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Surat is one of the largest cities in Gujarat. The city is famous for being the world’s largest diamond manufacturing centre. Apart from that, Surat is the 8^th largest city in India in terms of population.

The RTO offices in the city ensure that there is no inconvenience to the citizens in terms of traffic. It functions also include the issuing of driving licence in Surat, registering vehicles, issuing various permits, etc.

To drive in any area of India, one must possess a valid driving licence, per the Motor Vehicles Act 1988. If you live in Surat, learn everything you need to know about obtaining a driver's licence.

Before applying for it, one should be familiar with the various types of driving licences available in Surat. This makes it easier to determine the type of licence you require. Here are the four types of driving licences you can receive in Surat:

1. Learner’s Driving Licence

This type of licence is highly limited in terms of the expiration duration since it only lasts for up to six months. This licence is issued when one is learning how to drive a car. A person cannot apply for a permanent licence for at least one month from the date of issue of a learner’s licence.

2. Permanent Driving Licence

After the expiration of the learner’s licence, you need to apply for a permit for a driving licence. You must go to your local RTO and take the theoretical and practical tests to do this. This licence is basic and mandatory for anyone who wants to drive anywhere within the Indian subcontinent.

3. Commercial Driving Licence

A commercial driving license is granted to those who drive commercial vehicles such as Light goods transport motor vehicles, Medium motor vehicles, and Heavy motor vehicles. The requirement can also differ based on the type of vehicle involved.

4. International Driving Permit

This type is crucial to foreigners or Indians with driving licenses from India to operate a car in a foreign country. Exempted is a form of certification that the RTO offers to affirm that the holder of this permit can drive.

The eligibility criteria to apply for a driving licence in Surat are mentioned below:

• A person must be 16 years or older to ride a two-wheeler with an engine capacity of 50 cc or less.
• The legal age to drive a light motor vehicle or a vehicle with gear is eighteen.
• The person applying for the commercial vehicle licence should be at least 20 years old, with education qualifications up to 8th standard. They should also have at least one year of work experience.
• Prospective drivers must first acquire a learner's licence before applying for a permanent one.
• Applicants can get the licence permanently after 30 days and within 180 days from the date of issue of the learner’s licence.

Here are the key documents required for issuing a driving licence in Surat

1. Proof of Age

Documents that can be provided as proof of age are mentioned below:

• Aadhaar Card 
• Voter ID Card
• Ration Card
• Indian Passport

2. Address Proof

The documents that can be provided as address proof are mentioned below:

• Voter ID
• Aadhaar Card
• PAN Card
• Ration Card
• LIC Policy Bonds

3. Other Mandatory Documents

Documents necessary to apply for a driving licence are mentioned below:

• Application form 2/4
• Driving Licence Form 5 for those applying for a commercial driving licence
• Passport size photographs
• Application fee charges

Here is a step-by-step guide to applying for a Driving Licence in Suratthrough online mode:

• Step 1: Go to the Parivahan central portal and select ‘Licences’. After this, choose ‘New Driving Licence’.

• Step 2: Select Gujarat from the list of states listed.

• Step 3: Now, either select ‘Apply for Learner License’ or ‘Apply for Driving License’ based on what you are applying for.

• Step 4: After applying, kindly download a copy of the acknowledgement receipt.

The following is the detailed procedure for getting a DL in Surat offline.

• Step 1: You need to download the LL application from the respective RTO. You can even download the form from the official website of Surat RTO if you cannot find it from the mentioned place.
• Step 2: Please complete the Application Form by providing the necessary details and your signatures in the places provided.
• Step 3: Give the application as well as the supporting documents to the RTO.
• Step 4: Ensure you pay the relevant charges and choose a preferred time to take the test.
• Step 5: Take the theory test on the scheduled date and receive the LL once you pass it.
• Step 6: Book the appointment for the DL test after 30 days have passed.
• Step 7: Pass the driving test and continue with the RTO procedures if the test has passed.

The applicant must pass the driving test to obtain a DL in Surat.

