Driving Licence Tamilnadu

In Tamil Nadu, driving licences are categorised into different types based on whether they are for private or commercial use vehicles. Here are the details:

Personal Use Vehicles

If you are planning to ride a vehicle for personal use, then you can apply for a non-transport driving licence. This covers the following types of vehicles:

Motorcycles without gears

Motorcycles with gears

Light motor vehicles

Any other motor vehicle for personal use

Commercial Use Vehicles

If you plan to use your vehicle for commercial purposes, then you need to apply for a transport driving licence. This covers the following vehicles:

Light motor vehicles used for commercial purposes

Heavy motor vehicles like trucks, buses, tractors, etc.

Trailers

Here are the eligibility criteria for applying for a driving licence in Tamil Nadu:

• A valid learner’s licence

• At least 18 years of age as of the date of application. If you are planning to drive a commercial vehicle, then you need to be at least 20 years old as of the date of application

• Thorough knowledge of traffic rules and road signs

• The application for a driving licence can be submitted only after 30 days and within 180 days of getting the learner’s licence

The transport department will ask you to submit certain documents with your driving licence application. If you are opting for a driving licence, apply online in Tamil Nadu, then, you would have to upload these documents and even carry them with you to the RTO for verification. Here is the list of documents:

Original Learner’s Licence: You can apply for a driving licence only if you have a learner’s licence that is more than 30 days old

Proof of age: Any document from the list of approved documents that can establish your age. These include an Aadhar card, passport, birth certificate, etc.

Proof of address: Any document from the list of approved documents that can establish your address. These include an Aadhar card, passport, voter’s ID, etc.

Three passport-size photographs

A duly filled application form

Vehicle registration documents

There are two stages of getting a driving licence in Tamil Nadu:

You apply for a learner’s licence. To get this licence, you have to clear a test on traffic rules and road signs. The traffic department ensures that you understand these things before trying to take a vehicle on the road. Once you get this licence, you can learn to drive.

To apply for a permanent driving licence, you must have the learner’s licence for at least 30 days. The validity of the learner’s licence is 180 days. Therefore, you can apply between 30 and 180 days after receiving the learner’s licence.

You can opt for an online or offline application based on your preferences.

Licence Apply Online in Tamil Nadu

Most people prefer applying for a driving licence online since they can submit it from anywhere and at any time at their convenience. They do not have to visit the RTO and take time off for the same. Here is a look at the detailed driving licence procedure in Tamil Nadu:

Visit www.parivahan.gov.in/parivahan - the official website of Parivahan Sewa, an initiative by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH)

Locate the section “Licence Related Services” on the home page

Click the option “Drivers/Learners Licence” under this section

Choose “Tamil Nadu” from the list of states in the dropdown menu

The next page will list the services offered. Here, you need to consider two options:

Apply for a Learner's Licence: Click this option if you do not have a learner’s licence. This is a mandatory requirement, and you will not be eligible to apply for a driving licence without a valid learner’s licence that is at least 30 days old.

Apply for a Driving Licence: Click this option if you have a 30-day-old learner’s licence. Also, it should not be more than 180 days old.

Complete the application form based on your choice

You will be asked to upload certain documents. Make sure that all documents are clear and legible

Next, select the slot for your driving test. You will have to visit the RTO for this test. Hence, choose the date and time according to your schedule.

Pay the fees and appear for the driving test

Licence Apply Offline in Tamil Nadu

Select an RTO office close to you and visit it

Get the driving licence application form

Fill out the form and attach the required documents

Submit it at the specified counter

Book a slot for the driving test and pay the fees

Appear for the test on the selected date and time

Here is a list of fees for various licence-related services in Tamil Nadu:

When you apply for a learner’s licence, you will have to clear a test with questions on road signs and traffic rules. These are usually basic and ensure that you know the signs even when learning how to drive. Upon clearing this test, a learner’s licence is issued to you. Its validity is 180 days, and you are required to learn driving within this period.

After you have learnt how to drive and your learner’s licence is more than 30 days old, you can apply for a driving licence and select the date and time of the driving test. An RTO-appointed examiner conducts this. You are tested on your driving skills and the ability to drive the vehicle in complete control. The driving test is conducted in two parts too – ground test and road test.

Phase 1 - Ground Test

In the first test, the examiner will ask you to drive on a designated track. This track has shapes drawn onto it, and you are expected to trace it with the wheels while driving. For two-wheelers, the most common shapes are “8” and “T”. To clear this test, you need to be able to drive along the track smoothly without keeping your feet on the ground for balance and support.

