A licence to drive a motor vehicle is usually perceived as a ticket to freedom. However, a driving licence also comes with substantial responsibilities when one drives a car on the road. It is imperative to hold a valid driving licence to drive a vehicle in Punjab, or any region in India. When it expires, one must immediately apply for a renewal for their driving licence. Driving without a valid DL in Punjab can lead to hefty fines of up to ₹5,000 or even imprisonment of up to three months.
The Regional Transport Office (RTO) in Punjab provides a 30 day grace period within which an expired licence can be renewed. Failing to renew your licence within 30 days will lead to a penalty/fine over the renewal charges. To know more about how to renew your licence in Punjab, the fees and the list of required documents, our comprehensive guide will help you through.
How to apply online for a driving licence renewal in Punjab?
Here are the steps for renewal of driving licence in Punjab online:
Step 1: Visit the Parivahan website.
Step 2: On the homepage, click on the option titled ‘Drivers / Learner License.’
Step 3: This will redirect to the Sarathi website where the applicant will have to choose their state from a drop-down menu–then select Punjab.
Step 4: The applicant is redirected to the driving licence services page, where the option ‘Apply for DL Renewal’ is listed.
Step 5: On the next page, various stages of the application process are mentioned. Read through, and click on ‘Continue’ to proceed further.
Step 6: On the next page, the applicant must input their details, such as the driving licence number (of the expired or expiring DL), the date of birth of the applicant and a security captcha.
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Step 7: Next to the captcha, there will be a button titled ‘Get DL Details’. Click on that option to see the details of the licence. If the applicant needs to give the driving test again, it will be displayed on the screen at this point. This is applicable for applicants older than 50, or those renewing at least a year after the DL expiry.
Step 8: After this, the E-KYC (electronic know your customer) page will open, where the applicant must add their mobile number connected to the driving licence and get the one-time-password (OTP). After filing in the OTP, click on ‘Authenticate with Sarathi’.
Step 9: Next, the driving licence related services page will open. Here, the applicant can select which options they want, such as updating address, giving a retest, etc. After this the applicant can click on ‘proceed’.
Step 10: Next, the page with the applicant’s details will open where any details can be edited, if required. Once updated, click on ‘Update’ to save the changes. If no details need to be updated, then the applicant can scroll down to the bottom on the page where the self-declaration button (Form 1) is placed.
Step 11: Once this button is clicked, a pop-up will open. This contains Yes/No questions about the applicant’s visibility and general physical health. All these questions are mandatory to answer. After answering them, the applicant can ‘Submit’ the form.
Step 12: On the next landing page, the applicant will see the application number for their driving licence renewal and the documents required to complete the submission displayed on the screen. Read, and click on ‘Next’
Step 13: On the next page, the applicant will see the details of the application for final review. Make sure the details are correct and click on ‘Proceed’.
Step 14: The applicant will be taken to the page where they can upload the digital copies of their documents.
Step 15: After the documents are uploaded, the next stage is to upload the passport-sized image and signature.
Step 16: This will be followed by the fee payment stage. The fee can be paid online through the relevant payment gateway. After this, the payment receipt is generated that can be printed.
How to apply for a driving licence renewal in Punjab offline?
To apply for driving licence renewal offline, an applicant will be required to follow the steps outlined below:
Step 1: Visit the nearest Regional Transport Office (RTO) to get the required application form. Alternatively, one may also visit the Parivahan website to print out the relevant forms.
Step 2: After the form is printed and filled, get the copies of the other documents, required for verification purposes. For the applicants who are more than 50 years of age or have delayed their licence renewal by one year or more, a medical certificate, signed by a registered medical practitioner, is mandatory as a proof of their physical health.
Step 3: Next, visit the RTO and pay the licence renewal fee. A payment receipt is generated after the payment is complete. Keep the receipt safely.
Step 4: After completing the first three steps, submit the filled-out application, verification documents and fee payment receipt to complete the process. At this stage, the application acknowledgement receipt, containing the application number, will be generated. This must be kept safe to check the status of the application afterwards.
Documents required for a renewal of driving licence in Punjab
The following documents are required to renew your driving licence in Punjab:
- Expired Driving Licence: This is the original driving licence which has expired. The expired driving licence must be submitted at the time of applying for renewal.
- Form 2: This is the application form for renewing one’s driving licence. However, this form is the same as that used for applying for learner’s licence, permanent licence, or change of class of vehicle on the licence. The applicant must select the correct purpose, such as renewal or permanent licence, and fill in the relevant details accordingly.
- Form 1: This form is a self-declaration of the applicant’s physical fitness. There are two categories of this form, where Form 1 is for non-transport vehicles and Form 1A which is the medical certificate for transport vehicles only. Applicants above 50 must also fill the Form 1A, even when applying for the non-transport category.
- Passport size photo: Two copies of a recently taken passport-sized picture.
- Age proof: This can be the applicant’s Passport, Aadhaar card, or any other government issued ID.
In Punjab, when an individual does not apply for their driving licence renewal for more than one year, or if they are above the age of 50 years, then they need to apply for a fresh licence. In both cases, the process requires the same documents as a fresh DL application.
