DL Renewal Online: It is mandatory to have a valid Driving License (DL) to drive a vehicle on the road. If your license has expired or is about to expire, then it is very important to renew it in time. As per the rules, a private driving license is generally valid for 20 years from the date of issue or till you are 40–50 years of age (whichever is earlier). At the same time, commercial driving license has to be renewed every 3-5 years.
License expiry and grace period rules
You can apply for renewal of driving license up to one year before its expiry. Even after expiry, there is a grace period of 30 days in which no penalty has to be paid. However, if there is a delay after this, late fees are charged. Not only this, if your license expires for more than 5 years, you may have to apply afresh or take the driving test again.
Easy process to renew driving license online
The process of renewing driving license in India has now become digital to a great extent. You can apply from home through Sarathi Parivahan Portal (sarathi.parivahan.gov.in) of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
For online renewal, first go to the portal and select your state. After this click on Driving License > Services on Driving License (Renewal/Duplicate) option. Proceed by entering your driving license number, date of birth and captcha here. Select Renewal as service and fill the application form.
After this upload the scanned documents (PDF/JPEG), photo and signature. You can pay the fees through net banking, UPI or card. If biometric or document verification is required, an appointment will have to be booked at the nearest RTO. Go to RTO with original documents on the scheduled date. You can also track the status through application number. The renewed smart card driving license is sent to your address by post in 15-30 days.
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Method to renew offline
If you do not want to follow the online process, you can also renew your license by visiting the nearest RTO. For this, Form 9, 1 and 1A (if applicable) have to be filled. After submitting the required documents and photographs, deposit the fees at the counter. The renewed license is later sent through post.
Important tips for easy renewal
Apply ahead of time to avoid fines and crowd. Keep a digital DL in DigiLocker or mParivahan app, which is validated by the traffic police. Keep checking the application status portal regularly. NRI citizens can apply online or renew the license upon arrival in India.
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