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Driving Licence Fees India: State-Wise 2026 | Zuno
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Suchika Rajoria
Direct Marketing Manager at Zuno General Insurance
Last updated: 2026 · 8 min read

Driving Licence Fees India: State-Wise 2026

Total driving licence fees in India sit between Rs 700 and Rs 1,500 for a fresh learner-to-permanent journey, depending on your state. The Central Motor Vehicles Rules set a uniform base fee structure; states add small charges for smart card preparation, application services, and digital processing. Here is the complete state-wise fee breakdown for 2026, covering every service on the Sarathi Parivahan portal.
LL to DL Total
Rs 700 onwards
Renewal Fee
Rs 200 onwards
IDP Fee
Rs 1,000 onwards
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8 Million+ Customers
What's Inside
  1. Central Fee Structure
  2. Fresh Learner-to-Permanent Total
  3. Renewal Fees
  4. International Driving Permit Fees
  5. Address Change Fees
  6. Duplicate Licence Fees
  7. State-Wise Total Breakdown
  8. Payment Methods on Sarathi
  9. Hidden Costs to Watch For
  10. Frequently Asked Questions

Central Fee Structure

The Central Motor Vehicles Rules 1989, Rule 32 read with Section 25 of the MV Act 1988, set the base fee schedule. Every state RTO collects this minimum; some add small service charges.

ServiceCentral Fee (Approx)Notes
Learner's Licence (per class)Rs 150For each class (MCWG, LMV, etc.) separately
LL test feeRs 50Online theory test at RTO
Driving test feeRs 300Practical test for permanent DL
Permanent licence issueRs 200Per class endorsement
Smart card preparationRs 200For chip-based smart card
Renewal of DLRs 200Plus smart card fee
Duplicate DLRs 200Lost, stolen, or mutilated
International Driving PermitRs 1,000Valid for 1 year
Address change in DLRs 200Plus smart card fee
Late renewal feeRs 300Within 1 year of expiry
Endorsing additional classRs 500Plus separate driving test

Fresh Learner-to-Permanent Total

From the day you start the LL application to the day the permanent smart card arrives, here is what you spend:

  • LL application fee: approximately Rs 150 per class
  • LL test fee: approximately Rs 50
  • Driving test fee: approximately Rs 300
  • Permanent licence issue: approximately Rs 200
  • Smart card preparation: approximately Rs 200
  • Total (one class): approximately Rs 900
  • Total (MCWG plus LMV together): approximately Rs 1,250

Renewal Fees

Renewal happens at age 40 or after 20 years of issue (private licence), or every 3 years (transport licence). Fees stay roughly the same across states.

  • Standard renewal fee: approximately Rs 200
  • Smart card preparation: approximately Rs 200
  • Late renewal fee (within 1 year of expiry): approximately Rs 300
  • Late renewal after 1 year: approximately Rs 1,000 plus fresh test in some states
  • Total normal renewal: approximately Rs 400 to Rs 500

International Driving Permit Fees

IDP is valid for one year and is non-renewable. You re-apply when needed.

  • IDP fee: approximately Rs 1,000
  • State service charge: approximately Rs 200 to Rs 500
  • Total IDP cost: approximately Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500
  • Form 1A medical (above 50): approximately Rs 200 to Rs 500 at a private clinic

Address Change Fees

  • Intra-state change: approximately Rs 200 to Rs 300
  • Inter-state change: approximately Rs 400 to Rs 600 (includes NOC)
  • NOC issue fee: approximately Rs 100 to Rs 200
  • Affidavit fees: approximately Rs 100 to Rs 500 at notary

Duplicate Licence Fees

  • Duplicate fee: approximately Rs 200
  • Smart card preparation: approximately Rs 200
  • Late fee (past expiry): approximately Rs 300
  • Affidavit (some states): approximately Rs 100 to Rs 300
  • Total duplicate cost: approximately Rs 400 to Rs 700
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State-Wise Total Breakdown

Here is a side-by-side view of total fresh learner-to-permanent costs across 10 large Indian states.

