Duplicate driving licence: replace a lost or damaged licence

Losing your driving licence card does not mean losing your licence. The licence itself is a record held by the licensing authority, and the card is only proof of it. If the card is lost, stolen, torn or worn out, you apply for a duplicate driving licence on Sarathi under “Services on Driving Licence”. The new card is marked as a duplicate and carries the same licence number and validity.

Apply on Sarathi after selecting your state.

When you can get a duplicate licence

The Parivahan duplicate licence page lists three situations:

• the licence is lost or destroyed;
• the licence is defaced, torn or completely written up;
• the photograph on the licence needs to be replaced.

A duplicate is a copy of the licence you already hold. It does not renew the licence, add a vehicle class or change your address. If you need any of those, apply for them in the same Services on Driving Licence application or separately: see renewal and address and other changes.

Duplicate, replacement or renewal?

Sarathi lists several services with similar names. Choosing the right one avoids a rejected application.

If the card is lost and the licence has expired, you need a renewal. The renewed licence is issued as a new card, so a separate duplicate is usually unnecessary. Check the services your state lists on the Sarathi screen.

First steps if your licence is lost or stolen

1. Look up your licence number. It is on old photocopies, in DigiLocker or in the Nexgen mParivahan app. Sarathi needs the number and your date of birth.
2. Report a theft to the police. If the card was stolen, especially with other documents, a police report protects you if someone misuses it. Some states ask for a copy of the report or an affidavit with the duplicate application; the Sarathi screen for your state shows whether it is needed.
3. Keep a digital copy handy. While you wait, you can still view your licence details in DigiLocker or mParivahan.

Documents you need

According to Parivahan’s duplicate licence page:

• the application in Form 2, which Sarathi completes online;
• the original licence if it is defaced or written up;
• an attested copy of the licence, if you have one, when the original is lost;
• the prescribed fee and user charges.

States may add items such as a police report for a stolen licence, an affidavit, or proof of address. Uploads on Sarathi must be JPEG, JPG or PDF and no more than 300 KB.

How to apply on Sarathi, step by step

1. Open Sarathi and select the state where you live now.
2. Choose Apply online › Services on Driving Licence and continue past the instructions.
3. Enter your licence number and date of birth and fetch the details.
4. Confirm the details shown. Use Aadhaar authentication if your state offers it.
5. Tick Issue of duplicate DL, and any other service you need at the same time.
6. Give the reason (lost, damaged or photo change) and upload the documents asked for.
7. Pay the fee and keep the receipt and application number.
8. Book an appointment if your state asks for one. Then track the application under Application status.

S.O. 4353(E) of 16 September 2022 includes the duplicate driving licence among the services that can be completed online with voluntary Aadhaar authentication, so many applicants do not need to visit the RTO.

Applying in a different state or RTO

Since 1 October 2020, Rule 18A of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules lets the licensing authority that receives your application issue the duplicate if your licence details are on the Portal. If they are not, that authority issues it after confirmation from the original licensing authority through the Portal. In practice, you can usually apply where you live now rather than travelling back to the RTO that first issued your licence.

If Sarathi cannot find your licence at all, the official FAQ asks you to contact the RTO that issued it for a “backlog entry”. Once the record is on Sarathi, you can apply online.

Duplicate licence fee

Central fees are set by Rule 32 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules. The ₹400 duplicate licence line was added by G.S.R. 240(E) of 31 March 2021, in force from 1 April 2021.

States add their own service or user charges, so the exact amount appears on Sarathi’s payment page. Use the fee calculator to see the central fee for any licence service. Note that older fee lists that show only a ₹200 duplicate fee predate G.S.R. 240(E) of 31 March 2021.

If you find the original licence

Once the duplicate is issued, it is the card to carry. If the original turns up later, do not use both cards; ask your RTO what to do with the old one, as practice varies between states. If the original was stolen and later recovered by the police, keep a copy of the police report with your records.

Duplicate driving licence for older licences

Licences issued before states moved to Sarathi may exist only in the RTO’s paper or older electronic records. For these:

• ask the issuing RTO to add the licence to Sarathi through a backlog entry;
• then apply online for a duplicate or for replacement of the licence;
• if your old licence is a booklet or paper licence that is still in your hands, choose Replacement of DL instead of a duplicate.

Rule 16 says every licence issued or renewed is a laminated card without a chip or a smart card in Form 7, so the new card will be in the current design.

Proposed changes

The draft G.S.R. 902(E) of 16 October 2026 proposes a single Form 2A for duplicate licences, renewal and changes, a decision by the licensing authority within set time limits, and no fee where the service is completed with online Aadhaar authentication. These are draft rules published for comment. The current ₹400 fee and Form 2 apply until final rules are notified.

Frequently asked questions

Will my licence number change?

No. A duplicate is a copy of your existing licence, so the number, vehicle classes and validity stay the same.

Can I drive while waiting for the duplicate?

Your licence remains valid even without the card, but you may be asked to show it. You can show your licence details in DigiLocker or Nexgen mParivahan, or carry the receipt for your duplicate application.

Do I need an FIR for a lost licence?

The central rules and Parivahan’s page do not list one, but some states ask for a police report or affidavit. Follow the document list on your state’s Sarathi screen.

Can I get a duplicate if my licence has expired?

Apply for renewal instead. A renewed licence is issued as a new card. If it expired more than a year ago, you will need to pass the driving test again.

How do I track my duplicate licence application?

Use Application status on Sarathi with your application number and date of birth. If you lose the application number, use “Search related application numbers”.

Can someone else apply for me?

The application is made in your name using your licence and date of birth, and Aadhaar authentication uses an OTP sent to your phone. Do not share these with agents or unknown apps; use only parivahan.gov.in and the official mParivahan app.

Related: how to get a driving licence, forms, fees and FAQ.