Apply for New Learner's Driving Licence in India [Application Form Online]

Driving licence is a need for anyone who drives any kind of motor vehicle in India. Application for new learner's licence (LL) and permanent driving licence (DL) is done online through the Sarathi Parivahan portal of Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. As of 21 August 2026, new learner's licence applications are being accepted at sarathi.parivahan.gov.in with the online learner's licence test facility available in many states.

As per central government rules, a person has to first get a learner's licence to become eligible for a driving licence. Learner's licence stays valid for 6 months and after completing 30 days of holding LL, the applicant can apply for a permanent driving licence. Although driving licence issuance is a state subject, the Sarathi portal of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has made the whole process simple in all states and union territories.

Driving licence also works as government identity proof for other services. It can be used as address and identity proof while applying for Aadhaar, voter card or passport.

Online Application for New Learner Driving Licence in India

Applicants can apply for a new learner's licence from home on the official Sarathi Parivahan website of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. The process is fully online and the flow may differ slightly from state to state. Follow the steps given below.

STEP 1 - Go to the official Sarathi Parivahan portal at https://sarathi.parivahan.gov.in and select your state or union territory of India from the list.

STEP 2 - Open the "Learner's Licence" menu on the homepage and click "Application for New Learner's Licence". Read the state instructions and click on continue to open the application form for learner's licence.

STEP 3 - Fill the applicant details like name, date of birth, address, mobile number and vehicle class in the online form. Complete Aadhaar or identity verification as asked on the portal, and select the option that the applicant does not hold driving or learner's licence.

STEP 4 - Enter the application number and upload the required documents, photo and signature in the "Uploading Documents" section. Submit Form 1 (physical fitness declaration) and Form 1A (medical certificate) where the state requires them.

STEP 5 - Pay the learner's licence fee online through UPI, debit card, credit card or net banking and save the fee receipt. The fee amount is different for each state and vehicle class.

STEP 6 - Book the learner's licence test slot from "Appointments" menu. Some states allow the learner's licence test online from home. After passing the test and document verification, visit the RTO on the scheduled date with original documents and fee slip, then download and print the learner's licence (Form 3) from the portal.

Who Can Apply for Learner's Licence

The minimum age for a learner's licence depends on the vehicle class selected. For motorcycles without gear up to 50cc, the minimum age is 16 years with guardian consent. For motorcycles with gear and light motor vehicles (LMV), the applicant should be 18 years or above. For transport and commercial vehicle categories, the minimum age is about 20 years with additional conditions. Applicant must be medically fit and should know basic traffic signs and road rules.

Documents Required for Learner's Licence

Keep the following documents ready before starting the online application. The exact list can vary from state to state, so read the instructions shown after selecting the state.

• Form 1 (physical fitness self declaration) and Form 1A medical certificate wherever applicable for the state and vehicle class.
• Proof of address - any one document such as Aadhaar card, passport, ration card, voter identity card, electricity or water bill, bank passbook or rent agreement as accepted by the state.
• Proof of age - any one document such as birth certificate, class 10 matriculation certificate, passport, voter identity card or Aadhaar card.

A passport size photograph and a clear signature scan are also needed while filling the applicant details in the portal. The uploaded documents must be readable and the name and date of birth should match the application form to avoid rejection.

Learner's Licence Test Online

The learner's licence test covers traffic signs, road safety rules, traffic signals and basic motor vehicle rules. In states where the online facility is enabled, the test can be taken from home through the Sarathi portal. In other states, the applicant needs to go to the RTO chosen while booking the slot. The portal has sample questions and a mock test to practice for the learner's licence test. Official answers to common questions are available at the Learners Licence FAQ page on Parivahan Sewa.

For offline application, the official Form 2 (application for learner's licence or driving licence) can be downloaded as PDF from the Parivahan Sewa forms section. Download Form 2 PDF

Application Status and Printing of Learner's Licence

Application status can be checked on the Sarathi portal using the application number and date of birth. The acknowledgement slip shows the required documents and the details of the RTO. After the test is passed, the learner's licence can be printed from the "Print Learner Licence" option wherever the service is enabled. In many states the digital document on DigiLocker is also valid. For a state specific process, refer to Learning Licence Apply Online guide and AP Transport Learners Licence guide.

After Getting the Learner's Licence

After getting the learner's licence, the holder must practice driving as per the "L" board rule and the accompanied driving conditions. After completing the mandatory period of at least 30 days, and before the learner's licence expires, the applicant can apply for a permanent driving licence and book the driving skill test on Sarathi. The online application process also supports the Digital India objective of reducing RTO visits and paper work.

VAHAN and SARATHI are built to capture the functions of the Central Motor Vehicle Act, 1988 and the state motor vehicle rules. These systems are implemented in the core product to suit the needs of states and union territories of India.

FAQ's

What is the validity of a learner's licence?

A learner's licence is generally valid for 6 months from the date of issue. A learner's licence cannot be renewed; a new licence needs to be applied if it expires.

When can I apply for a permanent driving licence?

A permanent driving licence application can be made after holding a valid learner's licence for at least 30 days and before the learner's licence expires.

Is the learner's licence test required?

Yes. The applicant must pass the learner's licence test covering traffic rules, road signs and safety rules. In some states the test can be taken online from the Sarathi portal.

Can I apply for a learner's licence without Aadhaar?

Many states offer a smoother application with Aadhaar authentication. Depending on the state, application without Aadhaar is possible but may require RTO visit for verification and biometrics.

What is the fee for a learner's licence?

Fees for a learner's licence and retest are set as per the Motor Vehicles fee rules and vary with the state and vehicle class. The exact amount is shown for the selected state on the Sarathi payment screen.