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Independent guide by India Customer Care · Not the Parivahan government website · We never ask for your licence number, vehicle number, Aadhaar or OTP. Official services: parivahan.gov.in

Duplicate Driving Licence: Lost, Stolen or Damaged DL

By ICC TeamUpdated Facts checked against official sources on

If your driving licence is lost or stolen, report it to the police, then apply for a duplicate on Sarathi under Apply for Duplicate DL. A damaged or torn card is replaced the same way. The fee is set by each state (₹200 in Delhi and Uttarakhand, ₹100 in Andhra Pradesh) plus ₹200 for the smart card. Your licence in DigiLocker or mParivahan is valid while you wait.

Fee
State fee (e.g. ₹200) + ₹200 card
Where
Sarathi online
You need
DL number, police report if lost
Meanwhile
DigiLocker or mParivahan copy
Difficulty
Easy
Four steps: the licence is lost, you file a police lost report, you apply for a duplicate on Sarathi while showing the DigiLocker copy, and the new smart card arrives. DL ? 1 · Lost or damaged LOST REPORT POLICE 2 · Report it Sarathi Duplicate DL DigiLocker DL ✓ 3 · Apply online DRIVING LICENCE DUPLICATE 4 · New card
Report → apply on Sarathi → new card (use DigiLocker meanwhile)Illustration · not an official image
On this page
  1. First: what to do right away
  2. Lost, damaged or an old booklet licence?
  3. Documents and fees
  4. How to apply for a duplicate on Sarathi
  5. Driving while you wait
  6. Don't know your licence number?
  7. Problems and fixes
  8. Frequently asked questions

What should you do as soon as you notice the licence is missing?

Lost licence checklist

  • Note your licence number if you have it: check DigiLocker, mParivahan, an old photo or photocopy, or a past Sarathi SMS.
  • Add the licence to DigiLocker or mParivahan now, so you can keep driving legally.
  • File a police complaint or lost report. Many state police websites have an online lost-article report; keep the report number or PDF.
  • If it was stolen with other documents (Aadhaar, bank cards), report those too and block your cards.
  • Apply for the duplicate on sarathi.parivahan.gov.in. Do not use agents or "duplicate in one day" websites.

Which case is yours?

Lost or stolen

  • Get a police complaint or lost report. The national Form 2 asks for its copy; Delhi asks for an FIR or NCR (non-cognisable report) that mentions the licence number.
  • If the police station will not register an FIR for a lost card, ask for a lost report or use the state police's online lost-article service.
  • Then apply for a duplicate (steps below).
  • If you find the old card later, give it back to the RTO; don't use two cards.

Damaged, torn or faded

  • A licence that is torn, defaced or unreadable is replaced with a duplicate.
  • Keep the damaged card: you upload a photo of it, and the RTO may ask you to hand it in.
  • The national form also asks for a police complaint copy for a damaged card, but many states only need the damaged card itself. Sarathi shows what your state asks for.

Old paper or booklet licence

  • An old licence is still valid until its expiry date, but some states offer a replacement with a smart card (Tamil Nadu lists "DL replacement" on Sarathi; Kerala calls it "replacement of driving licence").
  • First check that the licence is in the national database: try it in DigiLocker, or enter it on Sarathi. If it is not found, the issuing RTO must add it first (a "backlog entry").
  • Assam required old manual licences to be digitised during a 2023 window; licences not digitised then were declared invalid there. Check your state's notices.

What documents do you need, and what does it cost?

  • Your licence number and date of birth.
  • Police complaint, FIR, NCR or lost report (lost or stolen; some states also for damaged cards).
  • A copy of the old licence, if you have one, or a photo of the damaged card.
  • Proof of address, if your state asks or you are changing the address.
  • Transport licence in Delhi: a challan clearance from the Delhi Traffic Police.

The duplicate fee is fixed by each state's rules, not nationally. Examples:

StateDuplicate feePlus
Delhi₹200₹200 smart card (total ₹400)
Uttarakhand₹200₹200 smart card
Andhra Pradesh₹100User charges
Other statesShown on SarathiSmart card, service and postal charges

How do you apply for a duplicate driving licence online?

YouSarathi / RTOFee or waiting

Duplicate licence on Sarathi
  1. Get a police complaint or lost report (lost or stolen licence)
  2. On Sarathi, choose the state of your licence, then Apply for Duplicate DL
  3. Enter your licence number and date of birth; tick Duplicate (and Renewal if it has expired)
  4. Upload the police report, and a copy or photo of the old card
  5. Pay the state fee + ₹200 smart card
  6. Did you use Aadhaar authentication?No: book a slot and visit the RTO
  7. The RTO approves and posts the new card; track it on Sarathi
  1. Open sarathi.parivahan.gov.in and choose the state that holds your licence record (usually the one that issued it, or where you last renewed or changed the address).
  2. Choose Apply for Duplicate DL (menu: Driving Licence → Services on DL).
  3. Enter your licence number and date of birth, and check the details.
  4. Choose Aadhaar authentication for the route with no RTO visit (optional).
  5. Tick Duplicate Driving Licence and the reason (lost, damaged). Tick Renewal too if the licence has expired.
  6. Upload the police report and any copy or photo of the old card.
  7. Pay the fee. If it is debited but not confirmed, check the payment status before paying again.
  8. Without Aadhaar: book the RTO appointment if asked and take the original documents (and the damaged card).
  9. Track the card with Others → Track Dispatch Article Status.

