Holding a driving licence is compulsory as per the Motor Vehicle Act 1988 for anyone who wishes to use a motor vehicle, be it a two-wheeler, three-wheeler or a four-wheeler, on the public roads. In case you live in the Union Territory of Puducherry and have been thinking about how to get a driving licence without many efforts, then our post here should help you with some useful information. It will also tell you how to get a driving licence offline and online in Puducherry (PY)and even give you full information on the process of getting an international driving licence or a duplicate driving licence in Puducherry.
As in other parts of the nation, even in the Union Territory of Puducherry, there are three chief categories of driving licences-
Driving license for 2-wheeler without gear: You need to apply for this sort of driving licence if you plan to use a moped or a gearless scooter with engine size below 50cc
Driving license for Light Motor Vehicle (LMV): You need to apply for this driving licence if you plan to use a geared two-wheeler with an engine size above 50cc or a non-commercial four-wheeler
Driving license issued for transport vehicles: You need to get this driving licence if you wish to use a commercial vehicle
How to Apply for Driving Licence Offline in Puducherry (PY)?
To get a DL offline in Puducherry, you should go through the below steps-
Step 1: Obtain an application form from the RTO
Step 2: The form can be even downloaded from the official website and the printed copy needs to be submitted to the RTO.
Step 3: Fill the following details:
Full Name
Father’s Name
Residential Address
Educational Qualification
Date of Birth
Place of Birth
Blood Group
Identification Mark
Step 4: Submit the address and age proofs and passport-size photos to the RTO.
Step 5: Obtain an appointment for the first round of the test, in which the RTO tests your knowledge of traffic rules is tested.
Step 6: On passing the test, you’ll be issued a learner’s licence. You can apply for a permanent DL after holding a learner’s licence for at least 30 days but not more than 180 days.
Steps to check driving licence status online through State Transport Department website:
To check the DL application status online in Puducherry, one can use either do so through the official website of the State Transport Department of Puducherry or the through the website of Ministry of Road Transport and Highway. The following process is for checking the status through the first method –
Step 1: Visit the website of the Transport Department of Puducherry
Step 2: Click on ‘DL and LL registration’ option.
Step 3: A new page will load, in which, click on ‘Know your application status’.
Step 4: Enter your application number
Step 5: Click on the ‘Submit’ button and you will be shown the status of your application.
Steps to check driving licence status online through the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways official website:
Below is the process to check the status of driving licence application through the second method provided above-
Step 1: Go to parivahan.gov.in.
Step 2: Click on ‘Driving license-related services’.
Step 3: Select the state you reside in.
Step 4: Click on ‘Verify status’ option on the new page that loads
Step 5: Provide your application number and DOB
Step 6: Fill in the correct captcha code.
Step 7: You will be shown the status of your driving license.
How to Apply for a Duplicate Driving Licence in Puducherry?
Documents required while applying for a duplicate driving license in Puducherry
Following are all the documents that are required to be provided to the local RTO to get a DL in Puducherry
Application form LLD
FIR copy if the DL is stolen
Challan clearance report issued by traffic police in case of commercial driving license
Form 1
Copy of Age Proof and Address Proof
Copy of Original licence
License number if the license is stolen
All the photocopies of the documents should be attested by a notary or a gazetted officer before being submitted to the RTO
Steps to apply for a Duplicate Driving Licence in Puducherry
After payment of the fee for a duplicate driving licence, the below procedure should be followed-
Step 1: Completed form LLD at the RTO.
Step 2: A fee of Rs. 200
Step 3: On successful verification, the applicant receives a duplicate copy of driving license on the same day
You will have to apply for a fresh licence in case you do not remember your driving licence’s number
How to Renew Driving Licence in Puducherry?
In Puducherry, a DL for a non-commercial vehicle is a valid for 20 years or till the time the holder get 50 years old. Once expired, the licence should be renewed every 5 years. Meanwhile, the commercial driving licence is valid for just 3 years.
Documents required for renewal of driving license in Puducherry
Form 9
A photocopy of Expired driver’s licence.
Form 1A is required in case the driver’s age is more than 40 years
2 passport size photographs.
Self-attested copies of age proof and address proof.
Receipt of payment of application fee of Rs.200/-
Steps to apply for a Duplicate Licence in Puducherry
In the Union Territory of Puducherry, you can initiate the process of getting a driving licence either online or offline, as per what is more convenient for you.
Offline Procedure:
Step 1: Get the required form from the RTO
Step 2: Fill and submit the form along with the relevant documents at the RTO
Step 3: On verification of the documents, the applicant will be issued the renewed license on the same day.
Online Procedure:
Step 1: Visit the official transport website of Puducherry government
Step 2: Download the form
Step 3: Print the form and fill it
Step 4: Submit the form to the RTO along with the required documents
Step 5: A duplicate DL is issued after successful verification.
How to apply for an International Driving Licence in Puducherry?
To obtain an international driving licence In Puducherry, you won’t need to give a test but it is mandatory to have a permanent driving licence to be eligible for getting the international driving licence, which has a validity of 12 months.
Documents required for getting an International Driving License in Puducherry
Following are the names of all documents that are needed to be given to the RTO when applying for an international driving licence.
Nationality proof
Attested copy of the permanent driving license, visa and passport
Attested copy of a residence proof
5 passport-sized photos
Medical Form 1-A
Steps to apply for a Duplicate Licence in Puducherry
Step 1: Go to the official website of the RTO and choose the renewal option.
Step 2: Pay a fee of Rs.200 for the duplicate licence
Step 3: Submit the required documents to the RTO and obtain the duplicate DL on successful verification
Driving Test Procedure in Puducherry
The driving licence test in Puducherry is exactly like how it is everywhere else in the country. It is conducted as per Rule 15 of the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988. The test is conducted by a Motor Vehicle Inspector who acts as an invigilator. He has the authority to fail or pass a candidate based on the applicant performs in the test. The applicant has to take his or her own vehicle of the same class for which a DL has been applied for. In case the applicant doesn’t own a vehicle of the required category, the vehicle from the motor driving school can be used.
Test for Two-Wheeler & Three-Wheeler:
For the driving licence test for a 2 and a 3-wheeler, the applicant is asked to ride his vehicle inside a border and ride it in a fashion that the vehicle is being driven on an imaginary ‘8’ without touching his feet on the ground. Once the invigilator is satisfied, he asks the applicant to ride on a public road, where the invigilator judges how comfortable the applicant is when riding in real-world conditions. A candidate is passed or failed based on his performance.
Test for Four Wheeler
As is the case across the country, even in Puducherry, the test for driving licence for a four-wheeler is fundamentally the same as that of a two or a three-wheeler. For this test, the invigilator judges the candidate on the basis of how good he or she is while controlling the vehicle. The applicant is required to drive the vehicle on an ‘H’ pattern without coming in contact with any of the columns placed on the edges. Once the invigilator is satisfied, he asks the applicant to drive on a public road, where the driving skill of the candidate is noted. The candidate is passed if the invigilator is satisfied. In case the applicant fails, he can apply for a re-test in 7 days after paying a nominal fee.