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Driving Licence Download 2026

Step 1: Open the Sarathi Parivahan Website · Step 2: Go to "Driving Licence" Section · Step 3: Select Your State · Step 4: Click on "Print Driving Licence" · Step 5: Enter Your DL Number and Date of Birth · Step 6: Verify With OTP · Step 7: View and Download Your DL as PDF

Updated 22 Mar 2026 7 min read

When Do You Need a Digital Driving Licence?

A digital copy of your driving licence can be useful in many situations. Here are some common scenarios:

Scenario	How a Digital Copy Helps
New DL approved but not yet delivered	A downloaded copy serves as valid proof while the physical card is in transit
Physical card lost or damaged	A digital copy keeps you covered while you apply for a duplicate licence
Stopped by traffic police	Display your DL on your phone via mParivahan or DigiLocker, both accepted by traffic authorities across India
Required as identity proof	A digital or printed copy is accepted by most institutions for passport applications, bank KYC, and employment verification
Travelling without the original	A digital copy on your phone eliminates the risk of losing your physical driving licence while travelling

Things to Keep Ready Before Downloading Your DL

Requirement	Why It's Needed
Driving Licence Number	Required on the Sarathi Parivahan portal. This is the alphanumeric number on your physical DL, typically starting with your state code (e.g., UP14, DL05, MH02)
Date of Birth	All three platforms use it for verification. Must match your driving licence records exactly
Registered Mobile Number	Linked to your Aadhaar or Sarathi account. OTPs for verification are sent to this number
Aadhaar Number	Required only for DigiLocker, which uses Aadhaar-based authentication to fetch your driving licence
Stable Internet Connection	Ensures the download process completes without interruptions on both browser and mobile app

Which Method Is Best for You?

All three methods are free and reliable, but each serves a distinct purpose.

Method	Best For	When to Use
Sarathi Parivahan Portal	Quick PDF download	Need a printable or emailable copy immediately, no account setup required
DigiLocker	Official documentation	Bank KYC, passport applications, employment verification, or anywhere a legally verified document is required
mParivahan App	Everyday convenience	Traffic checks, quick reference on your phone, replacing the need to carry a physical card

Method 1: Download from the Sarathi Parivahan Portal

The Sarathi Parivahan portal is the quickest way to download your driving licence as a printable PDF.

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Note: Select each option carefully before proceeding. Clicking the browser's back button or refreshing the page will reset your progress and return you to the starting screen. Navigate through the portal using only the on-screen menu options.

Follow these steps:

Open parivahan.gov.in in your browser.
Hover over "Online Services" in the top menu and click "Driving License Related Services."

Select the state where your driving licence was originally issued. Choosing the wrong state will result in your records not being found.
On your state's Sarathi page, go to Driving Licence → Print Driving Licence.

Enter your DL number and date of birth, then fill in the captcha.
Click on "DL Print" and the system will generate a PDF of your driving licence, which will start downloading automatically.

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Download / Print Learner's Licence: Go to Learner's Licence > Print Learner's Licence (Form 3). Enter your Application/Licence Number, Mobile Number, and Date of Birth.

Method 2: Download from DigiLocker

If you already have a DigiLocker account, proceed directly to the download steps below. Setting up a new account takes approximately two minutes.

Open digilocker.gov.in/web/signup in your browser.
Sign in with your Aadhaar/mobile number and your 6-digit PIN.
Verify the OTP sent to your Aadhaar-linked phone number.
On your dashboard, click "Search Documents".
Type "Ministry of Road Transport and Highways" in the search bar and select it.

You will see 6 documents option here, click on Driving Licence.

Enter your DL number and click "Get Document."
Your licence shows up on screen. Hit Download to save it as a PDF.

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Once your driving licence is retrieved through DigiLocker, it is permanently stored in the "Issued Documents" section of your account. There is no need to repeat the process. Simply log in to DigiLocker at any time to access, view, or download it.

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DigiLocker is worth setting up beyond just the driving licence. It supports verified storage of your Aadhaar, PAN card, vehicle registration certificate, and educational documents, effectively consolidating all essential records in a single, government-verified platform.

Method 3: Virtual DL on the mParivahan App

The mParivahan app provides a virtual driving licence on your phone that is officially accepted by traffic authorities across India.

Follow these steps:

Download "mParivahan" from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.
Open the app and register using your mobile number. Verify your identity through the OTP sent to your device.
On the home screen, select "My Virtual DL".

Enter your driving licence number and date of birth exactly as recorded in government records.
Select "Add My Driving Licence". The app will retrieve your details from the government database and display your virtual driving licence.