✔ You'll know it worked when Sarathi shows the application as approved and the dispatch status shows a Speed Post number.

Open Sarathi (official) sarathi.parivahan.gov.in

Can you drive while you wait for the duplicate?

Yes, with the digital licence. A driving licence shown in DigiLocker or the mParivahan app, fetched from the transport department's records, is legally equal to the original (Ministry of Road Transport advisory, August 2018; Rule 139 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules allows documents in electronic form). Traffic police can check it through their own systems, so they don't need to handle a paper document.

Counts as your licence

  • DigiLocker: Issued Documents → Driving Licence, fetched with your licence number.
  • mParivahan app: the licence added with your licence number and date of birth.

Does not count

  • A photo or scan of the card on your phone, or a WhatsApp image.
  • A PDF downloaded and stored outside the official apps.
  • The Sarathi application receipt.

See our guide to the licence and RC in DigiLocker and mParivahan.

What if you don't know your licence number?

Look for it in these places first:

  • DigiLocker or mParivahan, if you added the licence earlier.
  • Old SMS from Sarathi or your RTO, and old renewal or address-change receipts.
  • Photocopies or scans you gave for a job, a bank, an insurance policy or a rental agreement.

If you still can't find it, go to the RTO that issued the licence with photo ID and ask them to look it up. Avoid websites and apps that offer to "find a licence number by name": they are not official and may misuse your details.

What can go wrong, and how do you fix it?

Your situationWhat it usually meansWhat to do
"Licence details not found" on SarathiAn old licence never added to the national databaseAsk the issuing RTO for a backlog entry, then apply for the duplicate.
Police station won't file an FIR for a lost cardLosing a card is not a crime, so some stations won't register an FIRAsk for a lost report or NCR, or use the state police's online lost-article report.
Application returned: police report missingYour state asks for it, even for a damaged cardUpload a lost or damage report, or ask the RTO whether the damaged card is enough.
Licence lost and also expiredA duplicate does not renewApply for renewal and duplicate together; Form 1A if 40+; a test if expired over a year ago.
No route without an RTO visitNo Aadhaar authentication, or a name or date of birth mismatch with AadhaarUse the RTO route, or correct the mismatch first.
Stopped by police before the card arrivesNo physical cardShow the licence in DigiLocker or mParivahan; a photo is not enough.
Card not receivedPostal delay, or an old address on the recordCheck Track Dispatch Article Status; update the address if it changed.
Charged more than shown for a smart cardA payment or software errorKeep the receipt and ask the RTO for a refund or adjustment.
A website promises a duplicate "in one day"Not an official serviceUse only sarathi.parivahan.gov.in and pay only on its payment page.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need an FIR for a lost driving licence?

You need a police complaint or lost report. The national form asks for a copy, and Delhi asks for an FIR or NCR mentioning the licence number. Other states may accept an online lost report.

Which form is used for a duplicate licence?

Form 2, the common form for all licence services. Sarathi fills it in for you when you apply online. Some state pages still call it Form LLD.

What is the fee for a duplicate driving licence?

It is set by the state: ₹200 in Delhi and Uttarakhand, ₹100 in Andhra Pradesh, plus ₹200 for the smart card and state charges.

Can I apply for a duplicate licence online?

Yes, on Sarathi under Apply for Duplicate DL. With Aadhaar authentication you may not need to visit the RTO.

Can I drive without the card?

Yes, if your licence is in DigiLocker or mParivahan: these copies are legally equal to the card. A photo or scan is not.

Will the duplicate have a new licence number?

A duplicate is a copy of your existing licence record. Check every detail on the new card when it arrives, and tell the RTO at once if anything is wrong.

My card is just old and faded. What do I do?

Apply for a duplicate as a damaged licence, or, in states that offer it, a replacement smart card. Keep the old card to hand in.

My licence is lost and expired. Which do I apply for?

Both in one application: tick Renewal and Duplicate. If it expired more than a year ago, you must also pass the driving test.

How long does a duplicate take?

There is no fixed national time. Track the approval and the Speed Post dispatch on Sarathi, and use DigiLocker meanwhile.

Sources

  1. mParivahan – Duplicate driving licence: when it is issued, documents (accessed 25 Oct 2026)
  2. Form 2 (official PDF): duplicate service, police complaint copy (accessed 25 Oct 2026)
  3. Sarathi – licence services; menu names from the Chandigarh Sarathi home page (accessed 25 Oct 2026)
  4. Transport Department, Delhi – Duplicate driving licence: FIR or NCR, challan clearance, fee (accessed 25 Oct 2026)
  5. Transport Department, Andhra Pradesh – Duplicate licence and fees (accessed 25 Oct 2026)
  6. Transport Department, Uttarakhand – Fee structure (accessed 25 Oct 2026)
  7. PIB – DigiLocker and mParivahan documents valid (9 Aug 2018) (accessed 25 Oct 2026)
  8. PIB – Only documents in DigiLocker or mParivahan are recognised (20 Sep 2019) (accessed 25 Oct 2026)
  9. Odisha Transport – DigiLocker (G.S.R. 1081(E), Rule 139) (accessed 25 Oct 2026)
  10. Government of Tamil Nadu – press release on Sarathi services (13 Jul 2023): duplicate and replacement (accessed 25 Oct 2026)
  11. Transport Department, Assam – digitisation of manual licences (2023) (accessed 25 Oct 2026)

Page history: 25 Oct 2026: first published.

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