Driving licence renewal fee in Punjab
The fees to renew a driving licence in Punjab is ₹200, when applied within the 30 day grace period. However, renewing the licence after the grace period costs ₹300, as the fees includes a ₹100 fine. In addition, for every year that the driving licence renewal is delayed a fine of ₹ 1000 is charged to the applicant.
| Cost of driving licence renewal In Punjab | Fees |
| Driving licence renewal fees (Within 30 days grace period) | ₹200 |
| Driving licence renewal fees (After 30 days grace period) | ₹300 (Additional fee at the rate of Rupees One Thousand Only for delay of each year or part thereof reckoned from the date of expiry of the grace period shall be levied) |
How to check the status of a driving licence renewal application in Punjab?
The process of checking the application status is like the application process itself. Follow the steps below:
Step1: Visit the Parivahan website and select ‘Drivers / Learners License’.
Step 2: On the next page, select Punjab from the drop-down menu.
Step 3: On the next page, which is the Sarathi website, check the menu bar on the top right, and click on ‘Application Status’.
Step 4: Enter the application number, date of birth of the applicant and the security captcha.
Step 5: After clicking on ‘Submit’, the applicant will be able to see the status of their application. Once the DL is mailed to the applicant’s registered address via postal service, the delivery tracking information is also displayed on the same page.
Things to keep in mind while checking the driving licence renewal application status online
- The application approval process takes about two to three weeks and then about another week for shipping the licence to the applicant’s registered address. The applicant need not check the status of their application before two weeks from date of submission.
- When applying offline at the RTO, applicants must not engage with individuals posing to be ‘authorised agents’ for form submission and must submit their applications themselves.
- While tracking the DL status online, if the application status does not change after two weeks, the applicant can reach out to the local RTO to check if there are any issues.
- While an applicant is filling their details for driving licence renewal, they should also check for any details that need to be added or updated – like address or phone number. During the process of renewal, the portal asks the applicant to cross check and update the personal details, if needed. The applicant must cross check all the information carefully.
Validity of driving licences in India
In India, the standard DL validity is up to 20 years from the date of the issuance or till the applicant turns 50 years old – whichever comes first. However, each state in India may have a different age criterion. In Punjab, the validity of a driving licence is till the age of 50 years for non-transport vehicles, instead of 50 years. If the applicant is more than 50 years of age (at the time of applying for renewal), then their licence is renewed for a period of 5 years.
FAQs
Q. When to check your driving licence renewal status in Punjab?
The process for a driving licence application approval takes about two to three weeks. An applicant can check the status online via the Parivahan website about 15 days after the application has been submitted.
Q. Can I drive with an expired driving licence while waiting for the renewal in Punjab?
It is illegal to drive with an expired driving licence. As per Section 177 of the Motor Vehicles Act 1988, a driver caught driving with an expired licence will be fined ₹500 or get up to 3 months’ prison sentence or both. In Punjab, the fine for driving with an expired licence is ₹5,000.
Q. Can I renew my driving licence if I have outstanding traffic fines?
Yes, an individual can apply for a driving licence renewal even if they have pending or unpaid challans. However, they will be required to clear the challan payments and provide the proof (online or offline) before their application can be processed for approval.
Q. How do I download my driving licence on DigiLocker?
Download the DigiLocker app on the phone or visit the DigiLocker website. Scroll down to the section tilted ‘Transport’. Next, click on the section titled ‘Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH)’. After this, select ‘Driving Licence’ from the listed options. Then, enter the required details, which include – name of licence holder, DOB, Aadhar card number, and DL number. Once all the information is filled in correctly, the driving licence can be downloaded.
Q. Do I need to retake the driving test for licence renewal?
For non-transport DL, the applicant may be required to take the driving test under some of the listed situations: 1) If the applicant is more than 50 years in age, 2) If the applicant has not applied for the renewal for a year since the expiry, 3) If the applicant has a medical condition that may interfere with the driving skills. However, such applicants will not need to start with a learner’s licence and will automatically get a permanent licence once their application is approved and they pass the driving test. For commercial licence renewal, a driving refresher training course certificate is mandatory for every renewal in India. The specific process may be checked at the nearest RTO.
Q. Can I renew my driving licence in Punjab after its expiry date?
Yes, the driving licence can be renewed after the expiry date. A grace period of 30 days is provided during which an individual can renew their driving licence. However, after the grace period, the renewal fee increases to ₹ 300 (renewal fee within the grace period is ₹ 200). If an applicant has not gotten their driving licence renewed for up to a year, they will need to pay an additional fine of ₹ 1000 for every year of delay in renewal up to 5 years. After 5 years, the entire DL application process needs to be repeated.
Q. How long does it take to receive the renewed driving licence in Punjab?
It takes about two to three weeks for a renewal application to be approved and another week to deliver the driving licence to the applicant’s registered address. Therefore, a renewed driving licence (which has been approved) would reach the applicant within three to four weeks of the application submission.
Q. What should I do if I encounter issues while renewing my driving licence online in Punjab?
In case an individual faces issues while renewing their driving licence, they can visit the nearest RTO for assistance.
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