How to obtain a driving license in India?

The Government of India has made it mandatory for individuals to acquire a driving licence before you start driving a two-wheeler or four-wheeler, legally within the borders of the country. Motor training is absolutely essential if you have never driven any kind of motorised vehicle before. Therefore, start the process by enrolling yourself in a driving school.

Get a Learner’s Licence

There are several local operators or even branded operators such as the Speed Driving Training Center that can help you with driving lessons. Subsequently, motor training schools help you to apply for a learner’s licence which is issued to any individual meeting their eligibility requirements and who wishes to develop their driving skills. Before a permanent licence is given, you need to complete your driving test within a month of the issuance of the learner’s licence.

What is an Indian Driving Licence?

It is an official document that is issued by the Government of India, allowing individuals to operate or drive a motorised vehicle on any public roads without any kind of supervision. The Regional Transport Authority or the RTA has the power to issue the licence. It is stated in the Motor Vehicles Act of 1988 that without a valid driving licence, an individual is not authorised to operate any bike or car on any public road.

Eligibility criteria

The eligibility criteria of the permanent driving licence vary based on the type of vehicle. Therefore, you should apply for the appropriate type of licence depending on the type of vehicle you intend to drive.

• Motorcycles with engine capacity of 50 cc or less
• Motorcycles with gear, Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs) including cars
• Light Motor Vehicle for non-transport purposes

The class of the vehicle and the type of driving licence is determined by meeting the outlined eligibility requirements

• The applicant must be at least 16 years old and must have the consent of the parents or the guardian if he is less than 18 years old before applying for a licence for gearless two-wheelers having a capacity of up to 50 cc
• The applicant should be at least 18 years old if the individual wants to apply for a licence to drive motorcycles or a lightweight four-wheeler for non-commercial purpose In addition to the above, the applicant has to submit the following:
  • An age proof document that may be shown through a birth certificate, PAN Card, Passport, class 10th mark-sheet or a transfer certificate from any school with the date of birth printed on it
  • A permanent address may be proven via submitting copies of either the Passport, Aadhaar Card, self-owned house agreement, electricity bill issued in the applicant’s name, LIC bond, Voter ID card or Ration card
  • Current address proof may be provided in the form of a rental agreement and electricity bill or rental agreement and LPG bill
• Additional requirements for the application must be met, such as:
  • A duly filled out application form
  • 6 passport-sized photographs for the Learner’s Licence
  • 1 passport-sized photograph for the permanent driving licence
  • Application fee
  • A medical certificate issued by a certified Government doctor. This is mandatory for applicants above the age of 40 years

Applying for a Driving Licence

A driving licence in India may be applied through an online process via the official Sarathi website of the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways. An offline application is also available to do so; just submit all the required documentation to the nearest RTO.

This will be followed by reserving time in order to appear for the Driving licence test at the RTO. Complete the process by paying the fee in order to take the examination.

The procedure of testing for a driving licence in India

An officer will be present in person during your test and will closely examine your driving abilities. This may be followed by a licence test where you may be asked questions on traffic rules and regulations. Post this, the RTO will declare if you have successfully managed to clear the examination of your four-wheeler driving test.

Remember that your driving licence is also a valid identity proof recognised by the Government of India. Being in possession of this document certifies that you are qualified and authorised to drive anywhere within India.

How to obtain a commercial driving licence in India

Until recently, a commercial driving licence was mandatory for all those wanting to drive any type of commercial vehicle. In fact, in order to obtain a commercial driving licence, an individual needed to wait for a year after holding a private driving licence. However, in April 2018, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways issued an advisory to all the state governments, ordering compliance to the Supreme Court ruling in July 2017 where the requirements for a commercial licence for those driving taxis, three-wheelers, e-rickshaws, and two-wheelers for those delivering food and other logistical items, was no longer necessary. This has played a key role in opening up employment opportunities for lakhs of Indians. The Motor Vehicle Amendment Act passed in 2016 has also helped in strengthening the driver training process.

Those driving trucks, buses, and other heavy commercial vehicles would still need to hold a valid commercial driving licence.

Acquire your Driving Skills First

If you do not know how to drive a vehicle, start by first enrolling into a motor training school. The majority of driving schools will assist you in obtaining a learner’s licence. This is the first step in acquiring your driving skills before you appear for your driver's test. Within 30 days of the issuance of the learner’s licence, you will have to complete your driving test which will include an examination of your practical driving skills and your knowledge of traffic rules and regulations. Once the licence test is over and the four-wheeler driving test has been successfully completed in the presence of the RTO, you will be able to formally get a permanent private driving licence.

Training towards getting a Commercial Driving Licence

Even though you may be a well-trained driver, you would still require training on how to drive commercial vehicles before you start operating one. There may only be a select few driving schools that might be able to offer you this training service. Speed Driving Training Center is one such driving school that provides you with heavy vehicle training lessons. For this, you will have to get an additional learner’s licence that is valid for a period of six months, which is the time period allocated to you to prepare yourself for heavy vehicles.

Types of Learner’s Licences for Commercial Vehicles

The heavy vehicle that you wish to drive determines the type of learner’s licence you should apply for. Learner’s licences applicable for commercial use are as follows:

• HGMV vehicle class for Heavy Goods Motor Vehicle
• LMV – TR vehicle class for Light Motor Vehicle used for commercial purposes
• HPMV vehicle class for Heavy Passenger Motor Vehicle
• LMV – NT vehicle class for Light Motor Vehicles used for non-transport purposes
• MGV vehicle class for Medium Goods Vehicle

Eligibility Criteria

While a lot of the requirements are similar to those for obtaining a private driving licence, here are some guidelines that may differ

• The applicant has to be 18 years of age. In some states, the minimum age requirement may be as high as 22 years
• The applicant should have cleared their Class 8 examinations which is the minimum education requirement
• The applicant needs to clear a written test before they become eligible to acquire a commercial licence
• The applicant should have received training from a Government Motor School. Alternatively, a school affiliated to the state government will also serve the purpose

The Documentation and Application Process

• Passport, Ration card, Voter ID, Aadhaar card or utility bills in the applicant’s name can serve as proof of address
• Passport, PAN card, Voter ID, Aadhaar card, Birth certificate or class 10th mark sheet may act as identity proof
• Forms 2, 1A and 5 must be duly filled
• Passport-sized photographs
• Application fee

The application can be made online through the Sarathi website. However, if an offline application is what suits your needs, then visit the nearest RTO office and submit all the required documents along with the application fee.

For both these application processes, you will receive an acknowledgement with a serial number on the mobile phone number that you have registered. This is typically in the form of an SMS