Getting a driving licence in India happens in two stages. First you get a learner's licence by passing a short test on traffic rules. Then, after a waiting period, you take a practical driving test and receive the permanent driving licence. The application for both stages is made through the Sarathi service of the Parivahan portal and your Regional Transport Office (RTO).
This guide explains each stage. The law is the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, which apply across the country. Some details - extra charges, how tests are booked, which documents are accepted - differ from State to State, so check your own State transport department's page before you apply.
Who can apply - the age limits
Section 4 of the Motor Vehicles Act sets the minimum age for driving in a public place:
| Type of vehicle | Minimum age |
|---|---|
| Motorcycle with engine capacity up to 50cc | 16 years |
| Other motor vehicles (geared two-wheelers, cars) | 18 years |
| Transport vehicles | 20 years |
No learner's licence or driving licence can be issued for a class of vehicle unless the applicant is old enough to drive that class.
Applicants aged 16 to 18 need the consent of a parent or guardian. The Puducherry Transport Department's instructions say this consent is given on the application form before the licensing authority.
Stage 1 - the learner's licence
Documents
The exact list is set by each State. As an illustration, the Puducherry Transport Department asks for:
- the application in Form 2,
- passport-size photographs,
- proof of residence, such as Aadhaar, the voter photo identity card or a passport,
- proof of age, such as a birth certificate or a school or college certificate,
- a medical fitness certificate in Form 1 and Form 1A for those applying for a transport vehicle licence, and for older applicants (Puducherry's page says 50 years and above).
How to apply online
The steps described by the Puducherry Transport Department are typical of the Sarathi process:
- Open the Sarathi portal (sarathi.parivahan.gov.in) and choose your State.
- Choose the RTO for the area where you live or have your place of business.
- Fill in the learner's licence application.
- Pay the fee online, confirm that the payment has gone through and print the receipt.
- Book a slot for the learner's test.
- Appear for the test. If you pass, the learner's licence is issued.
The learner's test
The test checks basic knowledge of traffic rules and signs. In Puducherry it is an objective-type test of 10 questions, and a candidate who answers 6 correctly passes. A candidate who fails has to pay the fee again to retake it. Other States may set the number of questions differently.
Validity
A learner's licence is effective for six months from the date of issue (section 14 of the Act). It is meant for learning - the permanent licence comes only after the driving test.
Stage 2 - the permanent driving licence
When to apply
You can apply for the driving licence 30 days after the learner's licence is issued. Since the learner's licence lasts six months, the driving test has to be taken within that window.
Documents
The Tamil Nadu transport department's list for a non-transport licence (two-wheeler and light motor vehicle) includes:
- the application generated online on the Sarathi portal,
- a valid learner's licence,
- papers of the vehicle used for the test - registration certificate, insurance certificate, tax record and Pollution Under Control certificate,
- Form 5 and Form 15 if you learnt at a driving school,
- proof of age and proof of address.
The details and documents entered for the learner's licence can be reused on the portal, but the driving licence fee has to be paid separately.
The driving test
The test of competence to drive is conducted by a Motor Vehicle Inspector under rule 15 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules. You can appear on your own or through a recognised driving school. Once you pass, your photograph and biometrics are captured and the licensing authority issues the licence.
If you fail, Tamil Nadu's page says the test can be repeated after seven days. After three failed attempts, the next attempt is allowed only after 60 days.
Fees
Rule 32 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules fixes the central fees. The table below is as published by the Andhra Pradesh Transport Department.
| Purpose | Central fee |
|---|---|
| Learner's licence, for each class of vehicle | Rs 150 |
| Learner's test, or repeat test | Rs 50 |
| Driving test, or repeat test, for each class of vehicle | Rs 300 |
| Issue of a driving licence | Rs 200 |
| Adding another class of vehicle to a licence | Rs 500 |
| Renewal of a driving licence | Rs 200 |
| Change of address or other particulars | Rs 200 |
| International Driving Permit | Rs 1,000 |
What you actually pay can be higher, because States add their own charges. As of October 2026, the Tamil Nadu transport department's page lists Rs 800 for a driving licence covering a single class of vehicle and Rs 1,100 for two classes. The amount shown on the Sarathi portal at the time of payment is the one that applies to you.
How long the licence is valid
Since 1 September 2019, the validity of a licence for non-transport vehicles depends on the holder's age on the date of issue or renewal (section 14):
| Age at issue or renewal | Valid until |
|---|---|
| Under 30 | The day the holder turns 40 |
| 30 to under 50 | 10 years |
| 50 to under 55 | The day the holder turns 60 |
| 55 or older | 5 years |
A licence to drive a transport vehicle is valid for five years.
Renewal
Section 15 of the Act deals with renewal:
- You can apply up to one year before the licence expires.
- If you apply within one year after expiry, the licence is renewed from the date of renewal, not backdated to the expiry date.
- If you apply more than one year after the licence expired, the authority will renew it only after you pass the driving test again.
- A medical certificate is needed for a transport vehicle licence, and for any applicant aged 40 or above.
The central fee for a renewal applied for after the grace period is Rs 300, with an additional Rs 1,000 for each year or part of a year of delay.
Points to remember
- Apply only through the official Sarathi portal or your RTO. Fees are paid on the portal itself.
- Keep the learner's licence expiry date in mind and book the driving test early.
- Carry original documents when you appear at the RTO.
- State pages are sometimes not updated at the same speed as the central law, so where a State page and the Act differ on validity, ask the RTO.
For other government services that can be started online, see our guide on how to apply for a voter ID online and check your name in the electoral roll.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum age for a driving licence in India?
Under section 4 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, the minimum age is 18 for motor vehicles in general and 20 for transport vehicles. A person aged 16 or above may drive a motorcycle with an engine capacity of up to 50cc.
How long is a learner's licence valid?
A learner's licence is effective for six months from the date of issue, under section 14 of the Motor Vehicles Act.
When can I apply for a permanent driving licence after getting a learner's licence?
You can apply 30 days after the learner's licence is issued, and you need to do so while the learner's licence is still valid.
What is the fee for a driving licence?
The central fee table under Rule 32 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules lists Rs 150 for a learner's licence per class of vehicle, Rs 50 for the learner's test, Rs 300 for the driving test per class and Rs 200 for issue of the driving licence. States may collect more - Tamil Nadu's transport department, for example, lists Rs 800 for a single class of vehicle.
How long is a driving licence valid?
For a non-transport licence it depends on your age when it is issued or renewed - until age 40 if you are under 30, ten years if you are 30 to under 50, until age 60 if you are 50 to under 55, and five years if you are 55 or older. A transport vehicle licence is valid for five years.
What happens if I fail the driving test?
According to the Tamil Nadu transport department, you can take the test again after seven days. A candidate who fails three times has to wait 60 days before the next attempt.
Sources
- transport.py.gov.in
- tnsta.gov.in
- aptransport.org
- courtbook.in
- lawx.in
- courtbook.in
- sarathi.parivahan.gov.in
