How to get a Driver's License in Bangalore

A Driving Licence is an official document certifying that the holder is suitably qualified to drive a motor vehicle or vehicles. Under the provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 in India, no person can drive a motor vehicle in any public place unless he holds a valid Driving Licence issued to him, authorising him to drive a vehicle of that particular category.

In India, two kinds of Driving Licences are issued: Learner's Licence and Permanent Licence. Learner's Licence is valid only for six months. Permanent Licence can be availed only after the expiry of one month from the date of issuance of the Learner's Licence.

Pre-process requirements:

For obtaining a driver’s license, one first needs to get a learner’s license. It is only after obtaining a learner’s licence; you can apply for a driving licence. But the minimum period between the applications is one month.  Here is how you can get a learner’s license –

1. Download the form from this link or collect form CMV2 from the enquiry counter.
2. You need the following documents to be submitted along with the form –

• Three recent passport size photographs required
• Proof of address:(to produce any one of the following)
  - Ration Card
  - Passport
  - LIC Policy
  - Electoral Roll
  - Telephone Bill  
  - Electricity Bill
  - Water Bill
  - Caste Certificate (SC/ST, Backward Class and Minorities, etc.) and Income Certificate issued by Tahasildar.
  - Pay slip issued by any office of the Central Government or a State Government or a Local body.
  - Ration Card Self swearing Affidavit by an applicant before an executive Magistrate or a First Class Judicial Magistrate or a Notary Public as evidence of age and address.
  - Proof of legal presence in India in addition to proof of residence in case of foreigners.
• Proof of Age: (to produce any one of the following)
  - School Certificate.
  - Birth Certificate.
  - PAN card.
  - Certificate granted by the registered medical practitioner not below the rank of a Civil Surgeon.
  - Self-swearing Affidavit by an applicant before an executive Magistrate or a First Class Judicial Magistrate or a Notary Public as evidence of age and address.
   

3. After filling the form and the required documents, go to your nearest RTO office, pay fees of Rs. 30 at the cash counter and present the form with documents before the Asst. R.T.O.
    
4. Then you need to give a written test if you have passed SSLC and above. This test will be of multiple choice objective type questions. In case of others, oral test will be conducted.  These tests will be conducted by the Inspector of Motor Vehicles. 
   
   The test consists of the following –

• Traffic signs & signals, rules of the road regulations made under section 118 of Motor Vehicles Act.
• Duties of driver when his vehicle is involved in an accident resulting in death or bodily injury of a person or damage to property of a third party.
• Precautions to be taken while passing un-manned railway crossing and
• The documents he should carry with him while driving a vehicle.
   

5. Applicants who have passed can collect their learner’s licence between 4.30 – 5.30 pm on the same day. Application along with documents will be returned to the failed applicant and he/she can re-appear for test on the next day onwards

After receiving the learner’s licence, you can obtain the Driving License after a period of 1 month. The procedure is as follows –

1. Get application form from the enquiry counter.  If you get it from the counter, you need to produce 3 passport size photographs.
    
2. You require the following documents to be produced for obtaining Driving License –

• Valid learner’s licence.
• Documents of vehicle in which applicant proposes to appear for test of competence to drive(such as Registration Certificate, Insurance Certificate, Tax Card, Pollution under Control Certificate, Fitness Certificate in case of Transport Vehicle).
• In case of transport vehicle, certificate in form CMV 5 issued by Driving Training School.
• PUC Certificate
   

3. Go to the RTO office and pay fees of Rs. 40 for a DL book and Rs. 50 for a Driving Test. The applicant must present the application along with the documents to the RTO.
    
4. After this a driving test will be conducted in which first you will be made familiar with few traffic rules. After satisfaction about the driving skills, the testing authority will pass his remarks about the issue of driving licence. The Asst. R.T.O. will pass an order for issue of driving licence. Applicants who have passed and paid fees for the DL shall present him before the computer system for capturing photograph. Driving licence will be delivered on the next day between 4.30 – 5.30 pm.
    
5. If the applicant failed to pass the test, s/he can collect the application along documents and reappear for the test after 7 days by paying the test fees.
    

 Documentation required:

1. Three recent passport size photographs required
2. Proof of address:(to produce any one of the following)

• Ration Card
• Passport
• LIC Policy
• Electoral Roll
• Telephone Bill
• Electricity Bill
• Water Bill
• Caste Certificate (SC/ST, Backward Class and Minorities, etc.) and Income Certificate issued by Tahasildar.
• Pay slip issued by any office of the Central Government or a State Government or a Local body.
• Ration Card Self swearing Affidavit by an applicant before an executive Magistrate or a First Class Judicial Magistrate or a Notary Public as evidence of age and address.
• Proof of legal presence in India in addition to proof of residence in case of foreigners.

3. Proof of Age: (produce any one of the following)

• School Certificate.
• Birth Certificate.
• PAN card.
• Certificate granted by the registered medical practitioner not below the rank of a Civil Surgeon.
• Self-swearing Affidavit by an applicant before an executive Magistrate or a First Class Judicial Magistrate or a Notary Public as evidence of age and address.
•  

4. Valid learner’s licence.
    
5. Documents of the vehicle in which applicant proposes to appear for test of competence to drive

Department / Organisation: Regional Transport Office (RTO)

Contact person:  Concerned PRO/ ART/ RTO

Public Relations Officer, Office of the Commissioner for Transport, 5th floor, M.S.Building, Dr.B.R.Ambedkar Veedhi, Bangalore - 560 001.

Phone: 080-22355802; 080-22353785

Website: Karnataka RTO

Location: You can contact any of these offices for your driving license, according to your convenience.

Do remember:

A driving license is issued is valid throughout India. It will be issued for 20 years after which it needs to be renewed. Always remember to carry your driving license.

Related information:

In the news

Smart new driving licence issued in Bangalore

Guide to getting your driver’s licence in Bangalore

Web sites

Karnataka RTO

How to get driving license in Bangalore

Locate your nearest RTO

General links

Citizens Charter for Issue of Driving Licenses