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
Renew Your Driving Licence: Validity, Online Steps and Fees
You can renew your driving licence on Sarathi any time from one year before it expires. Under the law in force, the licence is not valid from the day after expiry, so renew before that date. You need a Form 1A medical certificate if you are 40 or older or hold a transport licence. The central fee is ₹200 plus ₹200 for the smart card. If you are more than a year late, you must pass the driving test again.
- Central fee
- ₹200 + ₹200 smart card
- When
- From 1 year before expiry
- Where
- Sarathi; RTO only if needed
- You need
- DL number, date of birth; Form 1A at 40+
- Difficulty
- Easy if on time
On this page
How long is your driving licence valid?
A private (non-transport) licence lasts according to your age on the day it is issued or renewed:
| Your age on the date of issue or renewal | The licence is valid |
|---|---|
| Under 30 | Until your 40th birthday |
| 30 to 49 | For 10 years |
| 50 to 54 | Until your 60th birthday |
| 55 and over | For 5 years |
| Transport vehicle licence (any age) | For 5 years |
| Hazardous goods (any age) | For 3 years |
The expiry date is printed on your licence, and shown in DigiLocker and mParivahan. There is no upper age limit for driving; from 55 you renew every five years with a medical certificate.
Renewal counts from the day you renew, not from the old expiry date. If you renew early, the new period starts on the renewal day, and your age on that day decides which line of the table applies.
Renewal planner: when to renew and what you need
Enter your dates
The planner runs only in your browser. Nothing you enter is sent anywhere. You don't need your licence number.
What changes if your licence has expired?
Before the expiry date
Renew now if you are within one year of the expiry date. You pay the normal fee, no test is needed, and you stay legal to drive throughout. This is the easiest route.
Expired less than a year ago
- Do not drive until it is renewed. Under the rules in force, it stopped being valid the day after expiry (see the grace period box).
- You can still renew without a driving test. A late fee may be added; Sarathi shows the exact amount before you pay.
- A pending application is not a licence. Wait until the renewal is approved and shows in DigiLocker or mParivahan.
Expired more than a year ago
- The RTO will renew only after you pass the driving test again (Section 15 of the Motor Vehicles Act). Courts have upheld this.
- Apply for renewal on Sarathi, pay the fee and the late fee, and book a driving test slot.
- The late fee in the central fee table is ₹300 plus ₹1,000 for each year or part of a year of delay, plus ₹300 for the test.
- If you were prevented by a good reason (for example illness or being abroad), you can ask the RTO to accept the normal fee; the law allows this.
Do you need a medical certificate to renew?
Under 40, private licence
No doctor is needed. You fill in Form 1, a self-declaration that you are fit to drive, as part of the online application.
40 or older, or any transport licence
You need a Form 1A medical certificate from a registered medical practitioner. Sarathi has a Find Doctor link to find doctors registered for this. In some states (Odisha, for example) the doctor issues Form 1A online on Sarathi, and it is valid for 6 months.
Get it shortly before you apply, so it is still valid when the RTO checks your application.
Age 50 does not trigger the medical certificate. It changes how long the renewed licence lasts (until 60). The medical certificate starts at 40.
What documents do you need, and what does it cost?
- Your driving licence number and date of birth (the details come from the national record).
- Form 1 (under 40, private) or Form 1A (40+ or transport).
- Photo and signature, if Sarathi asks for them.
- Proof of your new address, only if you are also changing the address.
| Fee item | Central fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Renewal | ₹200 | Delhi's total with the smart card: ₹400 |
| Smart card | ₹200 | |
| Late renewal | ₹300 + ₹1,000 per year | For each year or part of a year of delay; Sarathi calculates it |
| Driving test, if over a year late | ₹300 | Per vehicle class |
| State service charges, postage | Varies | Shown on Sarathi before you pay |
How do you renew your licence online?
YouSarathi / RTOFee or waiting
- Open Sarathi, choose your state, then Apply for DL Renewal
- Enter your licence number and date of birth; tick Renewal of DL
- Are you 40 or older, or is it a transport licence?No: fill in Form 1 online
- Get Form 1A from a registered doctor and upload it (or the doctor submits it on Sarathi)
- Pay the fee: ₹200 + ₹200 smart card (+ late fee if late)
- Did you use Aadhaar, and is no driving test needed?No: book an RTO visit or test slot
- The RTO approves; the renewed licence shows in DigiLocker and the card comes by post
- Open Sarathi at sarathi.parivahan.gov.in and choose your state.
- Choose Apply for DL Renewal (menu: Driving Licence → Services on DL).
- Enter your licence number and date of birth. Check the details that appear.
- Choose Aadhaar authentication if you want the route with no RTO visit (OTP to your Aadhaar mobile). Aadhaar is optional.
- Tick Renewal of DL. Add Change of Address too if you have moved.
- Fill in Form 1, or upload Form 1A if you need it.
- Pay the fee. If the payment is debited but not confirmed, check the payment status before paying again.
- If you did not use Aadhaar, or a test is needed, book a slot and visit the RTO with your documents.
- Track the application (Application Status) and the card (Others → Track Dispatch Article Status).
✔ You'll know it worked when the new expiry date appears in DigiLocker or mParivahan, or on Sarathi's print page. Only then is it safe to drive again if your licence had expired.
Open Sarathi (official) sarathi.parivahan.gov.in
Can you renew in another state?
