Parivahan Sewa & Sarathi Parivahan

Official Portals & Apps

Portal / App	URL	What It Does
Parivahan Sewa (Main)	parivahan.gov.in	Central hub for all services
Sarathi Parivahan	sarathi.parivahan.gov.in	All Driving Licence services
VAHAN (Vehicle Services)	vahan.parivahan.gov.in	RC, registration, tax, permits
eChallan	echallan.parivahan.gov.in	Check & pay traffic fines
PUC Portal	puc.parivahan.gov.in	Pollution certificate check
mParivahan App	Play Store / App Store	Digital DL & RC on mobile
DigiLocker	digilocker.gov.in	Government document wallet

Each portal connects to the same national database, so an update you make on the Sarathi portal shows up instantly in mParivahan on your phone. That’s the power of the unified system.

Driving Licence Services – Sarathi Parivahan

The Sarathi Parivahan portal handles every driving licence service in the country. Whether you want to apply for a Driving Licence online for the first time or renew one that expired last year, this is where you go.

Apply for a Learner’s Licence (LL)

The Learner’s Licence is your first step. It allows you to practice driving on public roads under supervision. The online learner’s test is MCQ-based and covers road signs, traffic rules, and basic safety. Here’s how to apply:

1. Visit sarathi.parivahan.gov.in and select your state from the dropdown menu.
2. Click “Apply for Learner Licence”and choose “New Applicant.”
3. Fill in personal details— name, date of birth, address, and vehicle category (LMV, motorcycle, etc.).
4. Upload documents— Aadhaar card (identity + address), age proof, and passport-size photo in JPG format (10KB–200KB).
5. Pay the feeonline via UPI, debit/credit card, or net banking. Fee amounts vary by state.
6. Take the Learner’s testonline (available in most states). Pass it, and your LL generates immediately.

Validity: A Learner’s Licence is valid for 6 months. You must hold it for at least 30 days before applying for a Permanent Driving Licence.

Apply for a Permanent Driving Licence (DL)

After 30 days of holding your LL (and within 180 days), book a driving test appointment through the DL application process. The driving skill test takes place at the RTO. Pass it, and your Permanent Driving Licence gets dispatched to your address by speed post within a few days. You can also download your Digital Driving Licence via DigiLocker or mParivahan immediately after approval.

DL Validity

Age at Licence Issue	Validity Period
Under 30 years	Until age 40 OR 20 years — whichever comes first
Between 30 and 50 years	10 years
Above 50 years	5 years
Commercial DL (Transport)	3–5 years (requires medical certificate for renewal)

Other Driving Licence Services on Sarathi

• Driving License renewal — Apply up to 1 year before expiry. Grace period applies if expired within 1 year.
• Duplicate Driving License (DL duplicate) — Apply when your DL is lost, stolen, or damaged. Upload Form LLD and FIR copy if lost.
• Driving License Status check — Enter your DL number and DOB under “Application Status.”
• DL renewal and Sarathi Parivahan application status — Track your application number at any time.
• International Driving Permit (IDP) — Valid for 1 year, required to drive abroad. Apply with your DL, passport, and visa copy.
• Smart card driving licence conversion — Convert old paper booklet DL to a biometric smart card.
• Driving school license — Apply and manage driving school approvals in one place.
• Driving license forms — Download all official MV Act forms (Form 1A, LLD, etc.) under “Informational Services.”
• Add new vehicle class to your existing licence (e.g., add LMV if you only had a two-wheeler endorsement).
• Address change and name correction on DL using Aadhaar e-KYC (no RTO visit needed in most states).

Pro Tip: Always keep your registered mobile number updated in the Sarathi and Vahan portals. Every OTP and status alert goes to this number. Missing an OTP can stall your entire DL application.

Vehicle & RC Services – VAHAN Parivahan

The VAHAN system is the country’s centralized vehicle database and vehicle tracking backbone. Every registered vehicle in India sits in this database. Here is what you can do:

Check Vehicle Details & RC Status Online

Checking vehicle RC details takes under 2 minutes. This vehicle details search is useful both when verifying your own RC and when doing a pre-purchase check on a used vehicle.

1. Go to vahan.parivahan.gov.in
   and click “Know Your Vehicle Details.”
2. Enter the vehicle registration number
   (number plate) and the captcha code.
3. Click “Search Vehicle.”
   The result shows owner name, insurance validity, fitness, PUC status, and tax status.

You can also do a quick vehicle owner lookup via SMS: type VAHAN [registration number] and send it to 7738299899. You’ll receive vehicle owner details within seconds — no internet needed.

Key Vehicle Related Services

RC renewal online — Driving with an expired Vehicle Registration Certificate carries fines of ₹2,000–₹5,000. Renew your RC through the VAHAN portal before it lapses. In 2026, a valid PUC certificate is mandatory before the portal accepts your renewal application.

Vehicle ownership transfer — When you buy or sell a used vehicle, both buyer and seller must complete this online. Use Form 29 (for the seller) and Form 30 (for the buyer). The portal updates the vehicle database within 3–5 working days after RTO verification.

