How to download your e-driving licence: Methods explained

A driving licence is an important document for anyone who wishes to operate a motor vehicle in India. In the past, a driving licence (DL) was issued in many formats such as a card, booklet or a sheet of paper. However, they were all physical documents that you needed to carry with you when operating a motor vehicle. While the smart card DL is used universally across India, a digital or electronic copy of your licence is also valid. Here’s every way you can download your e-driving licence in India.

What is an e-driving licence?

An e-driving licence is a regular DL but in an electronic format. It is important to understand that an electronic driving licence is not a direct substitute of its physical copy. In fact, when you are issued a driving licence from the RTO (Regional Transport Office), it is issued in a physical format. To supplement the smart card DL, you can download an electronic copy as well from DigiLocker, UMANG or the Parivahan website. The electronic copy in itself is a valid driving licence and can be used in an individual capacity.

How to download a driving licence in a PDF format?

There are multiple ways to download a driving licence from the internet. In the interest of saving time, we have listed the most convenient ways to do so below.

1) DigiLocker

The DigiLocker application is available for both iOS and Android platforms, and is by far the easiest method to acquire a digital copy of your driving licence. Before starting, make sure you are registered on the Digi Locker application.

Step 1: Tap on the “Search” icon at the bottom of the application.

Step 2: Search for “driving licence”. It will show up under the subhead “Ministry of Road, Transport and Highway”s. Tap on it.

Step 3: A new screen will open with your name and date of birth already filled in according to your Aadhar Card. Below that, fill in your driving licence number in the indicated space.

Step 4: Check the consent box and then tap on “Get Document”.

Step 5: You will be redirected to the Issued Documents section of the application, and soon, your driving licence will appear there.

Step 6: Click the three dots next to your driving licence and you will see an option to “View PDF”. Tap on it.

Step 7: Your driving licence will open in a PDF format and you can save this file on your smartphone.

2) UMANG

The UMANG application is a central online repository of all the e-Gov portals making it easier for users to access multiple government portals in one go. The application is available for both iOS and Android platforms. Before starting, make sure to download the application and register on it using your mobile number.

Step 1: Search for “driving licence” in the search bar at the top of the screen. In the results, you will have two options. The first will be “driving licence (MoRTH)”. This will work for everyone. You can also search for your state’s name preceded by the words driving licence. Both options will open up a new page which will be the same.

Step 2: The new screen will have a single text box option where you will need to input your driving licence number. Once that is done, check the consent box and tap on “Get Document”. For this to work, you should already have a DigiLocker account. If not, you can make one from inside the UMANG application.

Step 3: Once the document is fetched, it will be available under the “My Documents” section on the Homepage of the application. It can also be found on the “Documents” page.

Step 4: To view your DL, simply tap on “Driving Licence”. It will open up your DL on a new screen.

Step 5: To download it in PDF format, simply tap on the “Download PDF” option at the bottom of the screen.

3) Parivahan website

For those of you used to the Parivahan website, it too can be used to download an e-driving licence. However, we recommend this method only for those people who have recently applied for a DL, as you need an application number to download the soft copy.

Step 1: Go to the Parivahan website and click on “Drivers/Learners Licence”. 

Step 2: On the new page, select your State from the drop down list, and you will be redirected to a new page.

Step 3: In the menu bar at the top, hover your cursor over the second option which reads “Driving Licence”. A drop down list will appear.

Step 4: Click on the fifth option in the list which will read “Print Driving Licence”. A new page will open.

Step 5: On the new page, you will be required to fill in your Application Number and Date of Birth. Once that is done, click on “Submit”.

Step 6: A copy of your driving licence will open on the screen. You can save this as a PDF for further use as your e-driving licence.

How to download/print a learners licence?

If you have applied for a learners licence, and want a soft copy, you can do so using the Parivahan website. The procedure to download a copy of your learners licence remains the same as the procedure to download a driving licence. Simply enter your application number and date of birth and your licence will open on the screen. You can save this in a PDF format, and print it if you wish to keep a hard copy of the learners licence.

How to use a soft copy of your driving licence?

A soft copy of your driving licence holds the same legal value as the smart card that is issued by the RTO. Thus, in essence, a soft copy of your DL is a valid identification proof. It can be used for the following purposes:

• To share with the traffic police when they enquire about your driving licence.
• To check in at all airports in India.
• To verify your age by various institutions.
• To verify your identity when checking into a hotel.
• To use as address and age proof when applying for a passport.

In essence, an electronic copy of your driving licence can be used to establish your identity, and as proof of age and address when the situation demands.

How to store your digital driving licence in a secure fashion?

As you will have already read above, a digital driving licence can be obtained in multiple ways. However, the safest method is to store your driving licence in the DigiLocker or UMANG applications, as they are encrypted. It adds an added level of protection to your documents.

However, if you are storing your digital driving licence in a PDF format on your phone, then, make sure your phone has a password that stops unauthorised access. To make things safer, you can even lock the PDF using a separate password, so that two passwords are required to access the document. Ultimately, a soft copy of your licence can come in handy in crunch situations, but you will need to be careful with whom you share such documents.

FAQs

Q. How to download a driving licence soft copy from the Parivahan portal?

To download a soft copy of your driving licence from the Parivahan portal, you will require an application number which is issued in the case of fresh applications. If you have this number, then, you can download your DL using the steps given above.

Q. How do I download a PDF of my driving licence?

A PDF copy of your driving licence can be downloaded using the DigiLocker or UMANG applications. You can also use the Parivahan portal for the same.

Q. Who can download a Digital Driving Licence?

A digital driving licence can be downloaded by any individual as long as they have the required information at hand.

Q. Is it required to have my driving licence with me at all times?

A driving licence is a must if you are operating a motor vehicle in India. However, it is not necessary to have the physical copy of your driving licence when doing so, and an electronic copy will also suffice.

Q. What information do I need to download my driving licence online?

In most conditions, you only need your driving licence number to download a soft copy of your DL. In some cases, the date of birth is also required. In the case of Parivahan portal, you also need your application number.

Q. What should I do if I can't download my driving licence online?

You should reach out to your nearest RTO in case you are having problems downloading a digital copy of your driving licence.

Q. Can I download my driving licence if it’s recently issued?

Yes, you can download a soft copy of your driving licence even if it is recently issued.

Q. What formats are available for downloading a driving licence?

The most popular format for downloading one’s driving licence is a PDF. However, if you want, DigiLocker provides the option to download it in JSON and XML formats as well.