Ways to Apply for Driving License Renewal

The validity of a driving license is 20 years. This becomes the reason why most of us do not check the expiry date on the license. For some, this realization dawns at a very bad time i.e. when asked to produce the document by the traffic police. To avoid being in a soup by producing an expired driving license, it is necessary to know the date of expiry in order to schedule the driving license renewal in a timely manner.

2 Ways to Apply for Driving License Renewal

There are two ways in which you can renew your driving license. In both the ways, you need to prepare a set or required documents and be ready to pay the renewal fees. Here are the ways in which you can apply for driving license renewal:

1. Online

Applying for driving license renewal online will save a lot of your time. The government has made it possible to avail many transport-related services online and decrease visits to the Regional Transport Office (RTO).

Visit this link to begin the process of driving license renewal online:

After selecting your Indian state as per residence, click on apply online > services related to the driving license. You will be redirected to the application form. Follow the instructions step by step and you will be asked to upload documents. Print the acknowledgment receipt and the forms. Fill them duly and upload the same. After the online process is complete, you will receive the renewed driving license via post. Driving license renewal online does not require the intervention of any third party.

2. Offline

If you choose to personally visit the RTO for driving license renewal, you will have to make at least two rounds to the office. First to collect the application and other forms, and second for submission of the documents for verification and payment of the fee.

After you submit the complete set of documents, the RTO officials will begin the process of verification. In most cases, the renewed driving license smart card will be provided on the same day. If not, it might take around 30 working days to reach you via post.

Documents Required for Driving License Renewal

If you wish to renew your driving license online, download, fill and then scan the forms. Uploading the scanned copies on the RTO website is important.

If you are personally visiting the RTO to submit the documents, it is advisable to take multiple photocopies of the documents and self-attest them before submission.

Here is a list of documents required for renewal of driving license :

• Duly filled Form 9 i.e. application form

• Form 1A duly filled by a certified doctor (If the applicant is above the age of 40 years)

• Original expired driving license

• Passport-size photographs

• Aadhar card

Validity

A driving license expires after 20 years. After the expiry date, a grace period of 30 days is given to the holder to renew the license. If the holder applies for the renewal 30 days after the expiry, they are liable to pay a penalty. The amount varies depending on the type of driving license.

When a license of a non-transport vehicle is renewed, it is valid for up to 5 years. A license for transport vehicles is valid for 3 years after renewal.

How to Apply for a Driving License?

A new driving license is issued by a Regional Transport Office. The process is similar to renewal, the only difference is the applicant needs to pass a physical driving test before the RTO can issue the license.

The Bottom Line

Depending on the method you choose for renewing your driving license, you need to prepare the documents. Forgetting to renew the license will lead to heavy fines or even imprisonment. It’s always a good idea to set a reminder for the approaching date of expiration.

News Related to Driving License Renewal :

Driving Licence Test to Begin in Odisha From 18 September

– September 11, 2020

The state government of Odisha announced that the driving licence test in the state will commence from the 18th of September 2020. The state government said that the maximum capacity at the RTO will be limited to 40%. In a tweet, the State Transport Authority (STA) announced the commencement of driving tests in the state through its official Twitter handle. Applicants can book a slot for the driving licence test from 11 AM on 14 September, while the test for the Learner’s Licence will be announced at a later date. The STA also said that application for a new Learner’s Licence and Driving Licence is still not open for citizens. Also, the STA reiterated that due to the prevailing conditions of the novel coronavirus pandemic, services by the STA towards DL and LL were suspended on 25 March 2020 and that all applicants to note that all LL and DL expiring from 18 March to 31 December 2020 will remain valid until the end of December 2020. The booking for the driving test slots will begin from 14 September and will be available from 7 AM onwards until 10 PM every day. Also, retests for DL renewal will be available from the aforementioned dates.

Amid COVID-19 Pandemic, Services for Driving Licence Go Online

– August 6, 2020

In the wake of the rising numbers of Covid-19 infections in the state, the Odisha state government has made DL services online. With the change to online services, the state government expects to reduce the number of people visiting RTO offices during the current situation. Services for driving licences will be available through the national web portal Parivahan and applicants will have to first book an appointment through the portal before approaching the RTO. Services include the renewal of DL, issuance of duplicate DL, change in residential address, change in name, issuance of extraction of DL, replacement of DL, change of biometric data in DL, issuance of No Objection Certificate (NOC), surrender of Class of Vehicle (COV) and surrender of NOC. However, the online test for LL and DL will not be conducted.

Andhra Pradesh Transport Dept. To Start LLR and DL Tests

– May 29, 2020

The Andhra Pradesh Transport Department has said that it will start the Learners and Driving Licence tests from 1 June 2020. The tests were abruptly stopped in March after India went into lockdown to arrest the rise of COVID-19 infections in the country. The Transport Commissioner has directed the Deputy Transport Commissioners (DTCs) across the state to make required arrangements for granting DLs after the end of the fourth lockdown on 31 May 2020. Services will be resumed at RTO jurisdictions of Gudivada, Vijayawada, Nandigama, Nuzvid, Machilipatnam, Jaggaiahpet and Vuyyuru. Applicants can log into www.aptransport.org and enrol their names to book a slot for LLR and DL. For those who have produced their details to enrol for the test, they can revise their time slots. The notification also said that all applicants should compulsorily wear a face mask to appear for the tests.

Driving and Learner’s Licence Test Suspended in Odisha

– March 19, 2020

The Odisha government announed the suspension of driving and learner’s licence test until 31 March 2020. The announcement comes amid the infecticous coronavirus or COVID-19, which has been declared as a pandemic by the World Health Organisation (WHO). The letter issued by the govrnment states that since the novel coronavirus has become a pandemic and spreads due to large numbers of people, the Regional Transport Office (RTO) where several people visit everydays to obtain DL or LL, will remain closed until 31 March 2020.