Driving Licence in Puducherry

Driving licence management in the union territory of Puducherry is controlled by its transport department according to the rules framed in the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The local RTO established under the Act delivers a range of transport-related services in Puducherry, aligned with the national Parivahan grid. Thus, you can avail of the compulsory driving licence in various categories to comply with the Act’s provisions. In addition, you can renew, add vehicle class, and seek a duplicate licence besides applying for an International Driving Permit.

Various Types of Driving Licence (Saarthi) in Puducherry:

Driving licences in Puducherry are classified on the same lines as other parts of India under the uniform national policy. The factors to consider are the vehicle class and their usage. Accordingly, you can apply for a driving licence in Puducherry broadly in three categories.

1. DL for Two Wheeler without Gear: Covers all gearless two-wheelers with a 50 CC or lower engine capacity.
2. DL for Light Motor Vehicle (LMV): Covers cars for personal use in the non-transport class and geared two-wheelers with engine volume higher than 50 CC.
3. DL for Commercial Vehicle (CV):  Covers all transport vehicles in the medium and heavy classes used for goods and passenger carriage.

In addition to the above categories, the different driving licence classes which apply to all the above are:

1. Learner’s Licence: A learning licence in Puducherry is the first step in legal driving.
2. Permanent Licence: Graduating from the learner’s certifying your driving competence.
3. International Driving Permit: A notch over DL, the permit is valid for driving independently in foreign countries while travelling abroad.

Eligibility Criteria for Driving Licence (Saarthi) in Puducherry:

The MV Act defines the eligibility norms for the different types of DL issued at Puducherry:

1. The applicant must be 16 years or above for gearless two-wheeler DL supported with a parental consent letter.
2. The applicant must be 18 years or above for  LMV DL.
3. The applicant must be 20 years or above for CV DL.

In addition to the above conditions, the applicant must comply with the following before obtaining a valid DL in Puducherry.

• You can apply for the permanent licence with the Learner Licence in hand 30 days from its issue date, but no later than 180 days.
• Should be knowledgeable about Puducerry’s traffic rules for the driving licence application online in Puducherry.

Documents Required to Apply For a DL (Saarthi) in Puducherry:

The applicant must go through the procedure for a learner’s licence in the first step. Regardless of whether offline or online driving licence in Puducherry, the required documents are:

• Form 2  for application
• Form 1 for a certificate from a registered medical practitioner
• Form 1A for self-declared physical fitness
• Address and age proof using specified documents
• Recent stamp-sized coloured photographs
• A self-addressed duly INR 25 stamped envelope

Procedure to Obtain a DL (Saarthi) in Puducherry:

In addition to the two-wheeler licence online application in Puducherry, you can apply online for the other licence types through the Parivahan portal in a few steps. First, you get the learner licence with 6-month validity after passing a test. As a result, you are ready to apply for the permanent licence after 30 days in the following steps.

• Submit forms 4 or 5 for non-transport and transport licences, respectively
• Pay requisite fees
• Appear at the driving competence test
• Receive the DL upon passing

Procedure to Obtain a Duplicate DL (Saarthi) in Puducherry:

According to the MV Act, driving without a valid DL is an offence. Thus, you must obtain a duplicate DL from the licencing authority at Puducherry RTO if the original is defaced, stolen, or lost. The documents to submit are:

• Application in form LLD
• Enclose the defaced or damaged DL
• If the DL is stolen or lost, submit a non-traceable police certificate signed by the Station House Officer
• Pay the requisite fees

Procedure to Obtain a Renewed DL (Saarthi) in Puducherry:

The LMV driving licence is initially valid for 20 years or until the holder turns 50, while the CV is 3 years. According to the stated timeline, the DL is due for renewal before expiry. Therefore, apply for driving licence renewal online in Puducherry through the Parivahan portal. Alternatively, visit the licencing authority with the following documents for Puducherry driving licence renewal.

• Application form 9 supported by form 1
• The original DL
• Three stamp size recent photographs
• Pay the applicable fees

Application Procedure for International Driving Permit in Puducherry:

You can drive vehicles of your choice while travelling abroad once you obtain the IDP from Puducherry RTO. However, you must appear in person before the licensing authority along with the following documents.

• Original driving licence
• Medical certificates in forms 1 and 1A
• Address and identity proof
• Indian Passport
• Visa and Air ticket
• Licencing rules in the proposed country to visit
• Non-conviction certificate
• Recent photographs
• Applicable fees
• Self-addressed INR 25 stamped envelope

Procedure to Obtain Commercial DL in Puducherry:

The procedure for the commercial DL in Puducherry is identical to the other classes, except for the final driving competence test using the applied vehicle class. In addition, the validity is initially for 3 years.

Driving Licence Test Procedure in Puducherry:

The tests for issuing a driving licence in Puducherry are conducted in two phases. The first for a learner licence involves an online test to assess the applicant’s grasp over Puducherry’s transport rules. 

On the other hand, the driving competence test for the permanent licence is conducted at the RTO premises under the supervision of a Motor Vehicle Inspector. It evaluates the applicant’s driving skills and capability to drive independently. In either case, the licence is approved and issued once you pass the tests.