Transport & Travel
Get a learner's licence and driving licence online
How to apply on Sarathi Parivahan, take the learner's test from home where allowed, book your driving test, and renew or change the address on an existing licence.
Licensing is run by your state transport department on a common national platform, so the portal is the same everywhere but the details differ — test formats, whether the learner's test can be taken from home, and fee amounts all vary by state.
The sequence never changes though: learner's licence first, a mandatory waiting period, then the permanent licence test. Anyone offering to skip a step is offering to commit a fraud in your name.
Before you start
- Aadhaar linked to an active mobile number, which enables the fully online route in most states.
- Proof of age and address if you are not using Aadhaar e-KYC.
- A recent photograph and your signature, scanned.
- A medical certificate in Form 1A if you are applying for a transport vehicle licence, or are above the prescribed age.
Step by step
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Start on Sarathi
Go to sarathi.parivahan.gov.in, select your state, and choose Apply for Learner Licence. Selecting the wrong state sends your application to the wrong RTO and cannot be transferred.
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Complete Aadhaar e-KYC if offered
Where your state supports it, authenticating with Aadhaar auto-fills your details and can allow the learner's test to be taken from home. Without e-KYC you will need to appear at the RTO.
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Fill the form and choose vehicle classes
Select every class you want — motorcycle with gear, light motor vehicle, and so on. Adding a class later means a fresh application and fee.
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Upload documents and pay
Upload the proofs, photo and signature, then pay the fee online. Fees are set by the state; the portal shows yours at payment.
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Take the learner's test
A multiple-choice test on road signs and rules. Study the official signage material on the Parivahan site — most failures are on signs, not on rules. If you fail, you can retake it after the state's prescribed gap. On passing, download the learner's licence immediately.
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Wait out the mandatory period, then book the driving test
You must hold the learner's licence for at least 30 days before applying for the permanent licence, and it stays valid for six months. Book the driving test slot on Sarathi for your RTO.
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Take the driving test and collect the licence
Bring your own vehicle of the class applied for, in roadworthy condition and with valid papers. On passing, the licence is printed and dispatched. You can download the digital copy from DigiLocker or mParivahan once issued.
Fees, timelines and key facts
| Portal | sarathi.parivahan.gov.in — state-specific |
|---|---|
| Minimum age | 16 for a gearless two-wheeler up to 50cc with parental consent; 18 for other private vehicles; 20 for transport vehicles |
| Learner's licence validity | 6 months |
| Mandatory gap | At least 30 days between learner's and permanent licence test |
| Licence validity | Generally 20 years or until age 40, whichever is earlier, then renewals |
| Renewal grace | Renew within the window after expiry; a long lapse can require retaking the test |
| Digital copy | Valid on DigiLocker and mParivahan — you do not have to carry the card |
If something goes wrong
Your state is not offering the online learner's test
Some states require attendance at the RTO. Check the state's page on Sarathi rather than assuming.
Aadhaar e-KYC fails
Usually a mobile number mismatch. Fix the Aadhaar mobile first, or use the document upload route and attend in person.
You failed the driving test
Rebook after the prescribed gap. There is no fee for influence and no route around the test. Practise the specific manoeuvre your RTO uses — usually a figure of eight or reverse parking.
Licence lost
Apply for a duplicate on Parivahan with an FIR or a self-declaration, depending on your state.
Address changed
Apply for a change of address on Parivahan; if you have moved states, you also need to transfer the licence to the new state's RTO.
Questions people ask
Can I get a licence entirely online?
The learner's licence can be, in states offering Aadhaar e-KYC and the at-home test. The permanent licence always requires a physical driving test.
Is the digital licence on DigiLocker legally valid?
Yes. A licence fetched into DigiLocker or shown on mParivahan is treated as valid by traffic authorities. A photograph of your licence in your gallery is not.
Do driving school certificates let me skip the test?
Certificates from certain accredited driving training centres can exempt you from the RTO test in some states. This is a formal recognition scheme — verify the school is actually accredited before paying for it.
How do I check pending challans on my licence?
Use the e-challan portal or Parivahan's vehicle services. See our separate guide on checking challans and vehicle details.
Official pages for this task
These are the only sites that can actually do this for you. Everything else is a middleman.