A driving licence download gives you a copy of your licence on your phone or on paper, and the two digital routes are DigiLocker and the mParivahan app, which MoRTH has advised states to accept. We run this site independently of the government Parivahan portal, so every download, print and duplicate licence request is done in the official apps or on Sarathi, which we link below.
This page explains which copy is accepted at a traffic check, how printing works for learner and full licences, what a DL extract is, and when you need a duplicate card instead. If a portal label or rule here has changed, the verified update sits in the status panel near the page heading.
Four ways to get a driving licence download or copy
If you want to know how to download driving licence online, the answer depends on what the copy is for. A dl download online, an e driving licence download in an app and a parivahan driving licence download from Sarathi are different things with different uses. The table sorts them out, so you know how to download driving licence copies the right way:
| Need | Best route | Accepted at a check? |
|---|---|---|
| A copy on the phone to show police | DigiLocker or mParivahan | MoRTH advised states to accept them (2018), and the 2020 rule changes allow electronic documents |
| A printed learner licence | Sarathi learner licence print (Form 3) | It is your learner licence |
| A printout of your full licence details for an office or employer | Sarathi driving licence print option, sometimes called a DL extract | Depends on who asks; carry the card or a digital copy for driving |
| The plastic card is lost, stolen or damaged | Duplicate driving licence on Sarathi | A new card is issued |
A PDF file sent to you by an agent or saved from an unknown website is not the same as a DigiLocker or mParivahan copy. The 2018 advisory covers documents presented through those two apps, not files from other sources.
DigiLocker: the official document wallet
DigiLocker is the government's digital document wallet. We could not check its current screens, so follow the steps the app shows for adding a driving licence.
On 9 August 2018, MoRTH advised all states to accept a driving licence, registration certificate or other documents shown in electronic form through DigiLocker or mParivahan as valid under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, and to treat them at par with certificates issued by transport authorities. The advisory added that these electronic records are legally recognised under the Information Technology Act, 2000.
The advisory is about documents presented through DigiLocker or mParivahan. A photo of your card in a phone gallery is not covered by it.
mParivahan and the 2020 electronic document rules
mParivahan is the official mobile app named in the same 2018 advisory, which asked states to treat a licence shown in it at par with the original. The NextGen mParivahan app can also be used to pay traffic challans, as our e-challan payment guide explains.
The Central Motor Vehicles Rules were amended with effect from 1 October 2020 to allow vehicle documents to be produced in electronic form. If an enforcement officer validates your details electronically, physical documents cannot be demanded. The same changes provide for disqualified or revoked licences to be recorded on the portal.
Two cautions. First, the Motor Vehicles (Driving) Regulations, 2017 say a transport vehicle driver must carry original documents, so commercial drivers should keep the card with them. Second, a phone with a flat battery proves nothing; keep the card in the vehicle as a backup.
Printing from Sarathi: learner licence, full licence and DL extract
Sarathi has print options under both the learner licence and the driving licence menus. The labels below come from state transport department pages and third-party guides; the live wording may differ, so go by what your screen offers.
Learner licence print (Form 3)
The learner licence is issued in Form 3, and since the 2019 amendment it may be issued in electronic form. The Odisha transport department gives these steps:
- Visit Sarathi and pick the state that issued the learner licence.
- Go to the "Learners License" menu and choose "Print Learners License (Form3)".
- Fill in whichever you have of the application number, the learner licence number or your mobile, followed by DOB and captcha.
- Enter the security code sent to your registered mobile.
- The learner licence downloads as a PDF. Print it and carry it while practising.
Full driving licence print and DL extract
Many people search for a "DL extract" or "driving licence print" when they need a page showing the licence number, validity and classes of vehicle. Third-party pages describe a licence details option on Sarathi (called "Search DL Details"), but we could not confirm it or any print label on the live portal. Look under the driving licence menu for a print or details option; such pages say it asks for your DL number with date of birth. For a copy to show on the road, DigiLocker or mParivahan, which the 2018 advisory covers, remains the safer choice.
Driving licence download with mobile number or DL number
Searches like "driving licence download with mobile number" and "driving licence download pdf by dl number" reflect two different keys:
- DL number with date of birth is what the Sarathi services on an existing licence ask for.
- Mobile number mainly receives the OTP. Odisha's learner licence print also accepts the mobile number with date of birth to find the record.
If the code goes to an old number, you may not be able to finish. In August 2025, SMS messages went out asking holders to confirm their DL mobile number through Aadhaar, and the portal was reported to show an "Update Your Mobile Number" option for this. Fix the number first, then try the download again.