In Surat, motor vehicle inspectors are necessary to conduct the driving test. For this test, the applicant must bring his/her own car of similar category with the license he/she has applied for. 

However, if the applicant owns no vehicle, the motor driving school can make one available. 

Driving Test For Two and Three-Wheeler Vehicles

• The applicants for two/three-wheeler DL must manoeuvre the vehicle in an “8” pattern track while driving/riding the vehicle without stopping or stalling it.
• Next, the candidate must take the vehicle for a test drive or operate it in actual traffic conditions.
• The RTO inspector will confirm your driving skills.

If the official is dissatisfied with your driving, you can repeat the test after one week.

Driving Test For Four-Wheelers

• Every individual who applied for a DL to drive a four-wheeler has to take a driving test on a track provided by the RTO.
• You must carry out activities like parallel parking, reverse parking and many more.
• After completing the driving test, you must get behind the wheel of a car and drive in real roads to test your driving skills.
• An RTO inspector will observe the test.
• If the RTO official is dissatisfied with your performance on a particular route, you will be allowed to redo the test in one week.

Acquiring an International Driving Permit is also quite easy today. Anyone interested in renting and driving a vehicle in another country on an international journey must obtain an International Driving Permit. The application has to be made in form 4A or in writing to the RTO in whose jurisdiction the applicant resides following the proposed visit, including the duration of stay in the country or countries to be visited.

Here are the steps for acquiring such a licence in Surat:

• Step 1: Applicants should visit the nearest RTO with the necessary documents and the application fee.
• Step 2: The application may be filled out online at the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways website of Parivahan
• Step 3: Choose the Driving Licence menu in the Online Services section.
• Step 4: To proceed with the application, choose the “Apply for IDP” option and follow the guidance on the screen.
• Step 5: Provide the necessary documents and pay the necessary fees. In both cases, the applicant is required to physically fill out and submit the application and all the necessary documents to the concerned RTO.

Once you have submitted the documents, it typically takes 3- 4 working days to get the international driving license.

A renewal application shall be entertained not later than one month before the licence expiry date. If the lapse is more than five years from the date of the licence expiry, the applicant should go through all the procedures for getting the new licence. Now, the application for renewing a driver's license can be made Online and Offline.

Online Process for Driving Licence Renewal in Surat

Below are the reliable and efficient procedures for renewing a driving licence offline in Gujarat.

• Step 1: Go to the local RTO with the necessary documents.
• Step 2: Request for Vehicle Licence renewal and use Form 2 to complete the necessary details accurately.
• Step 3: Please attach your duly filled application form and other necessary documents.
• Step 4: Make payments for the license renewal process.

After you apply for a new Driving Licence, the RTO officials scrutinise the documents, and then a renewed Licence is issued to you.

Offline Process for Driving Licence Renewal in Surat

• Step 1: Go to the Parivhan Sewa website and find the “Online Services” there.
• Step 2: On the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways homepage, click ‘Driving Licence Related Services’ to access the Sarathi Parivahan portal.
• Step 3: From the list of states, click on “Gujarat”.
• Step 4: From the page you are in, scroll down and click on “Apply for DL renewal.”
• Step 5: Read the instructions on the page and click the “Continue” button.
• Step 6: Enter essentials like your “Driving Licence Number,” “Date of Birth,” and “Captcha,” then click “Proceed.”
• Step 7: Select the “Renewal” tab and enter the required information to continue as shown below.
• Step 8: Prepare the acknowledgement for future use.
• Step 9: Take these documents to your city’s Regional Transport Office.
• Step 10: To start the renewal process, pay the prescribed fees and charges required.

The incorporation of the following documents is usually required at the time of Driving Licence renewal in Gujarat.

• Original Driving Licence
• Application for renewal of the DL in Form 2 duly filled and downloaded from Parivahan portal
• Medical Certificate – Form 1A completed and signed by a registered physician in case you are 40 years of age and older.
• Two passport-size photos
• Aadhaar card
• Proof of address