Driving Licence in Maharashtra

You have finally decided to stop depending on friends and cab apps and you are ready to drive yourself. But the moment you search for a driving licence in Maharashtra, you run into conflicting fee numbers, unclear waiting periods and forms with names like Form 2 and Form 4 that mean nothing to a first time applicant. Some pages quote fees that are years out of date. Others skip the part where your Learner's Licence has a strict window, at least 30 days and no more than 180, before you can even book your permanent DL test. This guide walks you through the entire process for a driving licence in Maharashtra, from the Learner's Licence to the permanent DL, the current 2026 fees, the ground and road test and a detail about the International Driving Permit that most articles get wrong.

Licence Type, Age and Prerequisite

Note: The Learner's Licence must be held for a minimum of 30 days and a maximum of 180 days before you can apply for the permanent driving licence. Miss that window and you will need to apply for a fresh LL and start over.

Types of Driving Licence in Maharashtra: Learner's, Permanent, Commercial and IDP

Maharashtra's RTOs issue four broad categories of driving licence and knowing which one you need saves you a wasted trip.

The Learner's Licence (LL) is the starting point for every driver. It lets you practice on the road under supervision before you are allowed to drive alone. The Permanent Driving Licence (DL) is what most people mean when they say driving licence. It is issued after you clear the practical test and covers private vehicles like two-wheelers, cars and SUVs. A Commercial Driving Licence is mandatory if you plan to drive for a living, taxis, buses and goods vehicles all fall under this category and it comes with extra medical and training requirements. An International Driving Permit (IDP) is not a separate licence in the usual sense. It is a translated, RTO-issued document that lets an existing Indian DL holder drive legally in over 150 countries.

Before you can apply for any of these, you need to check whether you actually qualify.

Driving Licence Eligibility Criteria in Maharashtra: Age and Document Rules

Eligibility for a driving licence in Maharashtra depends entirely on the vehicle class you want to drive and the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 sets the floor that every state follows.

You can apply for a gearless two-wheeler LL, up to 50cc, at 16, but you will need your parent or guardian's written consent until you turn 18. For a geared two-wheeler or a light motor vehicle like a car, the minimum age is 18. Commercial and transport vehicle licences require you to be at least 20 and most RTOs also expect you to have held an LMV licence for a year, cleared class eight in school and passed a medical fitness check. Beyond age, every applicant needs valid proof of identity, address and age, a working knowledge of road signs and traffic rules and the ability to clear the RTO's tests. None of this is negotiable and RTOs routinely reject applications where the date of birth on the Aadhaar card does not match the school leaving certificate.
Once you know you qualify, the next question is what paperwork to keep ready.

Documents Required for a Driving Licence in Maharashtra

You do not need a mountain of paperwork, but every document has to be consistent, especially your name and date of birth.

For a Learner's Licence, keep the following ready:

• Form 2, generated automatically when you apply online
• Proof of age: birth certificate, PAN card, or passport
• Proof of address: Aadhaar card, passport, voter ID, or a recent utility bill
• A recent passport sized photograph
• A self declaration of physical fitness, Form 1

For the permanent DL, add:

• Form 4, again generated automatically through Sarathi
• Your valid Learner's Licence number
• Three passport sized photographs, if you are applying offline at your local RTO

In our experience helping customers with motor insurance, the single biggest reason a driving licence application gets stuck at the RTO is a mismatched address, your Aadhaar says one thing, your electricity bill says another. It sounds minor, but it is the same mismatch that later delays an insurance claim when your policy address does not match your RC or DL. Fix this before you apply, not after.

With your documents sorted, here is exactly how the online application works.

How to Apply for a Learner's Licence in Maharashtra Online

• Go to the Sarathi Parivahan portal - sarathi.parivahan.gov.in/sarathiservice and select Maharashtra as your state.
• Choose 'Apply for Learner Licence' and fill in your personal details.
• Upload your documents and photograph.
• Book a slot for the LL test, or take it immediately online at many RTOs.
• Clear the test: 10 multiple choice questions on traffic rules and road signs and you need at least 6 correct answers to pass.
• Pay the LL fee and download your acknowledgement.
• Your Learner's Licence is generated instantly and stays valid for 6 months.

Fail the test and you can retake it after 7 days. There is no cap on the number of attempts, but every retake carries its own fee. Once your LL has matured past the 30 day mark, the same portal takes you through to the permanent licence.

How to Apply for a Permanent Driving Licence in Maharashtra

• Log back into the Sarathi Parivahan portal https://sarathi.parivahan.gov.in/sarathiservice/ , at least 30 days but no later than 180 days after your LL was issued.
• Select 'Apply for Driving Licence' and confirm your LL details.
• Fill in the application form and upload the required documents.
• Book your driving test slot under 'DL Test Slot Booking', choosing your preferred RTO, date and time.
• Verify the booking with the OTP sent to your registered mobile number.
• Pay the DL fee through the 'Fee Payments' section and save the receipt.
• Visit the RTO on your scheduled date with your original documents and take the practical driving test.
• Clear the test and your permanent DL is dispatched to your registered address, usually within a week.

If you would rather not deal with an online form, walk into your RTO with Form 4, your documents and the fee. The steps are identical, only the queue is longer. Passing that practical test is the one step nobody can automate for you.

Driving Licence Test in Maharashtra: Ground Test and Road Test Explained

The driving test at Maharashtra RTOs happens in two parts and most applicants underestimate the first one.

