How to apply for a new driving license

A driving license is considered a legal document that authorises an individual to avail the benefits of driving. In India, if an individual wishes to drive a vehicle, a valid driving license is a prerequisite, and failing to do so is considered a punishable offense. If you are someone who dreams to drive your own vehicle, and avoid using public transport but do not possess a driving license yet, kindly go through the article to know how to get one done.

Types of Driving License

There are two types of driving licenses available:
Learner’s license
Permanent license

Learner’s Driving license

The first and the foremost step is to obtain a Learner’s license. This type of license is issued for learning. For obtaining a permanent license, you must have a learner’s license first. A learner’s license is valid for a month and you can apply for a permanent license after the expiry of the learner’s license within six months.

Permanent Driving license

A permanent license is another type of license that plays a vital role to drive a vehicle legally on the road. To get a driving license, you have to appear for a driving test and after proper examination, you shall be notified whether you have passed or failed the test. If you fail, you have to go through the whole process from scratch and apply for the test again, this time more cautiously.

Required age to apply for a driving license

Anybody who has attained an age of 18 is permitted to apply for a driving license, and to drive a transport vehicle, one must attain a minimum age of 21. However, a 16-year-old can apply for a different type of license known as Driving license for Gearless motorcycles, which grants him/her the permission to drive a motorcycle having an engine capacity less than 50CC.

Documents required while applying for Driving license

Age proof (any one): PAN card, Birth Certificate, Passport, 10th mark sheet

Address proof (any one): Aadhar Card, Passport, Ration card, Electricity bill, Voter ID, LIC bond

Medical Certificate signed by an approved doctor, claiming that you are physically fit to drive vehicles.

Passport size Photographs

How to apply for a Learner’s License?

Search for your state transport portal online (in case you are applying online) or visit the nearest RTO center (in case you are applying offline).
Fill up your basic details related to your name, age, address proof, father’s name, Aadhar card number, and various other basic details
Finally submit the photocopy of your age proof as well as your address proof.
You may have to schedule a time slot over the state portal or ask the RTO officials to book a time slot to apply for the learner’s license test.
Appear for the test successfully and you will receive your learner license certificate at the specified address.
Finally, you can apply for your Driving license after one month.

How to apply for a Permanent Driving License?

Visit the Sarathi portal online and fill in the driving license form after successfully downloading it from the website (in case you are applying online) or visit the nearest RTO to fill the driving license form. You can visit the Sarathi Parivahan Sewa portal here.
Submit the form and attach the various required documents along with the application form.
Next, schedule a time slot to appear for the driving test and complete the payment process.
Show up for the test at the appointed date and time. Once you clear the test, the driving license will be sent to your registered address within a few days.

Getting a driving license was considered as a tedious task, but not anymore. It is hassle-free and less troublesome if one go through this article stepwise. Also, applying for a driving license online is considered a smooth process rather than running to the RTO back and forth.

Happy and Safe Driving!