BMTS

NRI’s returning to India for permanent settlement or even for an extended stay will feel the need to get a Indian driving license when they arrive in India. Whether one plans to drive in India or not, a driver license is a form of photo identification that is required on many occasions.

sameer

Doesn't make any sense to me.....!!!!

What do you mean to convey exactly....??

Also, what relevance does the poll behold in reference to the thread that has been posted.???

Please elaborate.!!!

ravikant

Agree with you Sameer!

anshuman

What is going on Mates??? Seems a guy is lost on his way to the Indian Traffic Forum.....Ha Ha Ha....

Should help him out..I suppose...

May Be...Mr. BMTS, you are trying to promote your driving school using EDF, but this is not meant for this purpose. We all are contributing to the Road Safety issue here, and not trying to get in information on how to have your licenses been made.

May be you can try out some other site for promotion.

Yes, we would like to know more about the processes of making or getting an Indian license once the NRIs return to India. What are the hassles they go through??

You can post your personal experiences about any of your customer here, as well.

How do you foresee the Indian's perception towards a fake license? Or that they bribe the License provider to get it made? I Hope..I might have given a few replies to your dilemma here.

BMTS

If you decide to spend some time in India and live on your own then you will definitely feel the need to get an internet connection, perhaps cable television or even a landline tele For getting just about any service in India, one usually requires at least two forms of identification to verify their local Indian address. I applied for an internet connection and even though I was able to provide an Indian drivers license and a current hydro bill as proof of my local residential address. A representative of the internet company visit me at my residence to verify my address before my internet connection was installed.

I am told that verification of address is now a common step and most companies send people out to confirm residential addresses before providing service.

Using your foreign passport always does not help. The person installing a cable on your Indian residence is not going to be thrilled if you provide him with a New York address. Hence a Indian driving license makes sense if you wish to live in India for an extended time.

BMTS

The time when one could just pay agents and get a driver’s without even bothering to give a driver’s test is now gone in India.

The Indian state of Maharashtra and several other states in India are now issuing smart card driver licenses, which will have a chip with a 4 KB memory. The card will also have a unique gradation system, based on the driver’s previous driving offences, if any. Higher the seriousness of the driver’s offence, lower will be the grade accorded to him. The smart card driver license will contain all the essential information about the driver, along with his/her photograph, signature and thumb impression.

In case you are wondering I have lived in North America for 35 years and am recently decided to set up a residence in Pune a city in the Indian state of Maharashtra.

Let me describe the procedure that is presently used Pune for issuing driving licenses. Pune is one of the cities in India that has already started with a computerized test for a learners driving license. I believe many other cities also have a computerized system and those that do not will soon have the same set up.
Getting a learners driving license:

Driving licenses are issued in India by the Regional Transport Office (RTO).

To get a learners license you have to visit your local RTO office. To get a driver license one needs to first get a learner license. To get your learner license, the following documents are required.

1. Duly filed application form.
2. Medical fitness form signed by medical examiner certifying you have no medical problems that will interfere in your ability to drive.
3. Proof of your current address in India.
4. Proof of your age.
5. Three passport size photographs.

Documents acceptable for proof of residence:

• Voter’s Identity card.
• Passport. (Indian passports show residential address, However my Canadian Passport does not)
• Ration Card.
• Property tax bill.

While I had taken my Canadian passport along, I soon discovered that by asking for a Passport as proof of address the authorities expect an Indian passport. Whereas my Canadian passport does not show my residential address on it, Indian passports do show residential addresses and are hence acceptable as proof of residence.

I finally decided to use my Indian property tax receipt as proof of address and as proof of age I was able to show them my OCI registration passport issued by the Government of India to applicants who get Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) registration.

The application form for the learner license in Pune that I got was only in Marathi language and one of the freelance agents that hang around the RTO offices filled the form for me. He also in a matter of minutes got a medical certificate for me all stamped and signed by a medical examiner without the need for a medical exam. The cost of this service was Rupees 200.

The next step was to line up to verify your documents. While photo copies are attached to your form along with three photographs, the original have to be presented for inspection. After almost two hours in the lineup I was able to show my documents and get them approved by a policeman at the desk who I believe held the rank of a police inspector.

Once documents are approved the appropriate fee has to be paid. Next comes the finger print scan and photograph computer photograph that is taken to place on your license.

After these formalities are done, Candidates are assembled in the examination hall where a test on road signs is conducted on a terminal. Candidates need to choose correct answers from multiple choice questions that flash on a screen. Ten questions are given and one needs to get at least 6 correct.

Those passing are given a laminated learner license that is valid for six months. After having a leaner license for at least one month, an applicant can take the road test for a full driving license.

The good part is no further documentation is required for the road test. My test lasted only five minutes and I was quite pleased as I have not driven a standard gear shift car for almost two decades.

