Government Services

Driving Licence Application and Renewal Status: What Each Stage Means

Check DL or renewal status on Sarathi under Application Status with your application number and date of birth.

Written by Vikram Desai

Published 5 October 2026·6 min read

On this page8 sections

Credsir Government Services guide cover with a id card icon

To check your driving licence application or renewal status, open sarathi.parivahan.gov.in, select your state and choose Application Status. Enter your application number and date of birth. The status moves from fee payment and document checks to the test, approval, printing and dispatch, and wording differs slightly by state.

Key facts

Item	Detail
Where to check	sarathi.parivahan.gov.in → your state → Application Status
What you need	Application number and date of birth
Lost application number	Others → Find Application Number
When to renew	Up to one year before, or within one year after, the expiry date
Renewal fee (CMVR Rule 32)	₹200; late renewal ₹300 plus ₹1,000 for each year or part year of delay after the grace period
Renewal more than one year late	Driving test required under Section 15 of the Motor Vehicles Act
Digital copy	A licence in DigiLocker or mParivahan is accepted under Rule 139 of the CMVR

How to check DL application status

Go to sarathi.parivahan.gov.in and select the state where you applied.
Open Application Status. In most states it sits under the Apply Online menu.
Enter your application number and date of birth, then submit.
Read the current status. Click Refresh if you have just uploaded a document or paid a fee.
Use the links on the right of the same page to reprint your acknowledgement, appointment slip or forms.

If you have lost the application number, use Find Application Number under the Others menu. The same Application Status page tracks a new licence, a renewal, a duplicate or an address change, because each service gets its own application number.

Each stage explained

The exact messages vary by state, but applications pass through these stages. The explanations below come from the Parivahan FAQ.

Stage	What it means	What you do
Fee payment pending or verifying with bank	The payment has not been confirmed	Use Fee Payments → verify payment status; contact the helpdesk or RTO if it stays pending beyond three days
Upload documents / photo and signature pending	Required uploads are missing or unreadable	Upload single JPEG or PDF files within the size limit, then refresh
Under scrutiny and processing at RTO level	The RTO has to verify documents and take biometrics	Visit the RTO on your slot date with originals and the fee receipt
Test appointment / result	Your learner’s or driving test is booked or recorded	If absent or failed, pay the retest fee and book a new slot
Driver’s License approved	The licensing authority has cleared the application	Wait for printing and dispatch
Printed / dispatched	The card has been printed and sent, where the state posts licences	Ask the RTO for the dispatch tracking number

Before the test stage, you need a learner’s licence held for at least 30 days. Our guide to the learner’s licence online test and fees covers that step.

Renewal process and status

Section 14 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, as amended in 2019, sets how long a non-transport licence lasts:

Your age on issue or renewal	Licence valid until
Under 30	You turn 40
30 to under 50	10 years from issue or renewal
50 to under 55	You turn 60
55 or above	5 years from issue or renewal

A transport licence is valid for five years, and one for vehicles carrying hazardous goods for three years.

How to renew online

On Sarathi, select your state and open Services on Drivers License (Renewal/Duplicate/AEDL/Others).
Enter your licence number and date of birth and click Get Drivers License Details.
Choose Renewal of DL and fill in the form (Form 2).
Attach Form 1 (self-declaration of fitness). If you are 40 or older, or renewing a transport licence, attach a Form 1-A medical certificate instead.
Pay the fee and upload documents. Book an RTO slot if your state asks for one.
Track the renewal under Application Status.

Renewal without a driving test is one of the services MoRTH allows online with Aadhaar authentication, where your state offers it. You can renew at the RTO where your last transaction took place or at the nearest one. The Parivahan FAQ says no NOC is needed to renew in another state.

Grace period and late renewal

Section 15, as amended in 2019, lets you apply up to one year before expiry or within one year after it at the normal fee. The late fee applies after that. If you apply more than one year after expiry, the licensing authority must refuse renewal unless you pass a driving test. Some states also ask for a fresh learner’s licence in that case.

The 2019 amendment deleted the clause in Section 14 that kept a licence effective for 30 days after expiry. An older Parivahan page still mentions a 30-day rule. Treat your licence as expired from the date printed on it, and do not drive until it is renewed.

When you apply	Fee (CMVR Rule 32)	Test
Up to one year before expiry, or within one year after it	₹200	No
More than one year after expiry	₹300, plus ₹1,000 for each year or part year of delay after the grace period	Yes

States add user charges, so pay the total shown on the Sarathi fee screen.

Licence not received: what to do

Item	Details
Status says approved but no card	contact your RTO for the dispatch tracking number and track the post with it. Whether a licence is posted or collected depends on the state.
Payment made but status still pending	verify the payment under Fee Payments, then contact the RTO or helpdesk with the receipt.
Licence missing from Sarathi or DigiLocker	your RTO has to migrate the record to Sarathi. Visit with the original licence.
Need to drive meanwhile	once the licence is issued, a copy in DigiLocker or mParivahan is valid. Rule 139 of the CMVR, amended on 2 November 2018, lets you show documents in electronic form.

If you plan to drive abroad, apply for an International Driving Permit only after renewal, because the permit cannot outlast your licence.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know my driving licence status?

Open sarathi.parivahan.gov.in, select your state, choose Application Status, and enter your application number and date of birth.

How can I check my driving licence renewal status?

Use the same Application Status page with the application number from your renewal. Each service gets its own number.

What does “under scrutiny and processing at RTO level” mean?

The RTO still has to verify your documents and capture your biometrics. Visit on your slot date with originals.

Is there a grace period after my licence expires?

You can renew at the normal fee within one year of expiry. The 30-day clause that kept an expired licence valid was deleted in 2019, so do not drive on an expired licence.

What if my licence expired more than a year ago?

You must pass a driving test before it is renewed, and you pay the late fee. Some states also ask for a new learner’s licence.

My status says approved but I have not received the licence. What now?

Ask your RTO for the dispatch tracking number. Meanwhile, the licence in DigiLocker or mParivahan is valid.

I lost my application number. How do I find it?

Use Find Application Number under the Others menu on your state’s Sarathi page.

Sources

Frequently Asked Questions — Parivahan, MoRTH (checked 17 Sep 2026)
Services on Driver’s License (FAQ) — Parivahan, MoRTH (checked 17 Sep 2026)
LL – Learners License related services (FAQ) — Parivahan, MoRTH (checked 17 Sep 2026)
Licensing related fees and charges — Parivahan, MoRTH (checked 17 Sep 2026)
Renewal — Parivahan, MoRTH (checked 17 Sep 2026)
Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019, Sections 9 and 10 — PRS Legislative Research (checked 17 Sep 2026)
Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, Sections 14 and 15 — Indian Kanoon (checked 17 Sep 2026)
SOP for documents in electronic form, Rule 139 — MoRTH (checked 17 Sep 2026)
58 citizen-centric services online with Aadhaar authentication — PIB (checked 17 Sep 2026)