and small service charges added on top of the central fees.

One portal handles the full licence lifecycle: new learner’s licence, permanent DL, renewal, duplicate licence, address change, international driving permit, and adding a new vehicle class to an existing licence.

Who can apply

• Age 16 or above: gearless motorcycle up to 50cc, with parent or guardian consent.
• Age 18 or above: motorcycles with gear and light motor vehicles (cars).
• Age 20 or above (varies by state): transport and commercial vehicle categories, which also need a Form 1A medical certificate.

You apply in the state where you live or where your address proof is issued. There is no requirement to apply in your “home” state if you have valid address proof where you currently stay.

Step 1: Apply for the learner’s licence

1. Open sarathi.parivahan.gov.in and select your state from the dropdown.
2. Click Apply for Learner Licence. The portal walks you through a short wizard.
3. Choose your category (general applicant) and, if your state supports Aadhaar e-KYC, authenticate with Aadhaar OTP. Aadhaar e-KYC pre-fills your details and is what enables the home-based online test in states that allow it.
4. Fill the application form with personal details, address, and the vehicle classes you want (for example, motorcycle with gear plus light motor vehicle — apply for both together if you plan to ride and drive; it costs one extra class fee, not a second application).
5. Upload documents: age proof, address proof, passport-size photo, and signature, within the size limits shown on screen.
6. Pay the fee online. The portal auto-calculates the total for your state and vehicle classes.
7. Book a slot for the learner’s test, or take the online test if your state offers it.

The learner’s test is a multiple-choice quiz on traffic rules and road signs — typically around 20 questions with a pass mark near 60%. The question bank and mock tests are available on the Sarathi portal itself, and half an hour of practice is usually enough for a careful reader.

Once you pass, the learner’s licence is issued digitally. You can download it from the portal or fetch it into DigiLocker — see what DigiLocker is and how it works if you have not set it up; a DigiLocker copy of your LL and DL is legally valid to show during checks.

Step 2: Apply for the permanent driving licence

The learner’s licence is valid for six months. Two dates matter:

• You can apply for the permanent DL only after 30 days from the LL issue date.
• You must pass the driving test within 180 days, before the LL expires.

That gives you roughly a five-month window. The steps:

1. On Sarathi, select your state and click Apply for Driving Licence.
2. Enter your learner’s licence number and date of birth; the portal pulls your existing details.
3. Confirm the vehicle classes, upload any documents asked for, and pay the DL fees.
4. Book the driving test slot under Appointments → DL Test Slot Booking. Most RTOs release slots only about 30 days ahead, so book as early as your area allows — busy city RTOs fill fast.
5. Appear at the RTO (or automated driving test track, where available) with your original documents and the vehicle for the test. If you trained at a driving school, the school usually provides the test vehicle.

Pass the test and the licence is approved. Depending on the state, you receive a printed smart card by post and/or a digital licence you can download to DigiLocker immediately.

Documents needed

• Age proof (any one): birth certificate, Class 10 certificate, passport, or Aadhaar.
• Address proof (any one): Aadhaar, passport, voter ID, utility bill, or rent agreement per your state’s accepted list.
• Form 1: self-declaration of physical fitness (filled online for most applicants).
• Form 1A: medical certificate from a registered doctor — required for transport vehicle categories and for applicants above 40 in most states.
• Passport-size photograph and signature (scanned uploads).

If you need supporting certificates such as a caste certificate or income certificate for other purposes, those are separate state e-district services — the licence application itself does not ask for them.

Fees for learner’s and driving licence

These are the central fees under Rule 32 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, as published on the Parivahan portal (verified July 2026). States may add small smart-card, postage, or service charges on top.

So a typical two-class application (motorcycle + car) costs about ₹850 in central fees across both stages, plus your state’s extras and whatever a driving school charges if you use one.

State variations to know

• Online learner’s test at home: many states (Delhi, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and others) let you take the LL test online with Aadhaar authentication. Others still require an RTO visit for the same test.
• Driving-school route: under the accredited driver training centre rules, candidates who pass the test at an accredited centre can be exempted from the RTO driving test in states that have notified it.
• Smart-card delivery time: anywhere from a few days to a few weeks by post; the digital licence is usually available immediately after approval.
• Slot pressure: metro RTOs often have waiting periods for driving test slots; smaller RTOs may give near-immediate dates.

Track any application anytime under Application Status on Sarathi using your application number and date of birth. Most state service portals — like the ones covered in our Sarkari Yojana list — link back to Sarathi for licence services, so the official portal is always the one place you actually need.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a driving licence fully online without visiting the RTO?

Almost, but not entirely. The application, payment, and document upload are online everywhere, and many states run the learner’s test online too. The practical driving test, however, still requires you to appear in person at the RTO or an automated test track.

How long is the learner’s licence valid?

Six months (180 days) from the date of issue. You must apply for the permanent DL after 30 days and pass the driving test before the 180 days run out; otherwise you apply for a fresh learner’s licence.

What happens if I fail the driving test?

You can rebook a slot and reappear, usually after a gap of about seven days, by paying the ₹300 test fee again. Your learner’s licence must still be valid on the retest date.

Is the DigiLocker copy of my driving licence valid during police checks?

Yes. Licences and registration certificates pulled from DigiLocker or the mParivahan app are legally recognised as valid documents under Ministry of Road Transport advisories, on par with the physical card.

Can I apply in a state different from my home state?

Yes, if you have address proof for where you currently live. The licence, once issued, is valid across India, and you can later change the address on it through Sarathi.

How do I check my driving licence application status?

On sarathi.parivahan.gov.in, choose your state, then go to Application Status. Enter your application number and date of birth to see the current stage — document verification, test scheduled, test passed, or licence dispatched.

Do I need a driving school certificate to apply?

Not for private (non-transport) licences in most states — you can learn from anyone and appear for the test directly. Transport vehicle licences typically require training documentation, and some states require a driving school certificate (Form 5) more broadly, so check your state’s checklist on Sarathi.