India / Driving licence and vehicles

Duplicate driving licence or address change (Sarathi)

Both are done on the Sarathi portal under Services on DL, using your licence number and date of birth. The central fee is Rs 400 for a duplicate licence and Rs 200 for a change of address, plus state charges. For a lost licence many RTOs ask for a police complaint copy; some faceless services ask for no documents.

Fee
Rs 400 duplicate, Rs 200 address change (central fees); states add charges
Time
Varies by state and RTO
How
Online on Sarathi; faceless in some states, RTO visit in others

Checked against official sources on . See the 12 sources.

Quick answer

Open sarathi.parivahan.gov.in, choose your state, and click Apply for Duplicate DL or Apply for Change of Address. Both tiles open the same service, also found under Driving Licence, then Services on DL (Renewal/Duplicate/AEDL/IDP/Others). Enter your licence number and date of birth, tick the service you need, upload documents if asked, and pay.

The central fee is Rs 400 for a duplicate licence and Rs 200 for a change of address. States add their own user, card and postal charges. You can tick both services in one application.

Until the new card arrives, the licence record itself stays valid. Rule 139 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules lets you show the licence in electronic form, so fetch it in DigiLocker or mParivahan.

Who can apply

  • Any holder of a driving licence issued in India whose record is on Sarathi.
  • For a duplicate: the Parivahan page lists three situations. The licence is lost or destroyed; it is defaced, torn or completely written up; or the photograph on it needs replacement.
  • For address change: anyone whose present address is different from the one on the licence.
  • If you have no Aadhaar, the 2026 notification on Aadhaar authentication says you can still take the service in physical form by proving identity with another document at the RTO.

Lost, damaged, or just want a new card

Sarathi shows several similar services after you enter your licence number. It only shows the ones you are eligible for.

Your situationService name on Sarathi
Licence lost, destroyed, torn or unreadableISSUE OF DUPLICATE DL
Address has changedCHANGE OF ADDRESS IN DL
Old photo or signature needs changingCHANGE OF PHOTO AND SIGNATURE IN DL
Listed separately from duplicate; ask the RTO which one applies to an old book or paper licenceREPLACEMENT OF DL

Which RTO

Rule 18A says the licensing authority that receives the application shall issue the duplicate if your licence details are on the Portal. If they are not, it issues the duplicate after the original authority confirms the record electronically.

Two official pages give slightly different advice on which RTO to pick. The Sarathi instructions page says to select the RTO whose jurisdiction covers your present address. The Parivahan FAQ says to select the RTO where your last transaction was completed. If Sarathi lets you choose, the present address RTO is the practical choice when you have moved; if it does not, ask that RTO.

Moved to another state: the FAQ says a licence is valid throughout India and that no NOC is required for a driving licence. It tells people who want a duplicate in a new state to visit the local RTO for more information.

Documents you need

For both services:

  • Driving licence number and date of birth.
  • Mobile number for OTP. For a faceless application, your Aadhaar number and the mobile number linked to Aadhaar.

For a duplicate licence:

  • The damaged licence, if you still have it.
  • If it is lost: a copy of the police complaint. The annexure to Form 2 asks for "the copy of police complaint made" where the licence was lost. Delhi's transport department asks for an FIR or NCR that mentions the lost licence number.
  • A photocopy of the lost licence, if you have one.
  • Some states waive documents for the faceless route. Maharashtra's manual for faceless duplicate DL shows documents as "Exempted".

For a change of address:

  • Proof of the new address. Form 2 lists Aadhaar card, electoral roll, life insurance policy, passport, pay slip of a government office or local body, an affidavit sworn before an Executive Magistrate, First Class Judicial Magistrate or Notary Public, and any other document your state specifies.
  • The existing licence.

Transport licence holders in Delhi are also asked for a challan clearance report from the traffic police.