StateLL + Test (Approx)Driving Test (Approx)Permanent DL + Smart Card (Approx)Total (One Class)
MaharashtraRs 250Rs 300Rs 400Rs 950
DelhiRs 250Rs 300Rs 400Rs 950
KarnatakaRs 250Rs 300Rs 400Rs 950
Tamil NaduRs 200Rs 300Rs 400Rs 900
TelanganaRs 250Rs 300Rs 400Rs 950
Uttar PradeshRs 250Rs 300Rs 400Rs 950
GujaratRs 250Rs 300Rs 400Rs 950
KeralaRs 250Rs 300Rs 400Rs 950
West BengalRs 250Rs 300Rs 400Rs 950
RajasthanRs 250Rs 300Rs 400Rs 950

For two classes (MCWG and LMV applied together), add approximately Rs 350 to the total. The two driving tests can be done on the same day in most states.

Payment Methods on Sarathi

Sarathi Parivahan accepts:

  • Net banking: from all major Indian banks via Bharat Kosh gateway
  • UPI: PhonePe, GPay, Paytm, BHIM
  • Debit and credit cards: Visa, MasterCard, RuPay
  • Wallet payments: Paytm, Amazon Pay, MobiKwik (in some states)
  • RTO counter cash: only when filing offline; not encouraged

Hidden Costs to Watch For

The Sarathi total is rarely the final spend. Here are 5 hidden costs nearly every applicant runs into:

The Real Total Is Higher Than Sarathi Shows

Most first-time applicants budget Rs 700 and spend Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,000 by the time the smart card arrives. Driving school fees, vehicle hire on test day, photo studio costs, and notary affidavits all add up. Plan for a real total of approximately Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,500 for a comfortable LL-to-DL journey.

  • Driving school fees: Rs 4,000 to Rs 8,000 for 15 to 20 lessons in metros
  • Photo and signature scan: Rs 50 to Rs 100 at a photo studio
  • Vehicle hire on test day: Rs 200 to Rs 500 if you use the RTO test car
  • Notary fees for affidavit: Rs 100 to Rs 500 in metros
  • Form 1A medical certificate: Rs 200 to Rs 500 at a registered MBBS clinic if you are above 40
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Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a driving licence cost in India in 2026?
As of 2026, the total cost for a fresh learner-to-permanent driving licence is approximately Rs 900 to Rs 950 in most states for one vehicle class. Two classes (MCWG plus LMV) together cost approximately Rs 1,250.
What are the central driving licence fees set by the Government?
Central Motor Vehicles Rules 1989 set the base fee: Rs 150 for LL, Rs 50 for LL test, Rs 300 for driving test, Rs 200 for permanent DL, Rs 200 for smart card preparation, Rs 1,000 for IDP, and Rs 200 each for renewal, duplicate, and address change.
Do driving licence fees vary by state?
Yes, slightly. Central fees are uniform, but states add Rs 0 to Rs 100 for application service charges, smart card material, and digital processing. The total still lands within approximately Rs 900 to Rs 1,000 for a fresh DL across most states.
What is the late renewal fee?
Within 1 year of expiry (the NCB-retention window), late renewal carries an additional fee of approximately Rs 300. After 1 year, the late fee can be approximately Rs 1,000, and some states require a fresh driving test.
How much does an International Driving Permit cost?
As of 2026, the IDP costs approximately Rs 1,000 in central fee plus Rs 200 to Rs 500 in state service charges. Total comes to approximately Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500. Form 1A medical adds Rs 200 to Rs 500 if you are above 50.
Can I pay driving licence fees by UPI?
Yes. Sarathi Parivahan accepts UPI (PhonePe, GPay, Paytm, BHIM), net banking, debit and credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, RuPay), and wallet payments in many states.
Are there any hidden costs?
Yes. Beyond Sarathi fees, expect driving school fees (Rs 4,000 to Rs 8,000), test-day vehicle hire (Rs 200 to Rs 500), photo studio (Rs 50 to Rs 100), notary affidavit (Rs 100 to Rs 500), and Form 1A medical (Rs 200 to Rs 500) if above 40.
How much does a duplicate driving licence cost?
Duplicate licence costs approximately Rs 200 plus Rs 200 smart card fee, totalling approximately Rs 400. Late application (past expiry) adds approximately Rs 300. Some states require an affidavit at Rs 100 to Rs 300.

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Sources: Content based on information published by IRDAI, ARAI, MoRTH, Parivahan Sewa, General Insurance Council (GIC), and other relevant regulatory or industry sources, as applicable.

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