Have you ever heard of smart card driving licence? In India, you generally get a smart card driving licence after you apply for a driving licence. The smart card driving licence is an improvised version of our old driving licence in India. Therefore, Smart card dl has more benefits than our old-paperback driving licence. Thus you should know process for smart card DL and its fees.
What is smart card driving licence?
SCDL is the short form of a smart card driving licence. It is a PVC DL with a microprocessor chip of 64kb embedded in it. Thus somes it is called as chip driving licence. It looks like your regular debit Card or PVC aadhar Card. The 64kb chip stores all the details of the driver in it. It also records and stores the biometric data of the driver like his retina scan, thumbprint, fingerprint, body markings and blood group. A copy of this data is stored in the RTO where you applied for smart card DL.
The Smart Card DL has three sections, namely:
- Visual Inspection Zone – It has all the personal details of the driver.
- Machine Readable Zone – It has all the vehicle and licence details of the driver.
- Central Motors Vehicle Zone – It contains information about past offences, traffic violations and defaults and so on.
The SCDL has so many details in its front and reverse side as shown in the picture. The Card Size is 85.6mm x 54.02 mm and its Thickness is 2–0.7 mm. This laminated Card with a QR code was introduced by the Central Motor Vehicles Act Amendment of 2018.
Benefits of smart card DL
Some of the benefits of Smart Card Driving Licence are:-
1. The Smart Card Driving Licence is tamper-proof. So, nobody can gain unauthorized access to the sensitive information stored in it.
2. It is light-weight and easy to carry.
3. The traffic personnel can easily decode your licence details by scanning your QR code. The card will also have records of old tickets, settlement date and disqualification period. It will improve law enforcement on roads.
4. The transport department will have all data of the driver. It will become useful when they need to catch repeat defaulters or offender.
5. Smart Card Details cannot be changed. So, it is a permanent proof of your identity.
6. The Smart Card comes with a number of security features like:
- Guilloche pattern
- Micro-printed text
- Micro line
- Ultra Violet fluorescing colour
- watermark
- Hologram below the top layer
All these make the Smart card DL unique, easy to identify and fully secure.
Eligibility criteria to apply for Smart Card Driving Licence
The table lists the eligibility criteria for Smart Card DL for each class of vehicle in India.
| Vehicle Type | SCDL Eligibility Requirement |
| · Motorcycle with gear and an engine capacity of up to 50cc | · Applicant must be at least 16 years old and have a consent letter from his guardians. |
| · Motorcycles with gear and engine capacity exceeding 50cc | · Applicants must be above 18 years old |
| · Heavy commercial vehicles and transport vehicles | · Applicant must have completed 8th Standard and be at least 18 years of age |
| · Four-wheeler cars | · Applicant must be 18 years or older. |
Where to apply for Smart Card Driving Licence?
You can apply for a Smart Card Driving Licence at your nearest RTO through Parivahan website. The RTOs issues a smart card driving licence now by default for new as well as renewal . You will not get old paperback Driving Licence any more.
Visit the RTO with necessary documents and photo. Submit them and pay the DL fee. Submit your biometrics. Take the DL test. If you pass in it, you will receive your smart card DL by registered speed post.
Driving licence smart card fees
While applying for new driving licence , the total fees will be different. But you have to pay Rs. 200 as smart card driving Licence fees.
The total amount of fees for driving licence will be accordingly
| Services | Fees |
| Learning Licence Application | Rs 150/- |
| Learning licence test | Rs 50/- |
| Issue of Driving licence | Rs 200/- |
| Smart Card for Driving licence | Rs 200/- |
How to apply for smart card driving licence?
There are two main stages for applying license in India:
- Getting a learning license and
- Then apply for a permanent driving license.
Learning License Online Apply
- First, go to the Parivahan Portal
- Click on Drivers/ Learners License
- And then you have to choose your state from the drop down
- Click on “Application for New Learner’s License”
- Fill out the learner’s license application form
- Click “Next” to proceed further
- Visit the Road Transport Office (RTO) on the scheduled date. Carry your original documents and the fee receipt.
Permanent driving license
- Visit Home (parivahan.gov.in).
- Choose your state.
- Select “Apply for Driving Licence”
- Read the steps and click on “Continue”
- Fill up your personal details.
- Upload the necessary documents and photo , signature as required by the website.
- Book a Driving Licence Test from the available slots in the calendar.
- Pay your SCDL fee and Verify your payment status.
- Print the form and the payment receipt.
- On the day of the Driving Test, visit the RTO where you applied for the DL Test.
- Take your Driving Test.
- If you pass in the DL Test, you will receive your Smart Card by Speed Post within a few days.
Documents required for Smart Card DL
The following documents are required to apply for a Smart Card DL:
- Age Proof like Voter ID/ Aadhar Card
- Address Proof like Voter ID/ Aadhar Card
- Photo Identity like Voter ID/ Aadhar card
DL smart card download
You can easily download the virtual Smart Card DL from Parivahan website, Umang app, Digilocker app.
FAQs
What to do if I fail in the Driving Test?
You can apply for a repeat Driving Test by paying a fee of Rs. 50 for a Learner’s Licence and Rs. 200 for a Permanent DL.
How to get a smart card driving license in Maharashtra?
You can apply for smart card driving license through Parivahan portal in Maharashtra.
What is the cost of smart license?
You need to pay Rs 200/- additionally for smart card driving licence.
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