Duplicate RC — If your RC is lost, stolen, or damaged, apply for a Duplicate RC online. Upload an FIR copy or self-declaration, pay the prescribed fee, and collect the new RC at the RTO or receive it by post.

NOC for vehicle transfer — Moving to another state? If your vehicle stays there for more than 12 months, you need a NOC for vehicle transfer (Form 27) to register it in the new state. Apply completely online through the Vehicle Related Services section.

Hypothecation services — When you take a vehicle loan, the bank’s name goes on the RC as a hypothecation endorsement. Once you repay the loan fully, remove the hypothecation online using the NOC letter from your bank. This vehicle loan update keeps your RC clean for resale.

Address update in RC — Changed your home address? Update it via Aadhaar e-KYC without visiting the RTO in most states. This keeps your vehicle registration status accurate across the National Register Services.

Fancy Number Allocation & HSRP

Fancy Number Allocation (also called VIP number plate or choice number booking) lets you pick a preferred registration number — like 0001, 1111, or 9999 — at the time of new vehicle registration. Open-series numbers go on a first-come basis; high-demand fancy numbers go up for auction. Book through the “Fancy Number” section on the VAHAN portal.

As for the HSRP (High Security Registration Plate): this tamper-proof number plate features a laser-etched identification number, a hot-stamped IND hologram, and a chromium-based sticker. The government mandated it for all vehicles from 2019 onwards. Old vehicles without HSRP now face fines of ₹5,000+ caught by AI cameras in major cities. Book your HSRP through the authorized portal your state links on the Parivahan website.

Road Tax & Commercial Permits

Pay your road tax payment / vehicle tax payment directly on the VAHAN portal — no bank visit required. Log in → Pay Vehicle Tax → enter registration and chassis number → complete via UPI or net banking.

Commercial operators can apply for a National Permit (for inter-state goods or passenger transport), a vehicle fitness certificate renewal, and state-specific permits — all under the Vehicle Related Services section.

Pre-Purchase Used Vehicle Checklist

Before paying for a second-hand car or bike, run this check on VAHAN:

• Vehicle owner name — Does it match the seller’s ID?
• Insurance validity — Don’t buy if expired more than 90 days ago (you lose No Claim Bonus).
• RC status check — Is the RC active or blacklisted?
• Hypothecation — Is there an active loan on the vehicle?
• Pending eChallan — Check before buying; fines follow the vehicle.
• Fitness and PUC validity — Especially important for older vehicles.

eChallan

The e-Challan services platform at echallan.parivahan.gov.in lets you check and clear any pending traffic challan in minutes. In 2026, AI-mounted cameras across Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad automatically generate challans for signal jumping, no-helmet, wrong-lane, and missing HSRP — so you may have fines you don’t know about.

How to Check & Pay an eChallan

Visit echallan.parivahan.gov
and click “Check Challan Status.”
Enter your vehicle number, DL number, or challan number
along with the captcha.
Click “Get Detail.”
All pending challans appear on screen with violation details and amounts.
Click “Pay Now”
and complete
online challan payment
via UPI, debit/credit card, or net banking. A confirmation SMS arrives immediately.

🚨
Fake eChallan Scam: Fraudsters send fake challan SMS messages with links to unofficial payment pages. Always verify your challan on the official echallan.gov.in portal before making any payment. Never click links in unsolicited messages.

PUC Certificate

A PUC certificate (Pollution Under Control) proves your vehicle’s emission levels stay within legal limits. It’s mandatory for every petrol, diesel, and CNG vehicle in India. Driving without a valid PUC can result in a challan fine and, in 2026, RC renewal on Parivahan now requires a linked PUC record in the vehicle database.

How to Check PUC Certificate Online

• Visit puc.parivahan.gov.in
• Click “PUC Certificate”and enter your vehicle registration number (only last 5 characters required if you know the RTO code).
• View your PUC status— validity date, test centre name, and certificate number appear instantly.

Note: If “No record found” appears, your testing centre may not have uploaded the data yet. Wait a few hours and try again. Only PUCC-authorised centres upload to the Parivahan database — confirm before you test at any roadside shop.

A digital PUC viewed through mParivahan or DigiLocker’s “Issued Documents” section is legally valid. A simple photo or screenshot is not — traffic police can distinguish between the two on the spot.

mParivahan App

With over 10 crore downloads, mParivahan is one of India’s most-used government apps. Developed by NIC under MoRTH, it brings the full Parivahan Sewa ecosystem to your smartphone screen. Here’s what makes it essential:

• Digital Driving Licence (e-DL) — Legally valid under the Motor Vehicles Act 2019. Traffic police can scan the QR code for instant verification. No physical card needed.
• Virtual RC — Your Vehicle Registration Certificate on your phone. Same legal standing as the physical smart card.
• Online challan payment — Check and pay eChallan fines directly in the app.
• Vehicle details search — Check vehicle owner details and insurance validity by number plate.
• Nearest RTO and PUC centre finder.
• Renewal alerts — the app reminds you before your insurance, PUC, fitness certificate, or road tax expires.
• NextGen mParivahan also includes theft alerts and a parked vehicle locator.