Frequently Asked Questions

You must be at least 18 years old for a licence to drive a motor vehicle with gear. At 16 you can get a licence for a gearless two-wheeler with engine capacity up to 50 cc, with the consent of a parent or guardian. Age rules for commercial vehicles are higher, so check the Motor Vehicles Act and your state transport department.

Apply on the Parivahan Sarathi portal of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. Choose your state, select the learner licence service, fill in the application, upload your documents, pay the fee and book a slot for the test. Many states now also allow the test from home with Aadhaar based authentication.

A learner licence is valid for 6 months from the date of issue. You should apply for the permanent driving licence within this period. If it expires, you generally have to apply for a fresh learner licence.

You can apply for the permanent licence after 30 days from the date of issue of your learner licence, and before the learner licence expires. You will have to book a driving test slot and pass it in the vehicle category you applied for.

A licence for non-transport vehicles is valid for up to 20 years, or till the holder turns 40 if it was issued before that age, with different periods applying in later life. Apply for renewal online through Parivahan Sarathi before it expires, or within the grace period allowed by the rules, to avoid a penalty or a fresh test.

Yes. A valid Indian driving licence is accepted across India. You do not need a new licence when you move, but you can update the address on your licence through your transport department.

File an FIR or a lost document report as required in your state, then apply for a duplicate licence online on Parivahan Sarathi with the required documents and fee. Keep a digital copy in DigiLocker or mParivahan for the future.

The test is a computer based multiple choice exam on traffic rules, road signs, road markings, safe driving practices and licence and vehicle laws. Questions often show a sign and ask what it means, so learning signs matters as much as rules.

The number of questions and the passing percentage differ from state to state. Commonly the test has around 10 to 20 questions and you must answer a fixed minimum correctly. Check the instructions on your state portal before the exam.

You can usually retake the test after a short waiting period, and a fee may apply for the attempt. Use practice tests to find the topics where you lose marks, then try again.

An examiner checks that you can handle the vehicle safely, for example starting, stopping, turning, reversing, parking and following signs on a test track or road. You are marked on control, observation and rule following.

Read the traffic rules, learn the three sign groups (mandatory, cautionary and informatory), then take practice tests until you score well consistently. Review every wrong answer, because the same questions and sign types repeat.

Most states offer the exam in English and the local language. RoadTest practice content is available in English, Hindi, Punjabi, Gujarati, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu, Kannada and Marathi so you can learn in the language you are comfortable with.

You need an age proof, an address proof and a passport size photograph. Aadhaar is accepted for both and enables faster online processing. A medical certificate (Form 1A) may be needed in certain cases such as commercial licences or older applicants, depending on your state.

Carry your driving licence, the vehicle registration certificate (RC), a valid insurance certificate and a valid pollution under control (PUC) certificate. Commercial vehicles need additional papers such as fitness and permit.

Yes. Documents shown through DigiLocker and mParivahan are accepted as valid by traffic officers under the rules, so you do not need to carry paper copies if you can show them on your phone.

A Pollution Under Control certificate shows that your vehicle meets emission norms. It has a limited validity and must be renewed before it expires. Driving without a valid PUC attracts a fine.

Yes. At least third party insurance is mandatory for every motor vehicle on the road under the Motor Vehicles Act. Driving without valid insurance is an offence that carries a fine and possible imprisonment on repeat.

Riding a two-wheeler without a helmet is penalised under Section 194D, with a fine of Rs. 1,000 and disqualification of the licence for 3 months. Both the rider and the pillion must wear a proper helmet.

Driving or travelling without a seat belt carries a fine of Rs. 1,000 under Section 194B. Front seat and rear seat occupants are covered.

The legal limit is 30 mg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood. Driving above it can lead to a fine of up to Rs. 10,000, imprisonment of up to 6 months, or both for a first offence, with higher penalties for repeat offences and licence suspension.

Using a handheld phone while driving is treated as a serious offence, with a fine that can go up to Rs. 5,000. Pull over safely if you need to take a call.

Driving without a valid licence attracts a fine of Rs. 5,000 under Section 181. Allowing an unlicensed person to drive your vehicle is also an offence for the owner.

Carrying more than one pillion is an offence with a fine of Rs. 1,000 and licence disqualification for 3 months.

The guardian or owner is held responsible. The penalty can include a fine of Rs. 25,000, imprisonment of up to 3 years, and cancellation of the vehicle registration for 12 months, and the minor may not get a licence until 25.

Obstructing emergency vehicles such as ambulances and fire engines is penalised under Section 194E with a fine of Rs. 10,000. Always move aside safely and let them pass.

The Motor Vehicles Act sets the base amounts, but states can notify different amounts and rules. Confirm the latest figures with your state transport department or the e-challan portal.

Visit the official e-challan portal or use mParivahan, enter your vehicle number or challan number, and pay online. Pay within the stated time to avoid court proceedings.

Indian traffic keeps to the left. Slower vehicles stay on the left side of the road, and you overtake from the right unless the road signs or the traffic situation say otherwise.

At an intersection with no signs or signals, give way to the traffic already on the road you are entering and to vehicles coming from your right where required. When in doubt, slow down and let others pass.

Mandatory signs give orders you must follow, such as stop or no entry. Cautionary signs warn about hazards ahead, such as a sharp curve. Informatory signs give information such as parking, hospitals and direction. You can learn each one in our traffic signs library.

Red means stop behind the stop line. Yellow means get ready to stop, or clear the junction if you are already crossing it. Green means go, but only if the junction ahead is clear.

Honking is restricted in silence zones such as near hospitals, schools and courts, and the use of loud or multi-toned horns is prohibited. Use the horn only when needed to avoid danger.

Stop, switch on hazard lights, and help the injured by calling emergency services on 112 or an ambulance. Do not move a seriously injured person unnecessarily. Inform the police, note vehicle details and take photos. A Good Samaritan who helps an accident victim is protected from harassment by law.

Yes. The traffic rules, traffic signs library and RTO practice tests on RoadTest are free to read and practise.

No. They are practice questions based on the Motor Vehicles Act, road signs and official rules, written to help you learn. The real question set is decided by your state transport department, so use our tests to build understanding, not to memorise answers.

Take a test and your result is shown at the end with the correct answers. You can also check the score board from the Score link in the menu.

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Use the contact page to reach us. If you notice an outdated rule, fine or incorrect answer, tell us and we will review and correct it.