Yes. The law lets any licensing authority renew a driving licence, not only the one that issued it. On Sarathi, select the state where you live now, apply for renewal, and add Change of Address with proof of your new address. Some offices still ask for extra papers; if yours does, ask them to put it in writing.
What can go wrong, and how do you fix it?
| Your situation | What it usually means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| "Licence details not found" on Sarathi | An old paper or booklet licence that was never added to the national database | Go to the RTO that issued it with the original and ask them to add it to Sarathi (a "backlog entry"). Some states run online backlog services. Then apply. |
| Sarathi asks you to take a driving test | You are more than a year past expiry | This is the law. Book a test slot and practise first. |
| Fee is higher than ₹400 | A late fee and state charges were added | Check the breakdown. If a good reason kept you from renewing, ask the RTO to accept the normal fee. |
| Medical certificate rejected | Form 1A older than 6 months, a doctor not registered on Sarathi, or Form 1 used at 40+ | Get a fresh Form 1A from a doctor listed under Find Doctor. |
| No "without RTO visit" option | No Aadhaar authentication, or your name or date of birth on Aadhaar and the licence don't match | Use the route with an RTO visit, or correct the mismatch first. |
| Aadhaar OTP doesn't arrive | The mobile on your Aadhaar is old | Update the mobile on Aadhaar, or apply without Aadhaar. |
| New expiry date is earlier than you expected | The new period counts from the renewal day, and your age on that day sets it | Nothing is wrong. Don't renew much earlier than needed. |
| Fined while the renewal was pending | An expired licence is not valid, even with an application pending | Don't drive until the renewal is approved. Next time, renew before expiry. |
| Payment debited but shows unpaid | The bank's confirmation didn't reach Sarathi | Check the payment status; don't pay twice. File a grievance on Sarathi with the bank reference. |
| Renewed card not received | Postal delay or old address | Track Dispatch Article Status; use DigiLocker meanwhile; update the address if needed. |
Frequently asked questions
How long is my driving licence valid?
For a private licence it depends on your age on the date it was issued or renewed: under 30, until 40; 30 to 49, 10 years; 50 to 54, until 60; 55 and over, 5 years. Transport licences last 5 years and hazardous-goods licences 3 years.
Is there a grace period after my licence expires?
Not under the law in force since 2019; courts have confirmed that an expired licence is not valid even for one day. The Jan Vishwas Act 2026 adds a 30-day period from a date the government notifies; until that is confirmed, renew before expiry.
When can I apply for renewal?
From one year before the expiry date up to one year after it. After that, you must pass the driving test again.
Do I need a driving test to renew?
Only if you apply more than one year after the licence expired.
Do I need a medical certificate?
Yes if you are 40 or older or hold a transport licence (Form 1A from a registered doctor). Otherwise a Form 1 self-declaration is enough.
Can I renew without visiting the RTO?
Yes, if you use Aadhaar authentication and no driving test is needed. Without Aadhaar you apply online and then visit the RTO.
What is the renewal fee?
The central fee is ₹200, plus ₹200 for the smart card and state charges. A late fee of ₹300 plus ₹1,000 for each year or part of a year of delay can apply.
What is the fine for driving with an expired licence?
It counts as driving without a valid licence: up to ₹5,000 or up to 3 months in prison, or both. The amount you actually pay can depend on your state.
If I renew early, do I lose the remaining months?
Yes. Under the current law the new period starts on the renewal day, not on the old expiry date. Renew close to expiry, but before it.
I moved to another state. Where do I renew?
In the state where you live now. Any licensing authority can renew; add a change of address to the same application.
I am over 60. Can I still renew?
Yes. There is no upper age limit. From 55 the licence is renewed for 5 years at a time, with a Form 1A medical certificate each time.
Sources
- India Code – Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 (as on 21 May 2025): sections 14 and 15, validity by age, renewal window, retest after one year, no grace proviso (accessed 25 Oct 2026)
- PIB – Provisions of the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act 2019 in force from 1 Sep 2019: validity, renewal, Section 181 fine (accessed 25 Oct 2026)
- mParivahan – Renewal of driving licence: window, retest, Form 1 / Form 1A (accessed 25 Oct 2026)
- Form 2 (official PDF): services, Form 1A at 40+ (accessed 25 Oct 2026)
- Delhi High Court, W.P.(C) 17015/2025, judgment of 25 Mar 2026: no grace period, renewal does not relate back; applies the Supreme Court judgment in Telangana State Level Police Recruitment Board v. Penjarla Vijay Kumar (accessed 25 Oct 2026)
- Lok Sabha unstarred question 2935, 8 Aug 2024: online renewal with Aadhaar without an RTO visit (accessed 25 Oct 2026)
- PIB – 58 services online with voluntary Aadhaar authentication (16 Sep 2022) (accessed 25 Oct 2026)
- PIB – Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2026 explainer: 30-day period (accessed 25 Oct 2026)
- Transport Department, Uttarakhand – Fee structure: Rule 32 fees (accessed 25 Oct 2026)
- Odisha State Transport Authority – electronic Form 1A order (2022) (accessed 25 Oct 2026)
- Transport Department, Delhi – Renewal of driving licence: fee example (accessed 25 Oct 2026)
Page history: 25 Oct 2026: first published. 25 Oct 2026: sources limited to government websites.