How to get a duplicate Driving Licence (online/offline)?

A Driving Licence is an important document required to drive a motor vehicle in the country. It also works as a document of identification for the holder. Thus, every vehicle owner must carefully protect his or her Driving Licence (DL) at all times. 

If this document gets stolen or lost, you can’t legally drive your vehicle in India. Moreover, there is a hefty fine on driving a vehicle without a valid DL in the country. Hence, you must apply for a duplicate Driving Licence if the original gets lost somehow.

In this article, you will understand how you should go about getting a duplicate Driving Licence (DL).

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.

Steps to fill the LLD application form

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.

Can I apply for a duplicate Driving Licence in Bangalore even if I got the original in Delhi?

No, it’s not possible. In order to apply for a duplicate driving licence, you must submit the LLD form to the RTO where you got your original DL. So, if you got your original DL in Delhi, you must go to the Delhi RTO to submit your application for a duplicate Driving Licence.

What will be the validity of a duplicate DL?

Once you receive your duplicate driving licence, it will have the same validity as your original DL. The information on your duplicate DL will be the same as the original as you haven’t applied for correcting or renewing your DL.

Do I have to pass a driving test once again while applying for a duplicate DL?

No, you don’t have to go through a driving test again while applying for a duplicate licence. You would have to go through a test only if your DL was already expired before getting lost or destroyed.

Can I get a duplicate driving licence if I lose my Learner’s Licence?

No, it’s not usually possible to get a duplicate licence if you lose your Learner’s Licence. This facility is available for permanent Driving Licence holders only. However, you should check at your local RTO as the duplicate Learner’s Licence facility is provided by some states. Or, you can apply for a new Learner’s Licence if the original gets lost or destroyed.

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