How to Download Driving Licence Soft Copy Online

Imagine it’s a day like any other. You’re on your way to work, navigating traffic, driving carefully, but are stopped by the traffic police for a routine check. You’re not too worried because you haven’t done anything wrong. However, when you open your wallet to present your driving licence to the police officer, you realise it’s not there, and your usual morning routine has hit a snag!

Driving without a licence is a punishable offence with fines of up to ₹5,000 in Delhi (fines vary in every State). In Digital India, however, it is no longer mandatory to carry a physical copy of your driving licence. The Indian Government has introduced e-driving licences—a legally valid soft copy of the physical document. In this blog, we’ll take you through the different ways in which you can download a driving licence soft copyand avoid any issues while driving anywhere in the country. 

What is an e-driving licence?

An e-driving licence is a digital copy of your physical licence, and has all the required details including your photograph, name, address, licence number, validity period, and the vehicle categories you can drive. Just like its physical counterpart, an e-driving licence is also a valid proof of address and identification, and is accepted at places such as airports during the check-in process. 

Also Read : Commercial Driving Licence (CDL)

Steps to download the soft copy and PDF of a driving licence 

Now that we’ve established what an e-driving licence is and how it makes driving a more convenient activity, the obvious next question is: How to download a driving licence soft copy? 

There are four ways to do this: 

1. DigiLocker

A major initiative under the Digital India programme by the Government of India was the introduction of the DigiLocker mobile application. The DigiLocker app gives users access to digital versions of various documents such as driving licence, registration certificate, Aadhaar, academic mark sheets, etc. If you want a soft copy of your driving licence in India, this is how you can get it on the DigiLocker app:

Step 1: Download the app and sign up with your mobile number or Aadhaar details.

Step 2: Search for “Driving Licence” and select the State where your licence was issued.

Step 3: Enter your driving licence number and click on “Get Document”.

Step 4: The app will fetch the soft copy of your driving licence.

Step 5: You can save, share, or download the driving licence soft copy in a PDF format as well.

Step 6: To view the downloaded driving licence soft copyon the DigiLocker app, you can go to the “Issued” section and you’ll find it there. 

Pro tip: Use your Aadhaar credentials to sign up on the DigiLocker app and details such as your full name and date of birth will be automatically fetched for any document you want to download. 

Also Read : Traffic Signs in India - Road Safety Signs

2. Umang

Another initiative under the Digital India programme is the Umang app or the (DI Umang app). It is a single platform for access to all kinds of e-Gov portals for central and local services. In a recent addition, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) also added DigiLocker to the Umang app. Here’s how you can download a driving licence soft copyfrom the Umang app:

Step 1: Download and install the Umang app on your iOS or Android device. 

Step 2: Log in using your mobile number and OTP. 

Step 3: Click on, or search for, DigiLocker on the app. 

Step 4: Enter your DigiLocker login details (mobile number and PIN). You can also register on DigiLocker using the Umang app. 

Step 5: Click on “Driving Licence” and “Allow” the Umang app to fetch your details. 

Step 6: Download the PDF of your driving licence soft copy.

Also Read : Driving Licence and Learning Licence Fees in India 2024

3. Parivahan website

The Government of India’s vehicle regulatory portal is called the Parivahan Sewa. It is divided into two major sections: “Vahan” for vehicle registration and “Sarathi” for driving licence-related queries. To download the soft copy of your driving licence from this portal, follow these steps: 

Step 1: Visit the official Parivahan website (https://parivahan.gov.in/parivahan/) and go to the “Online Services” tab.

Step 2: Choose “Driving Licence Related Services” and you will be redirected to the Sarathi website. 

Step 3: Click on the “Driving Licence” tab on the menu bar.

Step 4: Choose “Print Driving Licence” and enter your application number and date of birth. 

Step 5: You’ll now be able to download your driving licence soft copy. 

The Parivahan website is ideal for those who have recently applied for a new licence or a renewal of an expired one since the portal needs an application number.

4. mParivahan app

Another way to download the soft copy of your driving licence is through the NextGen mParivahan mobile application. Here’s what you need to do:

Step 1: Download the mParivahan app, create an account, and set a six digit MPIN

Step 2: Select “My Virtual DL”.

Step 3: Enter your driving licence number and date of birth. 

Step 4: You will get another OTP on your registered mobile number. 

Step 5: Your driving licence soft copy will be generated.

While you cannot download the driving licence through the mParivahan app, it can still be used as a legal proof of identification. You can also check your driving licence impound and seizure document status through this app. 

How to download/print a learner’s licence?

The easiest way to download and print a learner’s licence is through the Parivahan portal. The steps remain the same as mentioned above and an application number is required to download the driving licence soft copy. Once the application number and date of birth are entered, the portal will give you the learner’s licence which can be downloaded as a PDF and printed if required. 

How to use a driving licence soft copy as proof of identity?

A driving licence soft copyis simply a digital replica of the physical document that is issued after an RTO has completed its verification process. This makes your driving licence soft copya valid proof of identification. Here are some of the cases where a driving licence soft copy is accepted as proof of identity:

• During the check-in verification process at airports in India
• When travelling by train, a digital driving licence is accepted to check berth confirmation
• You can use the driving licence soft copy as proof of identity when buying a new SIM card 
• It is one of the documents (not mandatory) that serves as proof of address and age for passport applications
• Most major hospitals will accept a digital driving licence as proof of identity while admitting a patient or during tests 
• A driving licence soft copyis also accepted at hotels and bars 

It is highly recommended to use the DigiLocker app when using the driving licence soft copyas proof of identity. It is a Government app and is the most authentic form of verifying the legal validity of a digital driving licence. 

Tips for safe and secure storage of driving licence soft copy

Like any other document, your driving licence soft copyneeds to be safely stored on your mobile device. Some of the things you can do to ensure it is secure are:

• Store the file on a folder or a drive that is password-protected
• Never share the soft copy of the driving licence unless necessary
• If possible, use the DigiLocker app to store the driving licence soft copyand avoid saving it on any other folder or app on your device

The bottom line

Downloading the soft copy of your driving licence is undoubtedly an easier way of ensuring you have it with you at all times. After all, in this day and age, there’s a higher chance of you forgetting your wallet or bag at home, but not your mobile phone. 

Remember, your driving licence soft copy, apart from being a mandatory document to carry when driving, also serves as proof of identification. This makes it necessary for you to remain cautious and store it securely. By following the steps mentioned above, you’ll be able to do both! 

FAQs

Q. How to download a driving licence soft copy from the Parivahan portal?

To download a driving licence soft copy from the Parivahan portal, visit https://parivahan.gov.in/parivahan/, click on “Online Services”, choose “Driving Licence Related Services”, then click on the “Driving Licence” tab. Choose “Print Driving Licence” and enter your application number and date of birth. You’ll now be able to download yourget to download the driving licence soft copy.

Q. How do I download a PDF licence?

You can use the DigiLocker or the Umang app to download a PDF version of your driving licence. 

Q. Is it required to have my driving licence with me at all times?

It is mandatory to carry your valid driving licence (physical or digital) while you’re driving. However, it is not necessary to carry it with you if you do not plan on driving on any given day. 

Q. What are the different methods to download a driving licence soft copy?

You can download a driving licence soft copy through the DigiLocker or Umang app.