Apply for a Permanent Driving Licence Online

Quick answer

Go to sarathi.parivahan.gov.in, select your state, and choose Apply for Driving Licence under the Driving Licence menu. Select Holding Learners Licence, enter your LL number and date of birth, then fill your applicant details, upload documents, pay the fee, and book your DL test slot, every state requires clearing a driving test before the DL is issued.

What you’ll need

Your Learner’s Licence (LL) number and date of birth, exactly as issued. If your LL number has a space in it (for example RJ14 /0001234/2017), enter it with the space exactly where it appears
Your LL must be at least 30 days old but still within its 6-month validity, you can’t apply for a permanent DL before or after that window
A passport-size photo and signature, only needed in states where the portal asks for them separately (some states carry these forward from your LL record)
If you’re not applying on an Indian LL, the portal also has separate options for Holding Foreign DL and Holding Defence Licence

For the full picture, from getting your LL to renewing your DL later, see our driving licence guide.

Step-by-step: apply for your permanent DL

Go to the Sarathi portal and select your state

Open sarathi.parivahan.gov.in and pick the state you want the DL from.
Choose “Apply for Driving Licence”

From the Driving Licence menu in the top nav, click the Apply for Driving Licence tile.
Select your category and enter your LL details

On the Application For Driving Licence (DL) screen, most applicants pick Holding Learners Licence (the other options are Holding Foreign DL and Holding Defence Licence). Enter your Learner’s Licence Number and Date of Birth, fill the captcha, and click OK.
Fill Applicant Details

Review and complete your personal and address details. Much of this carries over from your LL application.
Upload Documents

Upload any address or age proof the form asks for, if it wasn’t already verified at the LL stage.
Upload Photo and Signature, if required

Only some states ask for this separately at the DL stage, others carry your photo and signature forward from your LL record.
DL Test Slot Booking

Book your slot for the driving test at your RTO here. Every state requires you to clear this test before a permanent DL is issued, only the exact scheduling process (online slot vs in-person) differs by state. See our slot booking guide.
Payment of Fee

Review your application and pay the applicable fee through the portal’s payment gateway.
Verify the Pay Status

Confirm your payment is reflected against your application before moving on. If it shows pending or failed, retry against the same application rather than starting fresh.
Print the Receipt

Download and print your application receipt, keep it handy for your RTO visit (if your state requires one) or for any follow-up.

What the driving test usually checks

Every state requires you to clear this test before your DL is issued. Examiners are generally checking a consistent set of things.

Reverse or figure-of-8 track: controlling the vehicle through tight forward and reverse turns without touching the markers
Traffic response: stopping cleanly at signals, giving way correctly, staying in lane
Signals: using indicators, and hand signals where asked, at the right moments
Pre-drive checks: using the horn, mirrors and handbrake correctly before moving off

The one exception: if you hold a certificate from an accredited driving training school, that can substitute for the RTO’s own test, ask your RTO whether this applies before booking a slot.

After you submit, what to expect

Once your slot is booked and paid for, here’s what happens depending on how the test goes. You can track it anytime with our application status guide.

Test slot booked

Your application and payment are through, and a driving test slot is reserved at your RTO. Show up as scheduled.

Test passed

Your DL is approved and generated. Depending on your state, you’ll get a printed card by post or can download a digital copy.

Test failed

You can rebook and retake it after a cooldown period set by your RTO, without filing a fresh application.

Payment pending or failed

Your application stays incomplete until the fee clears. Retry payment on the same application.

How long is your DL valid?

Worth knowing before you apply, since it decides when you’ll need to renew.

Issued before age 30

A private (non-transport) DL is valid until you turn 40.

Issued between age 30 and 50

Valid for 10 years from the date of issue or renewal.

Issued between age 50 and 55

Valid until you turn 60.

Issued at age 55 or older

Valid for 5 years from the date of issue or renewal.

Transport (commercial) DL

Valid for 5 years. A licence endorsed for vehicles carrying hazardous goods is valid for 3 years. The date printed on your licence is the one to go by, and our validity checker shows how much time is left.

Renewing on time costs ₹200 under central rules. Miss the grace period and it becomes ₹300 plus ₹1,000 for every year (or part of a year) of delay, so renew before it lapses.

Mistakes that slow this down

Applying before the 30-day gap from your LL issue date, the portal will reject it
Applying after your LL has expired (past 6 months), you’ll need a fresh LL first
Mistyping your LL number, including missing the space if your state’s format includes one
Assuming every state’s process is identical, the photo/signature and test-slot steps genuinely differ by state

Common questions

How much does a permanent DL application cost?

Under central rules (CMVR Rule 81), it’s ₹200 for issue of the driving licence plus ₹300 for the driving test (per vehicle class), so ₹500 total at base rates. States commonly add their own charges, confirm the final amount on Sarathi before paying.

When can I apply after getting my LL?

Any time from 30 days after your LL is issued, up until it expires at 6 months. Applying outside that window isn’t allowed.

Do I have to take a driving test?

Yes, every state requires you to clear a driving test before a permanent DL is issued. What varies by state is how you book it, online slot booking versus scheduling in person at the RTO.

What if I hold a foreign or defence licence instead?

The same “Apply for Driving Licence” screen has separate options for Holding Foreign DL and Holding Defence Licence, pick whichever applies instead of Holding Learners Licence.

Ready to apply?

This takes you straight to the official Sarathi portal. myrtobuddy.com is not affiliated with it.

Go to Sarathi