Getting a driving license is considered to be a life-changing moment as you get your very own license to drivearound with your favourite set of wheels on the road. Though after a while, you would not give your driving license much of an importance and would easily consider it an extraneous property, you can never really drive your vehicle on Indian roads without carrying one, as driving without a license is an offence in India. Also, the time and energy invested by you in procuring a driving license is not to be easily forgotten.
In India, having a license alone is not enough as you need to renew or update one as soon as it expires.
A car insurance policy is mandatory for every vehicle registered as per The Motor Vehicle Act, 1988.
The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 makes it mandatory for every motor vehicle driver to own a valid driving license. A driving license is an official document provided by the Indian government that certifies an individual to drive on Indian roads. A driving license is acknowledged as a legal proof that allows you to drive on roads and also specifies that you are well acquainted with traffic rules and regulations.
Section 177 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 states that nobody can drive in India without a valid DL and doing so is a punishable offence that can attract a fine of Rs. 500 and/or imprisonment of up to 3 months.
A permanent driving license is valid for 20 years or until the age of 50, whichever is first. An expired driving license is valid only for a month i.e. 30 days post which you can renew the same by paying a penalty. If the expired license is not renewed within 5 years from the date of expiry, then you will have to get/obtain a fresh driving license.
The validity of the renewed driving license
The validity of the renewed driving license is given below:
| Vehicle Type | Validity |
|---|---|
Fees for driving license renewal:
The fees for renewal of driving license depends on the form of the license you are applying for i.e .smart card or book.
For book form:
For Smart Card:
You will have to bear Rs. 200 extra in case of change in residential address.
| Vehicle Class | List of Documents |
|---|---|
| 1. Form 9 i.e. the application form for renewal of driving license. This form can be collected from your nearest RTO office or can be downloaded online. 2. Form 1 and 1A for declaring your medical fitness. You can collect the form from RTO office or can download it online. 3. Expired driving license. 4. Age and address proof. 5. 3 passport size photocopies. |
|
| 1. Form 9 i.e. the application form for renewal of driving license. This form can be collected from your nearest RTO office or can be downloaded online. 2. Form 1 and 1A for declaring your medical fitness. You can collect the form from RTO office or can download it online. 3. Expired driving license 4. Age and address proof 5. 3 passport size photocopies 6. Driver refreshing certificate in case of heavy motor vehicle |
The procedure for renewal of a driving license is mentioned below:
You will have to submit a duly filled driving license renewal form and the mentioned set of documents at the regional transport office in your area. You can download the driving license renewal form online or can collect it from the nearest RTO office.
In case of a private license, you will receive your renewed license the same day and in case of a commercial license, the renewal is made after verification of documents, and the maximum time taken is 30 days.
In case you have changed your state and need to get your driving license renewed, then you will have to submit a no objection certificate issued by RTO/RTA from where your driving license was issued.
Here is a step by step procedure for renewal of driving license online in India
Visit parivahan.gov.in
Click on online services and select driving license related services
Click on apply online and select services on driving license
You will then be redirected to a page wherein you will be required to fulfill basic details such as your DL number, date of birth and others.
On filling the form, you will have to then visit the RTO for verification of the documents.
A driving license renewal form is form number 9 that a vehicle owner needs to fill and submit at the RTO to update or renew his driving license. This KYC document is useful for the regional transport office officials to understand the specifics of the vehicle owner’s current driving license.
A driving license renewal form can be downloaded online or can be obtained from your nearest RTO office. Driving license form is a document that requires you to fulfil basic information about yourself and your driving license.
To renew your driving license, you will have to submit the driving license form along with the below mentioned documents:
Documents required for renewal of driving license:
What is the eligibility for renewing a driving license?
An expired driving license is eligible for renewal.
How can I get my address updated on a driving license?
In case if you want to update the address on your driving license, then you will have to notify the same to the RTO within a period of 30 days. In case if you are changing your state, then you will have to submit a no objection certificate from the RTO office which had originally issued your driving license. You will have to submit the following documents at your RTO office:
Can I renew my driving license online?
No, you cannot renew a driving license online. You can only fill the driving form online and schedule an appointment for your driving test. You will have to appear for the driving test only after which you will get your renewed driving license.
Can I get a refund of my fees if the RTO rejects the renewal of my driving license?
Yes, you are eligible to receive half the amount of fees paid in case the RTO rejects the renewal of your driving license.
Is renewal of driving license online possible?
Yes, renewal of driving license online is possible.
Is the process for private driving license renewal same as the renewal process for commercial DL?
Driving license renewal process for private vehicle and commercial vehicle is almost the same, except that different documents have to be produced at the time of renewal.
Can I do driving license renewal online from state government's motor vehicle department website?
If the Motor Vehicles Department of the state offers the online driving license renewal facility, then you can easily renew the license through it.
Can I renew my driving license after expiry?
Yes, you can immediately visit your state RTO to renew the expired driving license.
