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Driving Licence Types and Vehicle Classes in India
An Indian driving licence lists the classes of vehicle you may drive. The main ones are MCWOG (motorcycle without gear), MCWG (motorcycle with gear), LMV (light motor vehicle, such as a car) and transport vehicle. You must be 18 for most classes, 20 for a transport vehicle, and 16 only for a motorcycle of up to 50cc. Since a Supreme Court ruling of November 2024, an LMV licence also covers transport vehicles within 7,500 kg.
- Up to 50cc
- From age 16
- Car or motorcycle
- From age 18
- Transport
- From age 20
- LMV weight limit
- 7,500 kg
- Law
- MV Act, section 10
On this page
What licence classes does the law allow?
The Motor Vehicles Act has two kinds of licence: a learner's licence and a driving licence. Section 10(2) lists the classes of vehicle a licence can cover:
| Class in the Act | What it covers | Minimum age |
|---|---|---|
| Motor cycle without gear | Scooters and mopeds with no gears (MCWOG) | 18; 16 if the engine is up to 50cc |
| Motor cycle with gear | Geared motorcycles (MCWG) | 18 |
| Adapted vehicle | A vehicle built or adapted for a person with a disability, used only by or for that person. Called "invalid carriage" until 2019. | 18 |
| Light motor vehicle (LMV) | Cars, jeeps, tractors and other vehicles within 7,500 kg | 18 |
| Transport vehicle | Public service vehicles, goods carriages, school buses and private service vehicles, including medium and heavy ones | 20 |
| Road-roller | Road-rollers | 18 |
| Motor vehicle of a specified description | Other vehicles named on the licence | 18 |
One licence can carry several classes. A transport vehicle licence is valid for 5 years; private licence validity depends on your age (see renewing a licence).
Which class do I need?
Scooter or motorcycle
- Age 16 or 17: only a motorcycle with an engine of up to 50cc, with a parent's or guardian's consent on the application. A normal 110cc gearless scooter is not allowed.
- Age 18 or over, gearless scooter: MCWOG.
- Age 18 or over, geared motorcycle: MCWG. Many people take MCWG and MCWOG together.
Car, jeep or van
You need an LMV licence, from age 18. The Act defines a light motor vehicle as a transport vehicle or bus with a gross vehicle weight, or a car, tractor or road-roller with an unladen weight, of not more than 7,500 kg.
Taxi, goods vehicle, bus or lorry
- Within 7,500 kg gross weight (a taxi, an auto, a small goods carrier): the Supreme Court has held that an LMV licence is enough. See below.
- Over 7,500 kg (medium and heavy goods vehicles and buses): you need the transport vehicle class, from age 20.
- A transport licence needs a Form 1A medical certificate and lasts 5 years.
- Permits, badges and other state rules for commercial drivers are separate from the licence class; ask your RTO.
Adapted vehicles and e-rickshaws
- Adapted vehicle: for a person with a disability, in a vehicle built or adapted for them.
- E-rickshaw or e-cart: rules from 2015 let applicants with at least 10 days' training, certified by a registered association or the manufacturer, apply without the usual driving school certificate. Delhi lists the minimum age as 20.
Can I drive a transport vehicle on an LMV licence?
Yes, if it is within 7,500 kg. On 6 November 2024 a Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court ruled that a person with an LMV licence may drive a transport vehicle whose gross vehicle weight is not more than 7,500 kg, without a separate transport endorsement. It upheld the earlier three-judge ruling in Mukund Dewangan v. Oriental Insurance (2017). The extra conditions for transport licences apply to transport vehicles over 7,500 kg.
This mattered most for insurance claims, where insurers had argued they need not pay when the driver of a light goods vehicle or taxi held only an LMV licence. In September 2023 the court asked the Union government to decide whether the law should change; we have not found that the Act has been amended.
What do the codes on my licence mean?
| Code | Meaning |
|---|---|
| MCWOG | Motor cycle without gear |
| MCWG | Motor cycle with gear |
| LMV | Light motor vehicle |
These three codes are used in a 2021 Ministry of Road Transport notification (S.O. 2159(E), 28 May 2021). It also maps Indian classes to the international categories A to E used on an International Driving Permit. We found no official list of the other codes you may see, so check what yours means with your RTO.
Old labels: licences once had separate classes for medium and heavy goods and passenger vehicles (often shown as HGMV, HPMV or HMV). An amendment to the Act in 1994 replaced them with the single "transport vehicle" class. Older licences and records can still show the old labels.
