Driving licence renewal: when, how and what it costs

A driving licence does not last for life. Its expiry date depends on your age when it was issued or last renewed, and since 15 August 2026 the law keeps it effective for only 30 days after that date. Renewal is handled on Sarathi under “Services on Driving Licence”, and if you renew on time it usually needs no test and, with Aadhaar authentication, often no visit to the RTO.

Start your renewal on Sarathi after selecting your state.

How long your driving licence is valid

The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019 rewrote section 14(2) of the Act from 1 September 2019. For licences other than transport, validity depends on your age on the date of issue or renewal:

For example, someone who gets a car licence at 19 holds it until their 40th birthday. Renewing at 40 gives ten more years, to 50. Renewing at 50 gives cover until 60, and after that each renewal is for five years. The expiry date printed on your card, or shown in mParivahan or DigiLocker, is the one that counts.

When you can renew

The 2019 amendment to section 15 of the Act widened the renewal window. You can apply:

• up to one year before the expiry date; or
• within one year after the expiry date.

The Sarathi FAQ puts it simply: renewal can be done within one year prior to or after the expiry of the driving licence.

The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2026 changed two details from 15 August 2026 (MoRTH notification S.O. 4100(E) of 24 July 2026):

• Renewing early costs you nothing. If you apply within one year before expiry, the licence is renewed with effect from the date of its expiry, so you do not lose the remaining months.
• A 30-day cushion. Every driving licence continues to be effective for 30 days from its expiry date. After those 30 days, driving on it counts as driving without a valid licence, even though you can still renew without a test for the rest of the first year.

More than one year after expiry

If you apply more than one year after the licence ceased to be effective, section 15(4) says the licensing authority shall refuse to renew it unless you pass the test of competence to drive. On Sarathi this appears as renewal with retest, or revalidation. Rule 18(4) of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules says that when renewal is applied for after expiry, the licensing authority shall not require an effective learner licence. The Sarathi FAQ notes that state settings vary, so follow the screen for your state.

The fee is also higher, as the renewal fee table shows.

Documents you need

According to the Parivahan renewal page and the Act:

• your existing driving licence (or a copy, if the card is damaged);
• the application in Form 2, which Sarathi fills in online;
• a self-declaration of physical fitness (Form 1) for non-transport licences, or
• a medical certificate in Form 1A from a registered medical practitioner if you are renewing a transport licence, or if you are 40 or older for any licence (section 15(1));
• a Form 5A certificate if you are renewing a heavy goods or heavy passenger vehicle licence (Rule 18);
• proof of address if you are changing it at the same time.

Form 1A is on Parivahan’s forms list. Uploads must be JPEG, JPG or PDF, 300 KB at most.

How to renew on Sarathi, step by step

1. Open Sarathi and choose your state.
2. Go to Apply online › Services on Driving Licence and read the instructions.
3. Enter your driving licence number and date of birth, then click to fetch your licence details.
4. Check the details. If you use Aadhaar authentication, confirm the OTP.
5. Select Renewal of DL from the list of services. Add a change of address in the same application if you have moved.
6. Fill in the remaining details, the fitness declaration or Form 1A, and upload documents if asked.
7. Pay the fee under Fee/Payments and keep the receipt.
8. Book an RTO appointment only if Sarathi asks for one. Then track the application under Application status.

Renewing without visiting the RTO

S.O. 4353(E) of 16 September 2022 lists “renewal of driving licence for which test of competence to drive is not required” among the services that can be done fully online with voluntary Aadhaar authentication through Parivahan or mParivahan. If your licence is within the renewal window and you are not changing class, many states complete the renewal without an RTO visit. Without Aadhaar, you complete the same renewal in person with other identity documents.

Renewal fees and late fees

Central fees come from Rule 32 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules. Since 1 April 2021 (G.S.R. 240(E)), the late fee only starts one year after expiry, matching the Act’s renewal window.

The ₹1,000 is charged for each year, or part of a year, of delay counted from one year after the expiry date. Worked examples of the central fee, including the ₹200 card:

If you need a retest after more than a year, the driving test fee of ₹300 per class also applies. States may add charges for automation and services, so Sarathi’s payment page shows your final amount. You can check any case with the fee calculator.

Older articles often link the late fee to a 30-day grace period. Since April 2021 the late fee is counted from one year after expiry, and the 30-day period restored in August 2026 only affects whether you may drive, not the fee.

