RoadVisa Beta

How to get a driving licence in India

Getting a car licence from scratch, country by country.

Car licence, LMV (light motor vehicle)

Getting your licence in India

Pass mark on the learner's test60%
Minimum time on a learner's licence30 days
Learner's licence validity6 months
Learner's licence in Delhi (one class)₹500

Fees differ by state. The driving test and licence card cost extra.

Before you start driving

2
Learner's licenceYes. Pass the computer test on road signs and rules. Valid 6 months.
Medical checkA medical certificate from 50, or for some vehicle classes.

Required lessons

1
Driving schoolOptional. A certificate from an accredited driving school can replace the RTO driving test.

Good to know

8
Minimum age18 for a car. 16 for a gearless moped up to 50 cc, with a parent's consent.
Licence validityLong for young drivers, often up to 20 years, and shorter with age. Check the expiry date on the card.
Exam languagesAsk your RTO: the learner's test is on a computer, usually in English, Hindi and the state language.
If you failLearner's test: retake for a small fee. Driving test: retake after 7 days.
Automatic or manualAsk your RTO whether a test in an automatic limits your licence.
New driversNo probation period, but you hold a learner's licence for at least 30 days first.
Already have a licence from abroad?Unless you're a diplomat, you first get a learner's licence (with its test). A valid foreign licence for the same class can then mean no driving test, with a medical certificate. See the Abroad tab.
Also worth knowing
  • Book the driving test before your learner's licence runs out after 6 months, or you start again.
  • Practise the RTO question bank: the learner's test draws from it.

Step by step

  1. Apply onlineOn the Parivahan Sarathi site, then book a slot.
  2. Learner's testOn a computer at the RTO: 60% to pass.
  3. PractiseAt least 30 days, with an L plate and a licensed driver.
  4. Driving testBefore the learner's licence runs out, in your own car. No instructor in the car.
  5. LicencePhoto and fingerprints, then the card.

Tips From driving schools and examiners

  • In Delhi, the driving test is on an automated track: sensors and cameras score you, not an inspector. Nearly half of applicants failed after it was introduced, so don't treat it as a formality.
  • The car track includes a hill start on a gradient, a figure of 8, and reversing through an S-shaped bend. Practise all three.
  • Stay inside the marked lines and finish each part within the time limit. That's what the sensors check.

Based on: Business Today: Delhi driving tests fully automated (Dec 2022) ↗ · BW Businessworld: How the automated driving test works (2019) ↗

Official links

Delhi Transport Department: Learner's licence ↗Delhi Transport Department: Permanent driving licence ↗Last checked 20 Oct 2026
Wrong information? Help us fix itTell us what's incorrect and we'll check it against the official sources.

About: This page

Frequently asked questionsCoverage, sources and how RoadVisa works.

Why isn't my country listed?

RoadVisa is still growing. It covers 42 countries and all 50 US states plus Washington, D.C. so far, and more are added step by step. Each country is checked against its own official sources, in its own language, before it goes live.

Why isn't Africa covered?

Many African licensing authorities publish little detail about their driving rules online, so we can't yet check the answers against official sources. We'll add African countries as official information becomes available.

Where does the information come from?

From official sources only: licensing authorities, ministries, police and government websites, read in each country's own language. Every answer links to its sources and shows when it was last checked.

What's the difference between Visiting and Moving?

Visiting covers short stays such as holidays and business trips, when you keep your home licence. Moving covers becoming a resident, when most countries want you to exchange your licence or take tests by a deadline.

What is an International Driving Permit?

A translation of your licence in a standard format. It's only valid together with your own licence, and you get it in the country that issued your licence, usually from a motoring club or the licensing authority. RoadVisa tells you when a country expects one.

Does RoadVisa cover motorcycles or trucks?

Not yet. The answers are about car licences: category B in Europe, and the local equivalent elsewhere, such as Class C or D in most US states. Other licences may follow later.

Is RoadVisa official?

No. RoadVisa is an independent guide and isn't linked to any government or licensing authority. The authority that handles your application always has the final word.

Is RoadVisa free?

Yes, RoadVisa is free to use.

I found a mistake. What should I do?

Use "Wrong information? Help us fix it" above. We check every report against the official sources and correct the answer.

About RoadVisa and disclaimerWho we are, and how to use this information.

An independent guide. RoadVisa is a private project. It is not run by, linked to or approved by any government, licensing authority (such as a national road traffic agency or a US DMV), embassy or driving school.

Information only, not legal advice. RoadVisa sums up official rules in plain English. It does not replace the official rules, and it is not a decision about your case. Only the authority that handles your application can decide that.

Rules change. Every answer shows when it was last checked and links to the official source. Check that source before you drive, book a test, move or apply. If RoadVisa and the official source differ, follow the official source.

Your situation matters. The answer can depend on your residence status, licence category, age and when your licence was issued. If you're unsure, ask the licensing authority or your embassy.

Car hire and insurance. Car hire companies and insurers can set their own rules, for example asking for an International Driving Permit even where it isn't required. Check with them too.

Our responsibility. We work hard to keep RoadVisa correct, but we can't promise it is complete or up to date. As far as the law allows, we are not responsible for fines, refused applications, costs or other losses that come from relying on it.

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