How do I add a class to my licence?
YouRTODecision
- Apply on Sarathi for a learner licence for the new class
- Get the learner licence for that class
- After 30 days, apply to add the class and book a driving test
- Did you pass the driving test?No: pay ₹300 and take a retest
- The new class is added to your licence
- On Sarathi, choose your state and apply for a learner licence for the new class, giving your existing licence details.
- Hold the learner licence for at least 30 days, practise, then apply under Services on DL (Renewal/Duplicate/AEDL/IDP/Others) and book a slot under Appointments → DL Test Slot Booking.
- Pass the driving test in a vehicle of the new class.
| Central fee (rule 32) | Amount |
|---|---|
| Learner licence for the class | ₹150 |
| Learner licence test | ₹50 |
| Driving test | ₹300 |
| Adding the class to your licence | ₹500 |
States add service and smart card charges. A draft from October 2026 would also let you surrender a class; it is not in force.
What if something doesn't fit?
| Problem | What to do |
|---|---|
| My 16-year-old wants a licence for a normal scooter | The law allows only a motorcycle of up to 50cc at 16. Wait until 18 for a normal scooter. |
| An insurer or police officer says my LMV licence doesn't cover my taxi or small goods vehicle | Within 7,500 kg gross weight, the Supreme Court ruling of 6 November 2024 says it does. Permits and badges are separate requirements. |
| My licence shows a code I don't recognise | Check your licence details on Sarathi or DigiLocker, and ask your RTO what the code covers. |
| I can't find where to add a class on Sarathi | Start with a learner licence for the new class. "Add Class of Vehicles to an Application" appears to be for applications still in progress. |
Frequently asked questions
Can I ride a scooter at 16?
Only a motorcycle with an engine of up to 50cc, with your parent's or guardian's consent. Most scooters sold today are bigger than that.
What is the minimum age for a car licence?
18.
What is the difference between MCWOG and MCWG?
MCWOG is a motorcycle without gears, such as a scooter. MCWG is a motorcycle with gears.
Can I drive a taxi on my car licence?
The Supreme Court ruled in November 2024 that an LMV licence covers transport vehicles of up to 7,500 kg. You may still need a permit or badge under state rules.
What happened to HMV and HGMV licences?
Since 1994 the Act has one "transport vehicle" class in place of the medium and heavy goods and passenger classes.
How much does it cost to add a car to my bike licence?
The central fees are ₹150 for the learner licence, ₹50 for its test, ₹300 for the driving test and ₹500 to add the class, plus state charges.
What does AEDL mean on Sarathi?
It appears in the menu "Services on DL (Renewal/Duplicate/AEDL/IDP/Others)" We found no official expansion of the abbreviation.
Sources
- Tamil Nadu State Transport Authority – Learner Licence: ages 16 (up to 50cc), 18 and 20 (accessed 25 Oct 2026)
- MoRTH S.O. 2159(E), 28 May 2021 – classes of vehicle, copy published by the Embassy of India, Warsaw (accessed 25 Oct 2026)
- Central Motor Vehicles Rules, rule 32 – fees, Government of Himachal Pradesh copy (accessed 25 Oct 2026)
- Sarathi – driving licence services (accessed 25 Oct 2026)
- India Code – Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 (sections 2, 4 and 10) (accessed 25 Oct 2026)
- PIB – Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019: sections in force from 1 September 2019 (accessed 25 Oct 2026)
- Supreme Court – Bajaj Alliance General Insurance v. Rambha Devi (Constitution Bench), 6 Nov 2024 (accessed 25 Oct 2026)
- Supreme Court – order in Bajaj Alliance v. Rambha Devi, 13 Sep 2023 (accessed 25 Oct 2026)
- Supreme Court – Sant Lal v. Rajesh, 3 Jul 2017, applying Mukund Dewangan v. Oriental Insurance (accessed 25 Oct 2026)
- Delhi High Court – Jai Kumar v. Oriental Insurance (MAC.APP. 234/2021), 6 Jan 2026 (accessed 25 Oct 2026)
- G.S.R. 27(E), 2015 – e-rickshaw and e-cart licences, copy published by ARAI (accessed 25 Oct 2026)
Page history: 25 Oct 2026: first published. 25 Oct 2026: sources limited to government websites.