Transport and hazardous goods licences

Transport licences follow stricter rules. A licence to drive a transport vehicle is valid for five years at a time, and one endorsed for vehicles carrying dangerous or hazardous goods for three years, with renewal subject to conditions the Central Government prescribes. Every renewal of a transport licence needs a Form 1A medical certificate, whatever your age.

The hazardous goods authorisation has its own line in Rule 32: endorsement or renewal costs ₹100 under the gazette table. Some fee pages show a different figure for this line, so go by the amount on Sarathi for your state. If you hold a public service vehicle (PSV) badge, its renewal or a duplicate badge is also handled under Services on Driving Licence.

Planning ahead by age

Because validity is tied to age, renewal dates cluster around birthdays:

• First licence before 30. Your licence runs to your 40th birthday. Renew in the year before you turn 40, and include Form 1A, since you will be 40 or nearly so.
• Renewing between 40 and 49. You get ten years, and a medical certificate is needed each time.
• Renewing between 50 and 54. Your licence runs to your 60th birthday.
• From 55 onwards. Each renewal gives five years, with a medical certificate.

Set a reminder about a year before the expiry date. That gives you the whole window to renew online, sort out any address change, and get the card, without a gap in which you cannot legally drive.

Common renewal mistakes

• Waiting until after expiry. You avoid a test for one year, but you can drive for only 30 days after the expiry date.
• Missing Form 1A at 40-plus. The Act requires the certificate with the application, so leave time to see a doctor.
• Choosing the old state after moving. Apply in the state where you live now and add the address change.
• Paying twice after a failed payment. Use Verify Pay Status first. Refunds of double payments are handled by the state transport department, not automatically.
• Using an agent’s link. Renewal is only on Sarathi under parivahan.gov.in or in the official mParivahan app.

Renewing in another state or RTO

You do not have to go back to the RTO that issued your licence. The Sarathi FAQ says a licence can be renewed in a different state or RTO by applying online to the RTO for your present home or business address, and the same application should include a change of address. No NOC is required as long as your licence record is in the Sarathi database. Pick your current state on the state selection list.

If your licence is not found on Sarathi

Older licences, especially paper or early smart-card ones, may not have been migrated. If Sarathi cannot find your licence number, the official FAQ asks you to contact the RTO that issued it with your licence or a copy so it can make a “backlog entry”. After that you can renew online like everyone else.

Proposed changes

The draft G.S.R. 902(E) of 16 October 2026 proposes a single Form 2A for renewal, duplicates and changes of particulars, and no fee where a service is completed through online Aadhaar authentication. These are draft rules for public comment; current fees apply until final rules are notified.

Frequently asked questions

Can I drive while my renewal is being processed?

Yes, while the licence is current and for up to 30 days after its expiry date. After that you should not drive until the renewal is granted.

Do I need a medical certificate to renew?

Yes, a Form 1A medical certificate if you are 40 or older, or if it is a transport licence. Otherwise a self-declaration is enough.

My licence expired three years ago. What now?

Apply for renewal with retest on Sarathi. You pay ₹300 plus ₹1,000 for each year or part year of delay after the first year, the test fee, and the card fee, and you must pass the driving test.

Can I renew and add a new class together?

Yes. The Sarathi FAQ says you can renew and add a class of vehicle, but you need a valid learner licence for the new class.

My licence was issued in another state. Do I need an NOC to renew here?

No, as long as your licence record is in the Sarathi database. Apply to the RTO for your present address and include a change of address in the same application.

What if my licence is lost and also due for renewal?

Apply on Sarathi under Services on Driving Licence for the renewal, and choose the duplicate licence service if your state lists it separately. See duplicate driving licence for the police report and other steps.

Is there a grace period after expiry?

Yes, for 30 days. From 15 August 2026 a licence stays effective for 30 days from its expiry date. The longer one-year period is only a window to renew without a fresh test or the higher fee; it is not permission to drive.

What if my renewal is refused?

Under Rule 19, if the licensing authority rejects a renewal under section 15(5), you can apply for a refund of half the renewal fee within 30 days of receiving the order.

How long does renewal take?

It depends on your state. Track progress on Sarathi under Application status using the application number and date of birth.

Related: duplicate driving licence, address and other changes, forms and fees. Back to how to get a driving licence.