We live in a time when the growing economy and increased spending power are encouraging more people to buy and drive vehicles. Driving a vehicle with utmost precaution while following all rules, including having a driving licence, is also a must. If you’re looking to get behind the wheel of a car, or ride a motorbike, and want to know how to apply for a driving licence, or are waiting to get one and are looking to track the driving licences’ status, then you are not alone.
Driving is nothing short of a life skill, which you should know, irrespective of the area of your residence. A driving licence is a certificate, quite literally, which the government issues you as an affirmation that you are fit to drive while being aware of all the rules.The regional transport offices (RTO) of various states are responsible for issuing driving licences based on different tests.
So, if you recently applied for a driving licence, or applied for renewal, you can check the driving licence status online. There are a few authorised websites where you can check the status of your application. This enhances public convenience by eliminating the need to physically visit the RTO.
Online portals to check driving licence status
When you apply for a driving licence, you are allotted a unique application number, which can be used to check the status of your DL on various portals. You can check the status of your application either on the Sarathi Parivahan portal, or, in some cases, the official website of the RTO of your state. However, not every state RTO site allows for checking driving licence application status. Authorised by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) under the Central Government of India, ‘Sarathi Parivahan’ is an online portal where you can get information and updates related to the registration of vehicles and driving licences.
How to check driving licence status through ‘Sarathi Parivahan’ portal
Authorised by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) under the Central Government of India, ‘Sarathi Parivahan’ is an online portal where you can get information and updates related to the registration of vehicles and driving licences.
Following are the steps to check the status through Parivahan:
STEP 1: Visit the official Parivahan website https://parivahan.gov.in/parivahan/.
STEP 2: You will be redirected to the Sarathi Parivahan portal. Here, you need to select “Driving Licence Related Services” from the ‘Online Services’ drop down menu.
STEP 3: Select the state for which you want to check the DL status.
STEP 4: You will be presented with multiple options on the next page. Here, you need to click on the ‘Application Status’ Button.
STEP 5: Enter your application number, date of birth and captcha code.
STEP 6: Click on submit, after which your application status will appear on your screen.
How to check status of your duplicate licence or licence renewal?
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways also gives the opportunity to current driving licence holders to renew their licences which have expired or are on the verge of expiration. The current driving licence holders can check the application status of their duplicate licence application by following these steps:
- STEP 1 : Visit the official Parivahan website https://parivahan.gov.in/parivahan/.
- STEP 2 : Click on “Driving Licence Related Services” and select your state.
- STEP 3 : Click on “Application Status” on the main menu.
- STEP 4 : Enter your application number, date of birth and captcha code.
- STEP 5 : Click on submit and your application status will appear on your screen.
Points to keep in mind while checking your DL status
Checking your driving licence application status online is not a tedious job. However, there are some things and conditions about which you need to be aware, which are as follows:
- It can take about 30 days to receive your driving licence from your driving test date.
- Within three weeks from your driving test date, the regional transport office issues the driving licence and delivers it to your registered poster address.
- It is advisable to check your driving licence status regularly to keep track of frequently changing process rules and regulations of the RTO.
- Before filing a renewal application for an old driving licence, it is crucial to be aware of its expiry date, and apply for renewal before that date.
- Before applying for a driving licence, you should have a learner’s licence, as you will not be allowed to apply for a permanent licence without it.
- Duplicate driving licences are issued if the old licence is lost, stolen, damaged or torn. In case the previous DL was misplaced or stolen, you will also need to file a FIR for the same.
- If you are looking to apply for an international driving licence, you should have a valid driving licence in India
Some important pointers to know about driving licences in India
Before applying for a driving licence, you should also be aware of the following pointers to avoid any confusion or ambiguity:
- Any private driving licence – whether newly issued or renewed – is valid for 20 years from the date of its issuance or till the applicant is 50 years of age. For commercial driving licence holders, the renewal period is 3 years, which also requires a medical certificate if the applicant is over the age of 40.
- If a person applies for a licence renewal after the expiration date of the old licence, the renewed licence is issued after the old licence gets seized. In this case, the renewed licence is issued on the same day as the seizing of the old licence. However, if it doesn’t happen, the person can check the driving licence status online using the renewal number.
- For the issuance of a fresh first-time licence, RTO delivers the driving licence to the registered address 30 days after clearing the driving test by the applicant.
- If the old licence is stolen, torn, misplaced or damaged beyond recognition, the applicant can issue a duplicate driving licence from the RTO. In such a case, the applicant can check the driving licence status online once all documentation is complete.
- If you are still not adept at applying for and checking the driving licence status online, you can still visit the nearest RTO for updates and more information.
The bottom line
In recent years, India has been taking a significant advantage in this era of digitization. Many legal processes related to various government offices, including the transport department, can be executed or tracked online. Tasks like applying for a driving licence and monitoring its status, for which one had to visit RTO multiple times, can now be done from the comfort of your home.
As mentioned in all the steps above, you must have realised that checking your driving licence status online is a rather simple and straightforward task. If you were seeking advice or guidance to track your driving licence application online, these steps have covered all the vital information.
FAQ
Q. How long does it take to get a driving licence?
Your driving licence will be delivered to your postal address within 30 days from your driving test date. To keep track of the development of the process, you can check the driving licence status online two weeks after clearing your driving test.
Q. What is the difference between DL and DL extract?
While both DL and DL extract might sound similar, both have different meanings. A DL or driving licence is a certificate authorised by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) that allows you to drive anywhere in India. Meanwhile, a DL extract is a verification letter issued by MoRTH that mentions that your driving licence may be required when you visit a foreign country. There, it can prove that you hold a valid driving licence.
Q. For how long is a learner’s driving licence valid?
To obtain a driving licence (DL), you will need a learner’s driving licence first. It is valid for 180 days or six months from the date of issuance. Within six months, the person holding a learner’s driving licence should apply for a valid driving licence. If the person fails to do so, he/she will have to re-apply for the learner’s driving licence and go through the waiting period again before applying for a valid driving licence.
Q. Can I renew a learner's driving licence?
Yes. A person can re-apply for a learner's driving licence if it expires.
Q. Can I reappear for my driving test if I fail on the first attempt?
Yes. A person is allowed to reappear for his/her driving test 7 days after the first or previous failed attempt.
Q. If I have an existing driving licence, how do I check its status?
You can check the status of your existing driving licence online on the Parivahan website.
Q. How do I download my driving licence on DigiLocker?
DigiLocker allows a person to keep and monitor all the authorised government documents, including a driver's licence, in one place. All you need to do is first visit the website of Digilocker or download the app and sign up. Here, you can select “Get more Issued Documents” from the “Issued Documents” menu, and click on “Pull documents”. After that, select “Ministry of Road Transport and Highways” under “Central Government” and click on “Driving Licence” under “Document Type”. Lastly, you will have to enter all required personal details, including your name, date of birth and driving licence number, and click on “Get Document.” This will download your digital driving licence on your phone.
Q. What is the information to keep ready before checking my DL status online?
To check the driving licence status online, you have to be aware of your application number/licence number/learner’s licence number or keep it ready to insert it in the required tab while checking its status.
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