Steps

Online

  1. Open https://sarathi.parivahan.gov.in/sarathiservice/stateSelection.do and select the state from which you want the service.
  2. Click Apply for Duplicate DL or Apply for Change of Address. Or open the Driving Licence menu and click Services on DL (Renewal/Duplicate/AEDL/IDP/Others).
  3. Read the instructions page and continue. It lists the stages: fill applicant details, upload documents if required, upload photo and signature if required, pay the fee, verify the pay status, print the receipt.
  4. Enter the Driving Licence number and Date of Birth and fetch your details. Check that the record is yours.
  5. Select the RTO.
  6. Tick ISSUE OF DUPLICATE DL, CHANGE OF ADDRESS IN DL, or both. For a duplicate, give the reason (lost, torn, defaced) when asked. For an address change, type the new present address exactly as it appears on your proof. Do not use special characters in the address fields; the FAQ says they cause errors.
  7. Submit and note the application number.
  8. Upload the documents under Upload Document if your state asks for them.
  9. Pay under Fee Payments. If the money is debited but no receipt appears, use Verify Payment Status before paying again.
  10. If your state lists the service as faceless, complete the Aadhaar authentication at the start instead. In Delhi the name, date of birth and father's or spouse's name in Aadhaar must exactly match the licence record. In Maharashtra the name and date of birth must match.
  11. If your state needs a visit, book a slot under Appointments, then DL services Slot Booking.

In person

  1. Go to the RTO on the booked date with the application printout, fee receipt, the damaged licence or the police complaint copy, and original address proof.
  2. The RTO checks the documents and approves the application.
  3. The card is posted or handed over as your state decides. In Delhi you collect it from the RTO after an intimation that the licence is ready.

Fees

ServiceCentral fee (rule 32)
Issue of duplicate licenceRs 400
Change of address or other particulars recorded in the licenceRs 200

States add user charges and card and postal charges, so the amount on the payment screen is higher. As one example, Maharashtra's faceless duplicate DL manual shows a total of Rs 666.

The Parivahan fee page lists the Rs 200 address change fee but has no row for a duplicate licence. The Rs 400 fee comes from the 2021 amendment to rule 32. Go by the amount Sarathi shows at payment.

How long it takes

No national time limit for these two services was found on the pages opened. A faceless application with no query is the quickest because nobody has to verify papers at a counter. Whether the card is posted is, in the words of the Parivahan FAQ, as per the state policy.

What to carry until the card arrives

  • Your licence record does not stop being valid because the card is lost or being reprinted.
  • Rule 139 allows the driver to produce the driving licence "in physical or electronic form". Once an officer validates the electronic record, the rule says the physical document shall not be demanded.
  • So fetch the licence in DigiLocker or add it in mParivahan before you drive. See the guide on driving licence and RC in DigiLocker.
  • If you cannot show it on the spot, rule 139 lets you produce an attested extract in person or send it by registered post within fifteen days of the demand.
  • Keep the fee receipt and application number with you as a record. No official page says a receipt replaces the licence.

How to check status

On your state's Sarathi page click Application Status and enter the application number and date of birth. If you lost the application number, use Others, then Find Application Number. For a posted card use Others, then Track Dispatch Article Status.

Common problems

  • Licence number not found on Sarathi. Old book or card licences may not be digitised. The FAQ says to contact the RTO with the original documents; some states allow backlog entry online.
  • Record shows wrong or incomplete details. The RTO has to correct it. Do this before applying, because the duplicate is printed from the record.
  • Lost licence and you do not remember the number. Others, then DL Search on the state page may help. Otherwise look for an old photocopy, insurance claim papers or DigiLocker.
  • Aadhaar details do not match. The faceless route will not go through. Either update Aadhaar or use the RTO visit route.
  • Service not shown after entering the licence number. Sarathi displays only the services you are eligible for. The FAQ says to contact the RTO if a service is missing.
  • Applied to the wrong RTO. The FAQ says the RTO can be changed before fee payment. After payment, ask the RTO.
  • Vehicle RC still has the old address. A licence address change does not update the RC. That is a separate Vahan service in Form 33, and section 49 of the Motor Vehicles Act gives thirty days to intimate the change. The Parivahan page on it still says 14 days.
  • Found the old licence after getting a duplicate. Hand the old card to the RTO. Holding two cards for one licence invites trouble at a check.

FAQ

Is an FIR required for a duplicate driving licence?

It depends on the state. Form 2 asks for a copy of the police complaint when the licence was lost, and Delhi asks for an FIR or NCR. Maharashtra's faceless service shows documents as exempted. Check the document list Sarathi shows for your state before going to the police station.

What is the fee for a duplicate driving licence?

The central fee is Rs 400 under rule 32. State user, card and postal charges are added on top.

What is the fee to change the address in a driving licence?

The central fee is Rs 200, plus state charges.