Phase 2 - Road Test

While some RTOs skip it, in this phase, you will be asked to drive on the road in traffic conditions. This will allow the examiner to assess your skills with respect to various traffic rules and other honking vehicles.

After clearing this test, you will receive the driving licence within 30 days via speed post at your registered mailing address.

If you lose your driving licence or if it gets stolen, then you can apply for a duplicate licence in Tamil Nadu. But first, you need to go to the police station and file a report. Also, you need to stop driving until you get a duplicate licence in place of your original one. A copy of the complaint filed with the police needs to be submitted along with the application for a duplicate driving licence. Here are the steps:

• Go to www.parivahan.gov.in/parivahan to submit an application for a duplicate driving licence.

• On the home page, locate the section “Licence Related Services” and click the option “Other Services.”

• Choose “Tamil Nadu” from the dropdown menu.

• On the next page, you will have a list of licence-related services offered. Go through the list and click the option “Apply for Duplicate DL.”

• Enter your existing driving number and date of birth. This will help the platform locate your details.

• Fill out the application form with accurate information.

• You will be required to upload certain documents. Make sure that the scans are clear.

• Pay the fees.

If you want to apply offline, you can visit the nearest RTO. Here, you need to collect the form, fill it out, attach the required documents, and submit it at the specified counter.

Your driving licence is valid for 20 years or until you attain the age of 50 years. So, if you get your driving licence at the age of 25 years, then it will be valid for 20 years since by then, you will only be 45 years old (not 50). On the other hand, if you get your licence at the age of 35 years, then by the time you turn 50, your licence would have been 15 years old. However, since you have turned 50, the licence will no longer be valid. Hence, you will have to apply for renewal.

Here is a detailed look at the driving licence renewal procedure in Tamil Nadu:

List of Documents

• Your original driving licence.

• A valid proof of age. This can be any document from the list of approved documents, including Aadhar Card, Passport, and birth certificate, among others.

• A valid proof of address. This can be any document from the list of approved documents, including Aadhar Card, Passport, and Voter’s ID, among others.

• Passport-size photographs

Renewal Process

• Visit the official website of Parivahan Sewa.

• Look for the section “Licence Related Services” on the home page and click the option “Other Services” under this section.

• Select “Tamil Nadu” from the dropdown menu.

• The next page will display a list of licence-related services offered. Click the option “Apply for DL Renewal.”

• Provide your driving licence number and date of birth.

• Complete the application form and upload the documents as specified.

• Pay the renewal fees.

If you want to apply offline, then you can visit the nearest RTO office. You will have to get the renewal application form, fill it out, attach the documents, and submit it to the RTO. You will also have to pay the specified fees at the respective counter.

You cannot use your driving licence to drive a vehicle in any other country. To do this, you need to apply for an international driving permit. To get this permit in Tamil Nadu, you need to have a valid Indian driving licence issued in the state. If your driving licence has been issued by any other state, then you will have to change your address to your current address in Tamil Nadu before applying. Also, if your Indian driving licence has been suspended by the RTO or law, then you will not be able to apply for the permit.

Documents needed

• A duly filled application form for an international driving permit

• A valid Indian driving licence

• Proof of nationality

• Copy of your passport and visa

• Passport-size photographs

• Medical Certificate

Here is the process to apply for an international driving permit (IDP) in Tamil Nadu:

• Go to www.parivahan.gov.in/parivahan.

• On the home page, look for the section “Licence Related Services” and click the option “Other Services.”

• Choose “Tamil Nadu” from the dropdown menu.

• The next page displays a list of all licence-related services offered. Click the option “Apply for International Driving Permit.”

• Fill out the application form and attach the requested documents.

• Pay the fees.

If you want to apply offline, then you can visit the nearest RTO and collect the application form. Make sure to fill out the form carefully and submit it along with the specified documents. You will have to pay the fees at the counter and collect the receipt, too.

As soon as you clear the driving test, your application will go through a processing cycle, which will include record verification, printing of the driving licence, and dispatch through speed post. Usually, applicants receive their driving licence within 30 days of clearing the test. You can check the status of your driving licence in Tamil Nadu by following these steps:

• Visit the official website of Parivahan Sewa.

• On the home page, navigate to the section “Licence Related Services” and click the option “Other Services.”

• Choose “Tamil Nadu” from the dropdown menu.

• This will open the services page. You need to scroll to the top of the page and locate the option “Application Status” at the top right-hand corner.

• Once you click it, you will have to provide the application number and your date of birth to get the status.

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