Your virtual driving licence will now display all relevant details, including your photograph, name, licence number, validity period, and authorised vehicle categories.

mParivahan App extends beyond the virtual driving licence. It also supports vehicle registration certificate storage, challan history and pending fine tracking, and vehicle detail lookups by registration number. In effect, it serves as a consolidated platform for all transport-related records.

Details Mentioned on Your Driving Licence

A standard Indian driving licence contains the following information:

Full Name as recorded in your application.
Date of Birth.
Blood Group, included for use in medical emergencies.
Father's/Guardian's Name.
Residential Address as provided at the time of application.
Licence Number, your unique driving licence identifier.
Issuing Authority, the Regional Transport Office (RTO) that processed your licence.
Date of Issue.
Date of Expiry. For non-commercial vehicles, a driving licence is typically valid for 20 years or until the holder turns 50, whichever comes earlier.
Vehicle Categories, indicating the classes of vehicles you are authorised to operate, displayed as standardised codes.

Vehicle Category Codes on Your Driving Licence

The following codes appear on your driving licence to indicate the vehicle classes you are authorised to operate:

Code	Full Form	Vehicles Covered
MC 50CC	Motorcycle 50cc	Motorcycles with engine capacity up to 50cc
MCWOG	Motorcycle Without Gear	Gearless two-wheelers such as scooters
MCWG	Motorcycle With Gear	Standard geared motorcycles
LMV	Light Motor Vehicle	Cars, jeeps, and vans
HMV	Heavy Motor Vehicle	Trucks and buses
TRANS	Transport	Transport and commercial vehicles

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Note: Most licence holders will find MCWG and LMV on their driving licence, which together cover standard motorcycles and passenger vehicles.

Understanding Your Driving Licence Number

Your driving licence number follows a structured format. Knowing how it is composed can be helpful when filling out forms or verifying your records.

Using MH0120190001234 as an example:

MH is the state code (Maharashtra). Other examples include DL for Delhi, UP for Uttar Pradesh, and KA for Karnataka.
01 is the RTO code, identifying the specific Regional Transport Office that issued the licence.
2019 indicates the year of issue.
0001234 is the unique serial number assigned to the holder.

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Tips: When entering your driving licence number on any form or website, input the entire string as a single block without spaces or dashes.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

While the download process is straightforward, you may occasionally encounter errors. Below are the most common issues and how to resolve them.

"No Record Found" or "DL Details Not Available"

This typically occurs when your driving licence data has not been synced to the Sarathi Parivahan database. Older licences issued before digitisation may not appear online. In such cases, visit your issuing Regional Transport Office with your physical driving licence to request a database update.

OTP Not Received

Ensure that the mobile number linked to your driving licence or Aadhaar is active and has network coverage. Wait two to three minutes before requesting a resend. If the issue persists, check whether your device has any SMS blocking or filtering enabled. For DigiLocker and mParivahan, the OTP is sent to your Aadhaar-linked mobile number, not necessarily the number currently in use.

Date of Birth Mismatch

The date of birth you enter must match the records held by the RTO exactly. Even a minor discrepancy will prevent verification. If you suspect an error in your RTO records, you will need to apply for a correction through the Sarathi Parivahan portal or visit the RTO in person.

Portal or App Not Loading

The Parivahan portal experiences heavy traffic during peak hours. Try accessing it during off-peak times, such as early morning or late evening. Clearing your browser cache or switching to a different browser can also help. For app-related issues, ensure you are using the latest version of mParivahan or DigiLocker.

Downloaded PDF Not Opening

This is usually caused by an incomplete download due to a weak internet connection, or the absence of a PDF reader on your device. Re-download the file on a stable connection and ensure a PDF viewer is installed.

Important Notes

Keep the following points in mind to avoid confusion during or after the download process.

Legal Validity of Digital Driving Licence

A digital driving licence downloaded through DigiLocker or displayed on the mParivahan app is legally valid across India under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and the Information Technology Act, 2000.

No Fee for Downloading

There is no charge for downloading your existing driving licence through any of the three methods covered in this article. Fees apply only when applying for a new licence, renewal, or duplicate.

Not Valid for International Use

The digital driving licence is recognised for domestic use only. For driving abroad, you will need your physical driving licence along with an International Driving Permit (IDP) issued by your Regional Transport Office.

Recently Issued Licences May Not Appear Immediately

If your driving licence was issued within the last 15 days, it may not yet appear on the Parivahan database. Allow time for the records to sync before attempting to download.