Can I drive while my duplicate licence is being made?

Yes, if the licence itself is valid. Show it in DigiLocker or mParivahan; rule 139 accepts the electronic form.

Can I change my licence address to another state?

The Parivahan FAQ says a licence is valid throughout India and no NOC is needed. Select the new state on Sarathi and see whether it accepts your licence number for a change of address. If it does not, the local RTO will tell you how it handles licences issued elsewhere.

Can I apply for duplicate and address change together?

Yes. Tick both services in the same application. Each has its own fee.

Do I need to visit the RTO?

Not where your state offers the service as faceless with Aadhaar authentication and your Aadhaar details match the licence. Otherwise you visit once for document checks.

Which form is used for a duplicate licence?

Form 2, the common application form for licence services. Sarathi fills it for you online. Some state pages still mention the older Form LLD.

Sources

Every fee, time limit, form and address above was read on these official pages on 13 October 2026.

  1. Sarathi Parivahan, state selection and state home page (opened for Delhi) Supports Tiles Apply for Duplicate DL and Apply for Change of Address; menu Services on DL (Renewal/Duplicate/AEDL/IDP/Others); the instructions page listing the stages and the services ISSUE OF DUPLICATE DL, CHANGE OF ADDRESS IN DL, REPLACEMENT OF DL and CHANGE OF PHOTO AND SIGNATURE IN DL; the note to select the RTO of the present address; Application Status, Find Application Number, Track Dispatch Article Status, Cancel Application; Delhi's faceless services list, the Aadhaar match condition and collection from the RTO
  2. MoRTH, G.S.R. 240(E) dated 31 March 2021, Central Motor Vehicles (Sixth Amendment) Rules, 2021 Supports Rule 18A (duplicate licence for a lost, torn or mutilated licence issued by the authority receiving the application when the details are on the Portal, otherwise after electronic confirmation from the original authority); rule 32 entry 14, issue of duplicate licence Rs 400; entry 13 reworded
  3. Parivahan Sewa, Licensing Related Fees and Charges Supports Rs 200 for any application for change in address or other particulars recorded in the driving licence; this page does not list the duplicate licence fee
  4. Parivahan Sewa, Duplicate Licence Supports When a duplicate is issued (lost or destroyed, defaced or torn or completely written up, photograph needs replacement); requirements (Form 2, original licence if available, attested photocopies if lost, fees and user charges)
  5. Parivahan Sewa, FAQ Supports Steps for change of address and for duplicate under Services on DL; choose the RTO where the last transaction was completed; a licence is valid throughout India; NOC not required for a driving licence; dispatch is as per state policy; RTO to be contacted when Sarathi or DigiLocker does not show the licence; application status and Find Application Number
  6. MoRTH, draft G.S.R. 1115(E) dated 29 August 2017, simplification of forms Supports Form 2 as the single application form that lists Duplicate Driving Licence and Change / Correction of Address in Driving Licence as services; its annexure lists the address proofs and, for a lost licence, the copy of the police complaint made
  7. Transport Department, Government of NCT of Delhi, Duplicate Driving Licence Supports Delhi's document list for a duplicate licence, including FIR or NCR mentioning the lost licence number, self attested address proof and challan clearance for transport licences; the page still names Form LLD
  8. Motor Vehicles Department, Maharashtra, Faceless service for Duplicate DL (PDF) Supports Maharashtra faceless duplicate licence, documents shown as exempted, fee shown as Rs 666, Aadhaar name and date of birth must match the licence, no RTO visit, the order of steps on Sarathi
  9. MoRTH, G.S.R. 584(E) dated 25 September 2020, Central Motor Vehicles (Eleventh Amendment) Rules, 2020 Supports Rule 139, documents may be produced in physical or electronic form; physical copies not to be demanded once the electronic record is validated; extract may be produced or sent within fifteen days
  10. MoRTH, S.O. 3680(E) dated 6 July 2026 Supports Change of Address in Driving Licence and Issue of Duplicate Driving Licence are listed Sarathi services with voluntary Aadhaar authentication; a person without Aadhaar can use the physical route with another identity document
  11. Parivahan Sewa, Contact Us Supports Sarathi helpdesk email for learner and driving licence problems
  12. India Code, Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 (PDF) Supports Section 49, change of address in the certificate of registration to be intimated within thirty days; section 130, duty to produce the licence on demand

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