How to apply for a driving licence on Sarathi Parivahan

The central law sets the core eligibility and test framework, while document upload, appointments, user charges and post-test delivery can vary by State. Read the instructions displayed after selecting your State; a guide for one RTO is not a nationwide promise.

The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 contains the age rules. In general:

1. a person who has completed 18 years may drive a motor vehicle other than the specially restricted categories, subject to licensing;
2. after completing 16 years, a person may drive a motorcycle with engine capacity not exceeding 50 cc, subject to the statutory conditions including guardian consent;
3. a person must have completed 20 years to drive a transport vehicle.

Vehicle categories and licence classes matter. Do not select a class simply because its portal abbreviation resembles your vehicle. Check the registration certificate and the State/RTO instruction.

You must already hold an effective learner licence for the class in which you will be tested. The official Parivahan permanent-licence page says the applicant becomes eligible for the driving test after holding the learner licence for at least 30 days.

Section 14 of the Motor Vehicles Act provides that a learner licence is effective for six months from its issue. Complete the application and test while it remains valid; do not assume an appointment after expiry preserves eligibility.

Start at sarathi.parivahan.gov.in or follow the Driving Licence services link from parivahan.gov.in. Then:

1. select the State that controls the learner licence;
2. read the State instructions before continuing;
3. enter the learner-licence and date-of-birth details exactly;
4. choose “Apply for Driving Licence” or the equivalent State service;
5. verify the applicant and vehicle-class data loaded from the learner record;
6. complete the generated application and declarations;
7. upload or present the documents the State workflow asks for;
8. pay only through the portal's authorised payment page;
9. save the application number and fee receipt;
10. book the test slot if that RTO uses online appointments.

Ignore sponsored results that ask for a “processing membership”, remote-access app, UPI payment to a personal number or OTP over a call.

Some current Parivahan guidance still refers to Form 4 for the permanent-licence stage, while the current consolidated Form 2 covers applications for learner and driving-licence services under the amended Central Motor Vehicles Rules.

Do not solve this by downloading an old form from a private site. Let Sarathi generate the form applicable to the selected State and transaction, or obtain the current form from the RTO. The portal application number and generated acknowledgement are safer evidence than a generic PDF.

The exact State checklist controls. The official consolidated Form 2 and Parivahan process indicate that the file may require:

• valid learner licence for the requested class;
• the generated application/acknowledgement;
• accepted age and address proof;
• photograph and signature in the prescribed mode;
• self-declaration of physical fitness where applicable;
• medical certificate in Form 1A where the law requires it;
• guardian declaration for the limited under-18 motorcycle category;
• driving-school certificate where required for the vehicle/service category;
• fee receipt and test appointment;
• the vehicle and vehicle documents required for the competence test.

The accepted-proof annexure in Form 2 includes several alternatives, such as Aadhaar, electoral-roll proof, passport, specified school/birth records and other authorised documents. This does not mean every applicant must upload every item. Use the State portal's selected-document list and carry originals where directed.

Check that name, date of birth and address match the learner-licence record. If not, use the authorised correction process before creating inconsistent applications.

Parivahan's official fee table publishes a central fee of Rs 300 for the test of competence to drive, or a repeat test, for each class of vehicle, and Rs 200 for issue of a driving licence. State user charges, service fees or other applicable entries can change the final amount.

Pay the amount calculated for your transaction on the official portal and retain the receipt. Do not pay an “urgent approval” amount outside the system. A payment receipt proves payment, not test success or licence issue.

The licensing authority tests whether the applicant can drive the relevant class safely and demonstrate the matters required by law. The official Parivahan permanent-licence page says the competent authority conducts the test and examines the applicant's ability to perform the tasks specified in rule 15(2) of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules.

Before the appointment:

1. verify date, time and RTO/test track;
2. carry the appointment and application acknowledgement;
3. carry the learner licence and accepted original documents;
4. arrange the correct class of vehicle where required;
5. ensure the vehicle's registration, insurance and other required records are valid;
6. follow safety-gear requirements;
7. arrive within the reporting window shown by the State.

Do not offer money for a pass. If a driving school provides a vehicle, keep the official RTO payment separate from the school's private service charge.

Save the result or status shown in Sarathi. If successful, track the application through the official status service. Issue, printing and dispatch methods vary by State; some records may become digitally available before a physical card arrives.

Do not claim the licence is issued merely because the test page says “pass”. Verify the licence number/status. If dispatched, retain the consignment reference. If the test is failed, use the official re-test service and timing shown for your State; do not create a new learner identity.

First use the grievance/help contact shown inside the State's Sarathi page or the concerned RTO. Provide:

1. application and learner-licence number;
2. payment and appointment references;
3. exact status/error text;
4. relevant date and RTO;
5. screenshot with the official URL;
6. the precise action requested.

Common issues include payment captured but not reconciled, document mismatch, slot not recorded, test result not uploaded, printing delay or returned dispatch. Ask which stage is blocked rather than paying for a duplicate application.

RTI can seek the record held by the State transport authority:

1. Provide the date-wise movement and present status of application [number].
2. Provide a copy of every deficiency, scrutiny note and rejection reason.
3. Provide the competence-test result and test-sheet record for [date], subject
   to lawful redaction.
4. Provide the rule or instruction relied upon for the pending/rejected status.
5. If approved, provide the licence issue date, printing status and dispatch record.
6. Provide the name and designation of the official responsible for the next step.

File with the public authority controlling the RTO. RTI cannot make the applicant pass a driving test or waive a medical/eligibility rule. Use The RTI Playbook or the RTI Assistant for precise record questions.

After holding it for at least 30 days, while it is still valid. Section 14 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 makes a learner licence effective for six months from issue.

Current official materials reflect the amended consolidated form and some legacy page wording. Use the form generated by Sarathi for your State or supplied by the RTO.

Do not assume so. Select the controlling State and follow its transfer/change or application procedure. The learner record and RTO jurisdiction must align.

The official Parivahan table publishes Rs 300 per vehicle class for the competence test/re-test and Rs 200 for issue, plus applicable State/user charges.

No. A permanent-licence competence test assesses driving the relevant vehicle. Appointment and some paperwork may be online.

No nationwide assumption should be made. States enable different services and authentication methods in Sarathi.

Not necessarily. Track approval, licence-number generation, printing and dispatch as separate stages in the State system.

No. It can provide the test and decision records. Use the authorised review, grievance or re-test process for the substantive result.

• Motor Vehicles Act, 1988
• Parivahan permanent-licence process
• Sarathi Parivahan
• Current consolidated Form 2 and proof annexure
• Parivahan licensing-related fees and charges

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Reviewed against official central sources on 1 September 2026. State documents, appointments, user charges and delivery modes must be verified in the selected Sarathi workflow.