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Driving Schools: Choosing One, ADTC Test Exemption and Rules
India has two kinds of driving school. A licensed driving school (rule 24 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules) trains you and gives a Form 5 certificate, but you still take the RTO driving test. An Accredited Driver Training Centre (ADTC) (rules 31B to 31J, in force since 1 July 2021) gives a Form 5B certificate that exempts you from the driving test. In both cases the RTO, not the school, issues your licence.
- Ordinary school
- Rule 24 · Form 5 certificate
- Accredited centre
- Rules 31B–31J · Form 5B
- Test exemption
- Form 5B only
- Car course (minimum)
- 21 days, 10 hours driving
- School licence
- ₹10,000 · 5 years
On this page
Licensed driving school or accredited centre: what is the difference?
Licensed driving school (rule 24)
- Anyone who teaches driving for money needs a licence in Form 11 from the licensing authority, an officer not below the Regional Transport Officer.
- At the end of the course the school gives you a Form 5 driving certificate, which you attach to your licence application.
- You still take the RTO driving test. Form 5 does not exempt you from it.
- The school keeps a register of students (Form 14) and a record of your daily driving hours (Form 15). Some states, such as Tamil Nadu, ask for Form 5 and Form 15 with the application.
Accredited Driver Training Centre (rules 31B to 31J)
- Accredited by the State Transport Authority or another agency the Centre authorises, on the recommendation of a testing agency listed in rule 126.
- Must have driving simulators and a dedicated driving test track. It can also run remedial and refresher courses and industry-specific training.
- You must pass the centre's test of competence to drive. It then gives you a Form 5B certificate.
- Form 5B exempts you from the RTO driving test. The licensing authority still issues the licence.
In June 2024 some reports said driving schools could now issue licences, or that the RTO test had ended. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways said on 1 June 2024 that the ADTC rules had been in force since 1 July 2021 and that no change was planned. Schools do not issue licences.
How do you choose a good driving school?
The rules set out what a licensed school must have. Use them as your checklist when you visit.
- The school licence (Form 11) or ADTC accreditation is on display. The rules require the licence and the instructors' names to be displayed.
- The licence is current. A school licence lasts 5 years.
- Training cars have dual controls (an instructor brake) and are used only for teaching. Motorcycles are exempt from dual controls.
- The school has a vehicle of the type you want to learn on, such as a car, a geared motorcycle or a scooter.
- There is a room for lessons, with traffic sign charts and teaching models.
- Instructors have passed Class 10, have at least 5 years' driving experience and hold a certificate in motor mechanics or mechanical engineering.
- The school's name, address and phone number are shown on its training vehicles.
- You get the course syllabus and the number of driving hours in writing, and your hours are recorded (Form 15).
- Nobody promises a licence "without a test". An ordinary school can't skip the test, and rule 27 bars schools from misleading applicants.
The central rules don't fix course fees, so compare a few schools. To get used to the controls first, you can try our driving simulator.
How long is the course, and what does it cover?
Rule 31 sets the syllabus for licensed schools in eleven parts and the minimum length of the course:
| Course | Syllabus parts | Minimum length | Actual driving |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-transport (private car, motorcycle) | A, B, C, F, G, K | 21 days | At least 10 hours |
| Transport (taxi, truck, bus) | E, F, G, H, I, J, K | 30 days | At least 15 hours (5 hours if moving up from a medium to a heavy vehicle) |
The parts are: A Driving theory I · B Traffic education I · C Light vehicle driving practice · D Vehicle mechanism and repairs · E Medium and heavy vehicle driving theory II · F Traffic education II · G Public relations for drivers · H Heavy vehicle driving practice · I Fire hazards · J Vehicle maintenance · K First aid.
- For a motorcycle, only the parts of the driving practice (Part C) that apply to motorcycles are needed.
- If you hold a St John Ambulance first-aid certificate, you are excused Part K.
- Accredited centres follow their own syllabus under rules 31B to 31J. In 2022 the two-wheeler syllabus was made more detailed, with both theory and practice.
These figures come from rule 31 as published by the Comptroller and Auditor General. Later amendments may have changed them, so ask your RTO or the school to show the current requirement. For the test itself, see the driving test guide.
How do you get from the course to a licence?
YouSchool / RTOFee
- Get a learner's licence for the class you want to learn
- Train at the school: theory lessons and driving hours, recorded in Form 15
- Accredited centre (ADTC)?No: you get Form 5 and book the RTO driving test
- Pass the centre's test of competence and get Form 5B
- Apply for the licence on Sarathi with Form 5B and pay the fee
- The RTO issues your driving licence; no driving test at the RTO
The licence application must include Form 5 or Form 5B, whichever applies. You can apply for the licence only after holding the learner's licence for at least 30 days. Full steps are in getting a driving licence.
How do you open a driving school or training centre?