Most driving schools charge by the type of the car one wishes to learn on. The majority of them provide only 15 minute lessons a day and for approximately 8 lessons plus providing their car for the driving test charge approximately 2700 to 3000 Rupees.

What I found funny was that during the driving test the examiner allows the instructors also to sit in the car used by candidates to do the driving test.

Most people who can drive abroad should have no problem passing the driving test. As for driving around in the city, I would avoid it if possible. Traffic on the road in most major cities does not move in an orderly manner and people try to overtake each other from all sides showing a total disregard for proper lanes marked on the road for driving.

BMTS

I hope you guys must have understood the sense of Driving License - India

It goes to you also MR Super Moderator

ravikant

Nice Info...BMTS....

anshuman

Nice info mate...!!!

ruchi

Nice Conversation..going on...!!!

btw guys, i need to renew my license, but unfortuntely i possess the book type license not issued now-a-days. So, was wondering if my need to pass through the test again.

BMTS

Miss Ruchi, how are you doing today with your entire member of your lovely family? I hope you all are in good health of mind and body?

I would like to inform you that you dont have to pss through a test. You can apply for a renewal.

The application for renewal must be accompanied by :

• The driving licence
• Medical Certificate in case of transport vehicle
• 3 copies of photograph
• Renewal fee of Rs. 150

1. An Expired licence is valid for 30 days and can be renewed during this grace period without a penalty.
2. A licence expired by more than 30 days can be renewed on payment of a penalty, provided the application is made within a period of five years from the date of expiry. The penalty is charged at Rs. 50/- per year or a part thereof.
3. The Licence can be renewed through any RTO in the country, irrespective of the place of its issue. If a driver changes his residence, the new address should be incorporated in the license.

ruchi

Does the gender across my profile show that I am male....??

Nevertheless..Thank you Mr BMTS !!!

But the question i had asked was not about simple re issue of my license.
The problem is that i have a book kind of license, and NOT the card type, which can and must be followed as per the instructions explained above.

Any light on this...??

ruchi

Thanks for the prompt reply, BMTS. Was out of the town since last one month or so.

So, my apology for the delay in reply.

I have gone through the detailed explaination by you (here), but still unabale to come up to the solution of my Query.

I am still waiting for someone to understand the problem i am facing.

BMTS

Dear Ruchi,
we have not been able to understand your query. If you can explain in simple language so that we can give you a solution, what you should do
thank you

ruchi

Thanks BMTS for the prompt reply.

See, earlier, the licensing authorities used to issue a book type licenses, which used to have 10-12 leaflets in the book. Only recently, since 1998-99, i guess that they have started issuign a single card type license.

Almost all the pages of my license are in pathetic state right now. Also, it is going to expire soon.

Can i get the single card license now, after renewing my earlier one? Or would i have to freshly apply for one.??

Hope this is clear to the viewers of the forum?

sanjaym3434

i had similar situation .u can take a duplicate license from authority issued it

BMTS

YES YOU CAN GET SINGLE CARD LICENSE AFTER RENEWING YOUR EARLIER ONE. BUT AT THE SAME TIME YOU HAVE TO APPLY FOR A DUPLICATE LICENSE ALSO. THE R.T.O HAS RECENTLY STARTED MAKING DUPLICATE CARD LICENSE. I HOPE THIS WILL HELP YOU.

BMTS

When driving always carry your driving license and important documents such as your vehicle registration certificate, insurance certificate, road tax & P.U.C certificate

1.Don't Drink and Drive
2.Obey all traffic signals, boards and signs.
3.Use the indicator or hand signals when changing lanes.
4.Adhere to permitted speed limits.
5.Don't use your cell while driving. If urgent, move to the left,halt and then make the call.
6.Irrespective of right of way, stay alert and be considerate to pedestrians especially senior citizens, handicapped and children.
7.Avoid parking on the road. Use pay-and-park islands.
8.Do not overload your vehicles - be it luggage or passengers.
9.Wear seat belts.
10.Always drive in correct gear.
11.Avoid sudden braking and harsh acceleration.
12.Never use the clutch as a footrest while driving .

BMTS

Thanks to everyone who has posted so far. I hope you have learned a little something from this Forum.
Keep up the good work everyone...

kapush

Hello... I am new here, and I am going to post my question in several places in the forum in an effort to increase visibility of my question and therefore the chances of getting a reply. I hope the moderators will overlook this spamming.

My question is simple actually:

I live in Kolkata, and we often have to go through a lot of harassment at the RTO office partly because we don't know the rules. Guidelines for renewing a driving license are posted here, but the information is more than a year old. Could someone please tell me if there has been any change since then? I wish to renew my two wheeler driving license.

If we are to challenge the clerks who refuse to work without bribe, we need to have in our possession the official document that enumerates the rules. Is there one available online? Or offline... ?

Also, is it legal to drive a vehicle within the grace period after the license has expired? My license expired yesterday; is it legal for me to drive around with the expired license for another 30 days?

Thank you.