The ground test comes first. For two-wheelers, you ride a figure of 8 track without putting your foot down or knocking over the cones. For four-wheelers, you typically reverse a car into a parking bay or navigate an S-shaped track. It sounds simple until you are the one behind the wheel with an RTO inspector watching. The road test follows, where you drive a short stretch under real traffic conditions while the inspector checks your control of the vehicle, your use of indicators and mirrors and how well you read the road. Fail either stage and you are not disqualified for good, you simply wait seven days and reapply, paying the retest fee again. Passing both means your application moves to final processing and your licence card is printed and dispatched from there.

None of this matters until you know exactly what it will cost you.

Driving Licence Fees in Maharashtra (2026): Verified Fee Breakdown

Licence fees across India are set under Rule 32 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 and Maharashtra applies these base charges along with a smart card fee. The figures below were cross-checked against the official fee schedule and multiple current Maharashtra-specific sources as of July 2026.

Note: These are indicative figures based on Rule 32 of the CMVR, 1989 and commonly applied Maharashtra totals as of this writing. The state government can revise them, so always confirm the exact amount on the Parivahan or Sarathi portal before you pay.

International Driving Permit in Maharashtra: The 3-Month Test Rule

If you are planning to drive abroad, on a work assignment, a long holiday, or a rental car pickup, you will need an International Driving Permit and there is one rule almost nobody explains clearly.

To apply for an IDP in Maharashtra, submit Form 4A at your local RTO along with your valid permanent DL, passport, visa and a confirmed air ticket. Here is the part that catches people out: if your permanent driving licence was issued within 3 months of your IDP application, you will be asked to take the driving test again before the IDP is granted.

The IDP itself costs around Rs. 1,000, stays valid for one year from the date of issue or until your Indian DL expires, whichever comes first and it cannot be renewed while you are abroad. Plan the timing of your application around your travel dates, not the other way round.

Licences do not last forever either, at some point yours will need renewing.

How to Renew or Get a Duplicate Driving Licence in Maharashtra

A private driving licence in Maharashtra is valid for 20 years from the date of issue or until you turn 50, whichever comes first. After the age of 50, non-transport driving licences generally need to be renewed every five years. Medical certificate requirements are governed by the Motor Vehicles Act and applicable rules, including cases where Form 1A is prescribed. Commercial driving licences have a shorter validity and must be renewed periodically as per the applicable rules.

Steps to Renew a Driving Licence in Maharashtra

• Step 1: Visit the Parivahan Portal
  Go to the Sarathi Parivahan portal and select 'Driving Licence Related Services'. Choose Maharashtra as your state and click on 'Apply for DL Renewal'.
• Step 2: Enter Your Licence Details
  Provide your driving licence number, date of birth and captcha code. Retrieve your licence details and proceed with the renewal application.
• Step 3: Upload the Required Documents
  Upload the necessary documents, including your original driving licence details, proof of age and address, recent photographs and Form 1A, if applicable. Applicants above 40 years of age are generally required to submit Form 1A.
• Step 4: Pay the Renewal Fee
  Complete the online payment. Renewing your licence within the prescribed period helps avoid additional late renewal charges.
• Step 5: Visit the RTO for Verification
  In most cases, you will need to visit the designated RTO once for document verification. After successful verification, the renewed driving licence is dispatched to your registered address.

How to Apply for a Duplicate Driving Licence in Maharashtra

If your driving licence is lost, stolen or damaged, you can apply for a duplicate driving licence.

• Step 1: Fill Out Form LLD
  Download and complete Form LLD with the required details.
• Step 2: Gather the Required Documents
  Keep the following documents ready: FIR copy (if lost or stolen), original driving licence (if damaged), self-attested address proof, a recent passport-size photograph, the prescribed application fee, and any additional documents required by the RTO, if applicable.
• Step 3: Submit the Application at the RTO
  Visit the RTO that issued your original driving licence and submit Form LLD along with the required documents.
• Step 4: Pay the Applicable Fee
  Pay the prescribed duplicate licence fee and retain the acknowledgement receipt.
• Step 5: Receive Your Duplicate Licence
  After successful verification, the duplicate driving licence will be sent to your registered address.

How to Correct Your Name or Address on a Maharashtra Driving Licence

If you have moved to a new address or need to update personal details on your driving licence, you can apply for a correction instead of requesting a new licence.

• Step 1: Apply Through the Sarathi Portal or Visit the RTO
  Use the 'Change of Address / Particulars' service on the Sarathi portal or visit your RTO to begin the correction process.
• Step 2: Submit the Required Documents
  Carry your original driving licence along with the prescribed application form and valid proof supporting the change, such as your updated address or name.
• Step 3: Pay the Applicable Fee
  Pay the prescribed fee for updating the details on your driving licence.
• Step 4: Receive the Updated Licence
  After verification, the corrected driving licence is issued and sent to your registered address. Keeping these details updated helps avoid complications during insurance claims, vehicle registration transfers and other official procedures.

Summing Up

Getting a driving licence in Maharashtra is not complicated once you see the sequence clearly. Learner's Licence first, a mandatory 30 day wait, then the permanent DL application, the ground and road test and finally your card. The fees are modest, a few hundred rupees at each stage, but they are worth verifying on the Parivahan portal before you pay, since state governments do revise them from time to time. If international travel is on your calendar, remember the 3 month rule before you apply for an IDP, it can save you a second driving test. And once your DL is in hand, treat it as the first of two documents you need before you drive, the second being valid motor insurance for whatever you are driving. Sort both and you are legally and financially covered every time you get behind the wheel.

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