Steps to follow if you lose your Driving Licence
It is not so tough to obtain your licence back in the age of the government facilities available online. All you need to do is follow the right steps. Below are the steps to follow if you lose your DL to avoid any legal complications.
Step 1: File an FIR for the lost Driving Licence at the police station in your area.
Step 2: Apply for a duplicate Driving Licence at the Regional Transport Office (RTO) where the original DL was issued.
Step 3: You can use the receipt of the duplicate DL application until you get your duplicate licence.
Duplicate Driving Licence in India
Even with DigiLocker’s online copy, driving can become a hassle if you lose the original copy of DL. Hence, you should submit your application for a duplicate DL as soon as possible.
As per the government guidelines, the reissue of a Driving Licence is possible in the following conditions.
If your DL gets destroyed or lost
If your DL gets torn, defaced or written up
If the photograph on your DL needs replacement
In such situations, RTOs allow you to obtain a duplicate copy of a Driving Licence via offline and online methods.
How to get a duplicate Driving Licence?
Regardless of the method of application, you will need certain documents to apply for a duplicate DL.
Documents required to get a duplicate Driving Licence
Below is a list of necessary documents for the issue of duplicate DL in case of a lost driver’s licence.
Form LLD (To acknowledge the destruction or loss of DL and apply for a duplicate one)
First Information Report (FIR) for the stolen or lost licence.
Original DL (if you’re applying due to a soiled, mutilated or torn DL)
Attested copies of your original DL (if you’re applying after losing the licence)
Passport-sized recent photographs
Information relating to your Driving Licence
Documents for address proof
Documents for age proof
Note: You might have to submit other documents as well based on the reasons and circumstances for which you’re applying for a duplicate DL.
How to apply for a duplicate Driving Licence online?
Only a few state RTOs allow citizens to apply for a duplicate Driving Licence online. Hence, you should visit the online platform of your State Transport Department to ensure that they offer this facility.
Once confirmed, follow these steps to apply for a duplicate Driving Licence online.
Step 1: You can download the LLD form online via the Sarathi Parivahan portal.
Step 2: Fill the LLD form, attach photographs, and add your signature wherever asked on the form.
Step 3: Get printed copies of all essential documents and add your signature on them.
Step 4: Now, you must visit the RTO office in your area that issued your original Driving Licence.
Step 5: Submit the filled LLD form along with other documents. You won’t have to take any driving test this time.
Step 6: Pay the required nominal fee for the procedure.
Step 7: Accept a receipt from the RTO, which can be used as a temporary DL till a new licence is issued.
Step 8: You will receive the duplicate DL via post to your registered residential address.
Also, read: 10 Must-know Facts about Driving License
How to apply for a duplicate Driving Licence offline?
You can easily submit an application for a lost Driving Licence offline, especially if you live close to the RTO that provided you with the original DL. Below are the steps to apply for a duplicate DL offline with no hassle.
Step 1: Visit the local RTO where you got your original DL.
Step 2: Obtain and fill the LLD form to notify about the lost or damaged DL and apply for a duplicate.
Step 3: Submit this application form along with other documents as mentioned earlier.
Step 4: Pay the required fee to receive a duplicate licence.
Step 5: Accept the receipt in return from the RTO to be used as a temporary driving licence.
Step 6: Wait for the duplicate Driving Licence to reach your home address through post.
While filling the LLD application form, you will need to add the following details.
Step 1: Enter your complete address and full name as per the Driving Licence.
Step 2: Fill in the details of the reason why you want to apply for a duplicate Driving Licence. You must mention whether the DL was lost, stolen, destroyed, mutilated or defaced. Plus, explain the circumstances that led to the loss of the original DL.
Step 3: Add details such as DL number, motor vehicle class, expiry date and licensing authority.
Step 4: Include a declaration, which should state that no authority has impounded your DL.
Step 5: Add your signature wherever required and enter the location and date of submitting the application.
In case you are filling this form online, it will give you the benefit of saving or resetting information. Once filled correctly, you can download a PDF copy and get a printout for submission at the RTO.
Procedure to check the status of Driving Licence application
Once you submit your duplicate Driving Licence application, the RTO office will take some time to send it to your home address through post. You can go online to the Parivahan portal to check the status of your application.
Below are the steps you can follow to track the status of your duplicate DL application.
Step 1: Visit the Parivahan portal.
Step 2: On the home page, you can click on the drop-down menu called ‘Online Services’.
Step 3: Select the option ‘Driving Licence Related Services’ from the available list of options.
Step 4: On the next screen, click on your state from the list.
Step 5: At the top-right area, you can find and click on the option called ‘Application Status’.
Step 6: Fill in details of your ‘DL application number’ and ‘date of birth’.
Step 7: Enter the Captcha code given on your screen.
Step 8: Click the ‘Submit’ button to process the request.
Step 9. You should be able to view the status of your DL application.
Frequently asked questions
Here are the answers to a few important questions regarding duplicate Driving Licence.