Duplicate driving licence when the card is lost or damaged
A download does not replace a lost card. For a new card, apply for a duplicate driving licence on Sarathi. S.O. 1026(E) lists it among the Aadhaar-based contactless services, which can be completed online after Aadhaar authentication.
The Uttarakhand transport department describes the route under "Services on DL" (labels may change):
- Select your state on Sarathi and open the services on an existing driving licence.
- Give your DL number and birth date, complete the captcha, and check the licence details shown.
- Pick the duplicate licence service and upload the documents asked for.
- Pay the fee shown for your state.
- Note the application number and track it on our DL status page.
| Item under CMVR Rule 32 | Fee |
|---|---|
| Duplicate driving licence | Rs 100 |
| Smart card type licence (Form 7) | Additional Rs 200 |
| Change of address or other particulars | Rs 200 |
Expect a higher total on screen, since each state adds service and card charges. If your licence has expired or is close to expiry, apply for renewal instead; see driving licence renewal.
State searches: AP, TS, UP, Rajasthan, Kerala and others
People often add a state to the search, such as "ap driving licence download", "ts driving licence download", "up dl download", "driving licence download rajasthan" or "kerala driving licence download". The digital routes are the same across states, and Sarathi asks you to select the state that issued the licence. What differs by state is mainly the service and card charges on top of the Rule 32 fee, and the local office that handles any problem.
If your licence does not appear in DigiLocker, compare what you typed with the card itself, character by character, including any state code and spaces. Section 25A, added in 2019, requires a National Register of Driving Licences maintained by the Central Government, with a unique number for each licence. For a record that looks wrong, ask the RTO that issued the licence.
Avoid fake download sites and paid agents
Look-alike sites offer "instant DL PDF download" for a fee, or ask for your DL number, date of birth and OTP. Do not use them. Use DigiLocker, mParivahan or Sarathi directly, and pay only the official fee shown for a service such as a duplicate licence. Never share an OTP with a website you reached through a message or an advert. If you lost money, complain on cybercrime.gov.in; the helpline is 1930.
New to licences? Start with the Sarathi Parivahan overview or the learning licence guide.
Questions people ask
Is a driving licence in DigiLocker or mParivahan valid?
MoRTH's advisory of 9 August 2018 asked states to accept licences shown through DigiLocker or mParivahan as valid and at par with the original. Rules effective from 1 October 2020 also say physical documents cannot be demanded once an officer validates your details electronically.
Can I download my driving licence as a PDF?
Sarathi has a confirmed print option for the learner licence (Form 3), which downloads as a PDF. For a full licence, use DigiLocker, mParivahan or the details option under Sarathi's licence menu. A PDF kept as a file is useful for records, but at a traffic check, show the licence inside DigiLocker or mParivahan or carry the card.
How do I print my learner licence?
On Sarathi, select your state, open the Learners License menu and choose the Form 3 print option. Search with the application number, learner licence number or mobile together with your birth date, and confirm with the code sent by SMS. Menu wording can be updated, so look for the nearest match.
What is the fee for a duplicate driving licence?
The central fee under CMVR Rule 32 is Rs 100 for a duplicate driving licence. A smart card licence carries an additional Rs 200, and your state's service fee is added, which makes the payable amount larger.
What is a DL extract?
It is a common name for a printout of your licence details, such as the number, validity and classes of vehicle. Look for the print or details option under Sarathi's driving licence menu. For driving, a DigiLocker or mParivahan copy is the digital form covered by MoRTH's 2018 advisory.
My licence does not show in DigiLocker. What should I do?
Check that you typed the DL number exactly as printed and that the date of birth matches. If it still fails, the record may need correction at the RTO that issued the licence. Take the card and ID proof with you.
Sources we checked
- The Quint: MoRTH advisory on DigiLocker and mParivahan thequint.com
- Organiser: CMVR amendments on electronic documents from 1 October 2020 organiser.org
- Odisha Transport: printing the learner licence odishatransport.gov.in
- Uttarakhand Transport: Services on DL transport.uk.gov.in
- Rule 32 licence fees (Himachal Pradesh) himachal.gov.in
- MoRTH S.O. 1026(E): Aadhaar-based contactless services acma.in
- Sarathi portal (MoRTH) sarathi.parivahan.gov.in
We read these sources for this guide. Rules can change after we check them, so confirm anything important on the official portal or at your local office.