Licensed driving school (rules 24 to 31)
Apply to the licensing authority for your area in Form 12 (renewal: Form 13). You need:
- premises you own, lease or rent, with space for lectures, teaching models and parking;
- enough money to run the school;
- at least one vehicle of each type you teach, kept only for teaching, with dual controls (except motorcycles);
- a blackboard, traffic sign charts, a service chart, a puncture kit, tools, an instruction manual, books and a first-aid box;
- instructors who meet rule 24(3): Class 10 pass, 5 years' driving, a motor mechanics or mechanical engineering certificate, and good knowledge of English or the regional language.
| Item | Fee | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Issue or renewal of a driving-school licence | ₹10,000 | 24(2) |
| Duplicate licence | ₹5,000 | 26(2) |
| Appeal against the licensing authority's order | ₹500 | 30(1) |
Central fees from rule 32, as published by Himachal Pradesh. Your state may add service charges.
Accredited Driver Training Centre (rules 31B to 31J)
- Apply to the State Transport Authority, or the agency the Centre has authorised. Accreditation is granted on the recommendation of a testing agency listed in rule 126.
- The centre must have driving simulators and a dedicated driving test track.
- Since the 2022 amendment (G.S.R. 714(E)), accreditation is renewed for 5 years at a time.
- Land, track, staff and fee requirements are in the rules. Ask your State Transport Authority for the application format and the current conditions.
The Ministry also funds government-backed training institutes (IDTRs, regional and district driver training centres). In July 2019 it told Lok Sabha that a district centre could get 50% of the project cost, up to ₹1 crore.
- Arrange premises, vehicles with dual controls, equipment and qualified instructors
- Apply in Form 12 to the RTO for your area and pay ₹10,000
- The RTO inspects and decides within 90 days
- Approved?No: you get written reasons after a hearing; appeal within 30 days
- You get a licence in Form 11, valid for 5 years
Renew at least 60 days before the licence expires. The RTO can suspend or cancel the licence after a hearing if the school stops meeting the conditions, departs from the syllabus or breaks its duties. Appeals go to the head of the state Motor Vehicles Department, who decides within 45 days.
What can go wrong, and how do you fix it?
| Your situation | What it usually means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| School says "no RTO test needed" | Only a Form 5B from an accredited centre exempts you | Ask to see the ADTC accreditation. If it is an ordinary school, plan for the RTO test. |
| School offers to "get the licence" for extra money | Schools don't issue licences | Apply yourself on Sarathi. Report misleading schools to your RTO. |
| No Form 5 at the end of the course | The school must issue it on completion | Ask in writing; if refused, complain to the RTO that licensed the school. |
| Training car has no instructor brake | Rule 24 requires dual controls (not on motorcycles) | Choose another school. |
| No accredited centre near you | Accredited centres are not available everywhere | Train at a licensed school and take the RTO test. |
| Your school licence application is pending past 90 days | The rule expects a decision within 90 days | Write to the licensing authority; if refused, appeal within 30 days. |
Frequently asked questions
Can a driving school give me a licence?
No. Only the RTO (the licensing authority) issues licences. A school gives a training certificate.
Do I need a driving school to get a licence?
No. The rules ask for a school certificate (Form 5) only if you trained at a school. You can take the RTO driving test once you have held a learner's licence for at least 30 days.
Does a driving school certificate exempt me from the driving test?
Only a Form 5B from an accredited centre (ADTC). The Form 5 from an ordinary school does not.
How long is a driving course?
Rule 31 sets at least 21 days and 10 hours of actual driving for a private vehicle, and 30 days and 15 hours for a transport vehicle. Ask your RTO for the current requirement.
How do I know a school is genuine?
It must display its licence (Form 11) or ADTC accreditation and the instructors' names. Ask your RTO if in doubt.
What does a driving-school licence cost?
₹10,000 for issue or renewal under rule 32, plus any state service charges. It is valid for 5 years.
Did the rules change on 1 June 2024?
No. The Ministry said the accredited-centre rules have applied since 1 July 2021 and no change was planned from 1 June 2024.
Sources
- PIB – clarification on Accredited Driver Training Centres and driving schools (1 Jun 2024): rules 31B–31J, Form 5 and Form 5B, rule 126 (accessed 26 Oct 2026)
- PIB – rules for Accredited Driver Training Centres notified (11 Jun 2021): simulators, test track, test exemption (accessed 26 Oct 2026)
- PIB – amendment to the ADTC rules, G.S.R. 714(E) (21 Sep 2022) (accessed 26 Oct 2026)
- Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 – rules 14 and 24 to 31 (copy published by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India; accessed 26 Oct 2026)
- Himachal Pradesh Transport – rule 32 fee table: driving-school licence fees (accessed 26 Oct 2026)
- India Code – Motor Vehicles Act, 1988: section 12 (accessed 26 Oct 2026)
- Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019 (Chhattisgarh Transport Department copy): sections 9(5) and 12(5)–(6) (accessed 26 Oct 2026)
- Lok Sabha – Unstarred Question 5439, Training for safe driving (25 Jul 2019) (accessed 26 Oct 2026)
- Tamil Nadu State Transport Authority – driving licence: Form 5 and Form 15 (accessed 25 Oct 2026)
Page history: 26 Oct 2026: first published.