Is driving test required for renewal of licence

If your driving licence is nearing expiry or has already lapsed, you might be unsure about the updated RTO rules, eligibility, documents, or the need for a test. This article addresses the common confusion many drivers face and answers the key question: “Is a driving test required for renewal of licence in India?” Read on to understand the step-by-step process for renewing your driving licence, both online and offline, along with important timelines and exceptions to be aware of.

Is driving test required for renewal of licence

A person will have to retake the test if he applies for renewal of driving license after one year from the date of expiry of their old driving license.

If you apply for renewal of driving licence, the expiry date of which is less than one year old, driving test is not required.

Why it is required to renew your driving licence

If you’re wondering why you need to renew your DL, look further :

• The Motor Vehicles Act of 1988 requires all motor vehicle drivers to have a valid driving licence. A driving licence is recognized as legal proof that allows you to drive on public roads. It also indicates that you are well versed in traffic rules and regulations.
• According to Section 177 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, no one can drive in India without a valid DL. It is a serious offence punishable by a fine of Rs. 500 and/or imprisonment for up to 3 months. A permanent driving licence is valid for 20 years or until the driver reaches the age of 50, whichever comes first.
• An expired driving licence is only valid for one month or 30 days after which it can be renewed for a fee. If the expired licence is not renewed within 5 years of its expiration date, you will be required to get a new driving licence.

Online procedure for the renewal of driving licence

You must submit completed driving licence renewal form along with supporting documents to the regional transport office in your area.

Here is the step-by-step procedure by which you can renew your driving licence.

1. Click on this link https://parivahan.gov.in/to visit the official website.
2. Select “driving license related services” from the list of online services.
3. Select ‘Services on DL (Renewal/Duplicate/Others) services.
4. Go through the information and then click on the “Continue” for further procedure.
5. Then you need to fill out the details like Driving Licence Number and Date of birth and get the DL Details.

Then click on the proceed button.

6. After completing the form, you must go to the RTO to have the documents verified.
7. After the documents are confirmed, you will receive your driving license renewal the same day or within 15 days.

In this process, you do not need any type of driving licence test for the renewal.

Non-transport vehicle driving licenses are renewed for five years, while transport vehicle driving licenses are renewed for three years. The renewal of a driving licence normally takes 20 days after the application is submitted.

What is driving licence renewal form

Form 9 is a driving licence renewal form that a vehicle owner must fill out and submit to the RTO in order to update or renew his driving licence. This KYC document assists regional transportation office personnel in understanding the specifics of the car owner’s current driving licence.

1. A driving licence renewal form can be obtained online or via your local RTO office.
2. A driving licence form is a document in which you must fill out basic information about yourself and your driving licence.
3. To renew your driving licence, you must submit the driving licence form together with some documents.

Also Read: Documents Required for Driving License in Delhi

Types of driving licences and their validity in India

Before diving deeper into the DL renewal process, it’s important to understand the two main types of driving licences in India and their respective validity periods. The renewal timelines differ based on the category of the licence:

Licence Type	Initial Validity	Renewal Duration
Non-Transport	20 years or until the age of 50*	Every 5 years after age 50
Transport	3 years	Every 3 years

Documents required for the renewal of driving licence

Documents required for driving licence renewal are as follows:

1. Completed form for renewing a driving licence.
2. Form 1-A medical certificate form that you must complete, as well as Form 1 (the application cum declaration of your physical fitness).
3. Permanent driving licence.
4. Documents proving age and address, such as a passport, a pan card, an electricity bill, a phone bill, a leasing agreement, and so on.
5. Photographs of the applicant in passport size are required.

If you alter the address on your driving licence, you must do it within one month. This can be done at the RTO office where your original driver’s licence was issued.

Driving test requirement summary for licence renewal

Scenario	Test Required?	Notes
Licence expired within 1 year	❌ No	Can be renewed without a test if all documents are in order.
Licence expired more than 1 year	✅ Yes	Driving test is mandatory as per RTO rules.
Licence expired more than 5 years	✅ Yes (New Licence)	Renewal not allowed. You must apply for a fresh licence with full test.

What is the validity of driving licence after renewal

A permanent driving licence is valid for 20 years, or till the driving license holder reaches the age of 50. Those whose licence has already expired have a grace period of 30 days to renew without penalty. If you renew your licence after 30 days, you will be charged the appropriate penalty. Those who do not renew their licence within 5 years of its expiration date will be required to apply for a new one.

FAQs

1. How will I get my renewed driving licence?

The applicant’s renewed DL will be sent to the residential address via post.

2. Can I change my address while renewing the driving licence?

Yes, you can change the address while renewing the driving licence.

3. What documents are needed for DL renewal?

Following are the documents required for DL renewal :

• Original driving licence
• Current address proof
• Medical certificate
• Passport size photo

4. What happens if my driving licence has expired for more than one year?

If your driving licence has been expired more than 1 year before, still you can renew it. However, there will be re-test. Also there will be late fine of Rs. 1000 per year from the date of expiry.

5. How often do I need to renew my non-transport and transport licences?

Non transport driving licence is renewed for normally 5 years. Transport driving licence renewal is done for 3 years.

6. Is the driving test for renewal the same as the test for a new licence?

There will be two types of test when you apply for new driving licence :

• Computer based multiple choice test on traffic rules & regulations
• Driving skill test on test track

If you are renewing your DL which got expired more than 1 year before , there will driving test only.

7. What is the procedure for renewing a driving licence that expired more than 5 years ago?

If driving licence expired more than 5 years ago, then the applicant needs to apply for a new licence. there will test also.

8. Are there any fees involved in the driving licence renewal process?

The RTO fees for driving licence renewal is Rs. 400 .