Duplicate RC or driving licence 2026
A vehicle registration certificate and a driving licence are replaced through different Parivahan services. Use Vahan and Form 26 for a duplicate RC; use the State's Sarathi duplicate-licence service and the form generated or required there. Police-report, form, document and visit requirements depend on what happened to the document and on the State workflow.
Quick answer: For a lost or destroyed RC, report the loss to the police, inform the registering authority in writing, and apply for a duplicate in Form 26 through the Vahan service available in your State. For a lost, destroyed or defaced driving licence, use the duplicate-DL service on Sarathi and the form and documents specified by the licensing authority. Current national Form 2 includes a duplicate-DL option, while some State instructions use Form LLD.
RC and DL use different services
| Document | Official service | Core form | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registration certificate (RC) | Vahan vehicle-related services | Form 26 | Registering authority / RTO |
| Driving licence (DL) | Sarathi driver-related services | Form generated or required by the State, commonly Form 2 or Form LLD | Licensing authority / RTO |
Service availability, uploads, appointments and card delivery differ by State. A successful online payment is not the same as approval; save the application receipt and follow the instruction shown for the selected RTO.
Duplicate registration certificate
The Ministry's duplicate-RC guidance says that when an RC is lost or destroyed, the owner should report it to the police station in whose jurisdiction the loss or destruction occurred and inform the registering authority in writing. The duplicate application is made in Form 26 with the prescribed fee under Rule 81 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules.
Apply through Vahan
- Open the official Vahan vehicle-related services portal.
- Select the State and registering authority associated with the vehicle.
- Choose the duplicate-RC service, if it is available online for that RTO.
- Complete Form 26 details and upload or present the documents requested.
- Pay the official fee and save the application number and receipt.
- Follow any instruction for physical verification, original documents or RTO attendance.
The Ministry's document list marks several items as State-dependent. Commonly requested records include the police report or certificate for a lost RC, insurance certificate, pollution-under-control certificate, address proof, PAN or Form 60/61, chassis and engine details, and the damaged original when available. Follow the exact checklist generated for the vehicle and State.
If the vehicle is under hire-purchase, lease or hypothecation, Form 26 contains a financier-consent section. Do not assume a generic bank NOC is unnecessary or universally sufficient; follow the form and RTO instruction.
For a vehicle sale, use the separate RC transfer process rather than a duplicate-document request.
Duplicate driving licence
The official Parivahan guidance lists a duplicate licence for a licence that is lost or destroyed, defaced or torn, or whose photograph needs replacement. Current Form 2 includes “Duplicate Driving Licence” as a service, but some State transport instructions still specify Form LLD. Follow the form shown for the State and licensing authority selected in Sarathi.
Apply through Sarathi
- Open the official Sarathi service.
- Select the State that issued or currently administers the licence.
- Choose the duplicate-driving-licence service shown by that State.
- Enter the licence details and complete the form generated or specified for that State.
- Upload or present the original licence if available, or a copy when available, with the other documents requested.
- Pay the official fee and follow the appointment, scrutiny or RTO-visit instruction shown.
Do not rely on a promise that every application is fully online, needs no verification, or will arrive by post within a fixed number of days. The licensing authority decides the checks required for the record.
Fees and status tracking
The Central Motor Vehicles Rules prescribe the relevant fee categories, while portal/user charges and State implementation can affect the displayed total. Treat the amount shown on the official Vahan or Sarathi transaction as authoritative for that application.
Track the application with the number on the receipt. If payment succeeded but the application is not visible, preserve the bank reference and portal receipt before attempting another payment.
Can DigiLocker or mParivahan be used meanwhile?
The Ministry's 2018 advisory states that electronic RC and driving-licence records available through DigiLocker or mParivahan are legally recognised at par with the original documents. Use the live, verified document from the official app or account; a cropped screenshot or an unofficial scan may not establish authenticity.
This recognition does not remove the need to report and replace a lost physical document where the applicable process requires it.
If the application is delayed or rejected
- Read the recorded deficiency or rejection message instead of guessing.
- Check whether the selected RTO, address, vehicle or licence record is correct.
- Submit only the missing document or correction requested.
- Contact the State transport helpdesk or concerned RTO with the application and payment references.
- Use CPGRAMS only when the issue belongs to a connected public authority and the normal transport grievance route has not resolved it.
RTI can seek an existing scrutiny note, movement history, recorded rejection reason or applicable circular from the public authority. It cannot compel approval where a statutory document is missing. See the RTI Act guide before filing.
Frequently asked questions
Which form is used for a duplicate RC?
Form 26 is the application for a duplicate registration certificate. Use the Vahan service or the registering authority's current process.
Which form is used for a duplicate driving licence?
Current national Form 2 includes a duplicate-driving-licence service, while some State transport departments specify Form LLD. Use the form generated or named by Sarathi and the responsible licensing authority for your State.
Is a police report always required?
The official duplicate-RC guidance requires reporting when an RC is lost or destroyed. For a DL and for damaged documents, requirements can differ by State and circumstance. Follow the exact official checklist rather than a blanket rule.
Do I need the damaged original?
Present or surrender the damaged or defaced document when the portal or authority requests it. The duplicate-DL guidance expressly lists the original licence where available.
Is the duplicate number different?
A duplicate replaces the document record; it is not a transfer, renewal or new vehicle registration. Confirm the particulars on the issued record and report any mismatch immediately.
Will I have to visit the RTO?
Possibly. Some States complete more steps online, while others require document scrutiny, biometrics, verification or collection. Follow the instruction generated for the selected authority.
How long will the duplicate take?
There is no reliable all-India turnaround for every State and RTO. Track the application number and escalate when it exceeds the service timeline published by the responsible authority.
Can I show a digital RC or DL during a check?
The Ministry recognises electronic records available through DigiLocker or mParivahan at par with the original. Display the verifiable official record, not an edited image or unofficial PDF.