How To Apply Driving Licence In AP: Complete 2026 Process, Fees And Documents

Every year, thousands of people in Andhra Pradesh turn up at their RTO with the wrong form, an expired photo, or no idea that they needed to book a slot online first. The trip back home costs a full day and sometimes the learner's licence test slot they'd waited two weeks for. Getting a driving licence in AP isn't complicated once you know the sequence, but the state's process runs through the Sarathi Parivahan portal now and skipping a step there means starting over. This guide walks you through the exact stages, the fees you'll actually pay and the documents your RTO will ask for, so you get it right the first time.

Who Can Apply For A Driving Licence In Andhra Pradesh

Age is the first filter and the Andhra Pradesh Transport Department is specific about it. A 16 year old can get a licence for a gearless two-wheeler under 50cc, but only with a parent or guardian's written consent. Once you cross 18, you're eligible for a light motor vehicle licence, which covers cars and geared two-wheelers. Transport vehicle endorsements, the kind you need to drive a truck or a bus for hire, come only after you turn 20 and only if you already hold a valid LMV licence for at least a year.

There's a medical angle too that most first-time applicants miss. If you're under 50, you don't need to submit a medical certificate for a non-transport licence. Cross 50 and Form 1A becomes mandatory regardless of how fit you feel. Transport vehicle applicants need Form 1A at any age, no exceptions.

The Two-Stage Process: Learner's Licence First

Andhra Pradesh, like every other state, runs driving licence issuance in two stages.

• Stage 1 is the Learner's Licence (LL). You appear before the Licensing Authority, usually the RTO covering your residential address, with Form 2, proof of age, proof of residence and three passport photographs. You'll also sit a short test on road signs and basic traffic rules. Pass it and your learner's licence is valid for six months. In Andhra Pradesh, it may be renewed once for another six months during its validity, subject to the applicable rules and process.
• Stage 2 is the Permanent Driving Licence (DL). You apply in Form 4 and this application has to be backed by an effective learner's licence for the same vehicle class. You'll need three more passport photos, the medical certificate if applicable and you'll have to clear a driving test at the RTO track. Here's the part people forget: you can't walk in for the permanent licence test the day after getting your LL. You have to hold the learner's licence for a minimum of 30 days before the driving test can be scheduled and the whole thing needs to happen within the LL's six-month validity window.

We've noticed at SMC that customers who treat the learner's licence period as a formality rather than actual practice time are the ones who fail the RTO driving test on the first attempt. Thirty days is the legal minimum, not a target.

Documents You'll Need At Every Stage

Keep these ready in advance so a missing document doesn't send you back home mid-queue.

• Application form (Form 2 for LL, Form 4 for permanent DL), available at the RTO or downloadable from the AP Transport Department site
• Valid age proof such as an Aadhaar card, birth certificate, or PAN card
• Address proof, self-attested
• Three to four recent passport-size photographs
• Medical certificate in Form 1A, with the accompanying self-declaration in Form 1, if you're over 50 or applying for a transport licence
• Your effective learner's licence, when applying for the permanent DL
• Driving certificate in Form 5, only if you're applying for a transport vehicle licence

How To Apply Online Through Sarathi Parivahan

The Andhra Pradesh Transport Department routes its online driving licence services through the central Sarathi Parivahan portal rather than a separate state site, so this is where you'll actually submit your application.

1. Go to the Sarathi Parivahan portal and select Andhra Pradesh from the state list.
2. Choose "Apply for Learner Licence" or "Apply for Driving Licence," depending on which stage you're at.
3. Fill in your personal details, upload scanned documents and photographs and complete the learner's licence application process, including the learner's licence test wherever conducted online by your Licensing Authority.
4. Book a slot for your driving test at your jurisdictional RTO, if you're applying for the permanent licence.
5. Pay the fee online and save the receipt and application number. You'll need this number to track status later.
6. Turn up at the RTO on your booked slot with the original documents and the receipt.

If you'd rather skip a step later, our guide on finding your driving licence application number covers exactly where to look for it if the SMS or receipt goes missing.

Applying Offline At The RTO

Not everyone wants to deal with document uploads and slot booking online and AP still allows the offline route in full.

1. Visit the RTO or Motor Vehicle Inspector's office that has jurisdiction over your residential address.
2. Collect the relevant form, Form 2 for the learner's licence or Form 4 for the permanent one.
3. Fill it out and attach the documents listed above, along with the photographs.
4. Pay the fee at the counter and collect your receipt.
5. Appear for the traffic rules test or the driving test as scheduled.
6. Once you clear it, your licence gets issued and the smart card typically reaches your registered address within two to three weeks.

Driving Licence Fees In Andhra Pradesh

Note: Andhra Pradesh also levies prescribed user charges for certain licence services, such as PVC smart cards. The final amount displayed on the Sarathi portal may therefore be slightly higher than the statutory fee under Rule 32. Always check the fee displayed on the Sarathi portal before paying, since it updates faster than most third-party pages.

Getting the licence sorted is only half the job done. Your driving licence details are often required during policy purchase or while processing certain claims, so keeping them updated with your insurer helps avoid unnecessary delays. A mismatch between the two can genuinely slow down a claim if you ever need one. If you haven't compared your car or bike insurance in a while, it's worth doing that alongside your licence renewal rather than as an afterthought. Check your options at SMC Insurance.

What Happens During The Driving Test

The RTO test isn't elaborate, but it does trip up people who've only practised in empty lanes. You'll typically be asked to reverse into a parking bay, navigate a figure-of-eight or gradient depending on the RTO's track layout and demonstrate basic control like braking and signalling. A vision test is usually clubbed in on the same day. If you fail, AP allows a retest after seven days, but you'll pay the retest fee of Rs. 300 again and need a fresh slot.

Renewal, Duplicate and Address Change

A non-transport driving licence is generally valid for 20 years from the date of issue or until the holder turns 40 years of age, whichever is earlier. Thereafter, renewals are granted in accordance with the Motor Vehicles Act and applicable rules. Check the Sarathi Parivahan portal or your RTO for the renewal period applicable to your licence at the time of renewal. In Andhra Pradesh, you file Form 9 for renewal, submit your existing licence along with the fee of Rs. 200 and if you're renewing after the licence has already expired, a late fee applies on top. Lost your card? A duplicate licence application follows a similar path through the RTO, with proof of loss like an FIR or a self-declaration. Moved to a new address within the state? File the change of address request with your updated proof and the RTO reissues the licence with corrected details rather than a fresh number.

If your licence details have changed after a renewal or address update, it's worth checking that your motor insurer's records reflect the same, since claim processing checks this against the RTO database. Our piece on the different types of driving licences issued in India is a useful read if you're also planning to add a commercial or transport endorsement down the line.

Wrapping Up

Getting a driving licence in Andhra Pradesh really comes down to two stages done in the right order: the learner's licence first, then the permanent one after a mandatory 30-day gap. Most of the friction people run into isn't the driving test itself, it's missing a document at the counter or trying to skip the waiting period. Keep your age proof, address proof, and photographs ready before you start, apply through Sarathi Parivahan if you'd rather avoid the queue, and book your driving test only once your LL has genuinely been active for a month. Budget around Rs. 700 to Rs. 750 in government fees for a first-time licence, and expect the smart card to land at your address within two to three weeks of clearing the test. Once it's in hand, the next sensible step is making sure it's reflected correctly on your vehicle's insurance record, so a claim never gets held up over a mismatched detail.

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