Kerala has some of the strictest traffic rules in India to control the increasing number of traffic violations in the state. Thus, to avoid penalties, it is crucial to have a driver's licence and other essential documents handy when driving on public roads in this state. 

Moreover, as per the Motor Vehicles Act 1988, driving without a valid driving licence or DL is an offence, and you can't even claim insurance in case of an accident. 

Therefore, to avoid such hassles, it is crucial to keep a check on the expiration date of your DL and apply for a driving licence renewal in a timely manner. Keep reading this guide to learn more.

The validity of a private driving licence in Kerala is 20 years from its date of issue or till the holder turns 40, whichever comes sooner. After this, it is renewable for 10 years and 5 years subsequently.

A commercial driving licence in Kerala has a validity period of 5 years from its date of issue or renewal. DL validity for vehicles carrying dangerous goods is 3 years.

All driving licence holders in Kerala get a grace period of 30 days after the date of expiry. If you apply for DL renewal within this time period, no extra charges are applicable.

If you do not renew your driving licence within the 30-day grace period, a ₹300 penalty is applicable on top of the ₹500 renewal charges. Moreover, additional delays will lead to a ₹1,000 penalty chargeable yearly. 

Moreover, if you fail to renew your driving licence within 5 years of expiry, you need to apply for a fresh DL. To do so, you must reappear for a driving test and pay the requisite charges.

Follow the steps below for driving licence renewal online Kerala process -

• Step 1: Visit the website of the Motor Vehicles Department of Kerala. Scroll down and click on “Citizen Corner”.

• Step 2: When the page loads, click on “Licence” under “Online Services”.

• Step 3: Click on “Apply for DL Renewal”.

• Step 4: Read the instructions, download Form 1A and click “Continue”.

• Step 5: Enter your DL number, date of birth, and captcha and click on “Proceed”.

• Step 6: You will be redirected to the page covering details of your DL, including vital data like name, validity period, etc. Click on “Yes” after checking all data.
• Step 7: Select state and nearest RTO from the drop-down, and click on “Submit Request”.

If you apply for an RTO that is not the same as your previous application, click on “Change of Address” and pay ₹200 as additional fees for this service.

• Step 8: Click on “Renewal of Driving License” and fill in the form providing all details. Submit the form with the necessary documents.
• Step 9: Click on “Fees Payment” to clear driving licence renewal fee Kerala, complete payment procedure and take a printout of acknowledgement slip.

1. Collect Form 9 from the Parivahan Seva website or RTO office and fill it up.
2. Attach Form 1 (for applicants in age group within 17-40) or Form 1A (for applicants above 40 years of age).
3. Attach relevant documents and submit them at the RTO counter.

Visiting the online web portal of Parivahan Seva will help you with a step-by-step guide on how to renew your driving licence in kerala. However, you can also visit the RTO office to complete the application process.

Documents required for driving licence renewal in Kerala are -

• Identity proof like aadhar card, voter card, etc.
• Address proof like utility bills, telephone bills, etc.
• Date of birth proof.
• Original DL.
• Acknowledgement slip.

• Form 1 as declaration of physical fitness 

• Form 1A as medical certificate for those aged 40 years or more

• 3 passport size photographs.
• Fees receipt copy.

Here is a detailed breakdown about how long it takes for the different stages of DL renewal -

• Kerala driving licence renewal online process takes 1 week.
• Getting a hard copy of the DL via post takes three weeks.

• Step 1: Visit the Motor Vehicles Department of Kerala portal and click on “Licence Status”.

• Step 2: Click on “Licence” under “Online Services”.

• Step 3: When the page loads, click on “Application Status” in the screen’s upper-right corner.

• Step 4: Input your DL number, date of birth and captcha code and click on the “Submit”.

This will show you information like application number, licence number, date of printing the card, date of dispatch.

Driving licence renewal in Kerala has a grace period of 30 days. The DL should be renewed within this grace period or else applicants have to pay higher fees. On the other hand, the applicant cannot apply for renewal before 30 days of expiry.

Ministry of Transport has curated Parivahan Seva for easy access for driving licence renewal in Kerala. The applicant can get the renewed driving licence within a week by submitting the right documents, data, and fees. Therefore, do not delay and renew your expired licence for a better traffic operation.

Following are some of the essential guidelines you should follow during DL renewal in Kerala:

• The best time to apply for driving licence renewal is 30 days before or after the expiry date. 

• Additional charges are applicable for DL renewal applications after the grace period. 

• In case you do not renew your driving licence within a year of expiry, you need to reappear for a driving test along with paying the requisite fees. 

• If you are over 40 or have any ongoing medical conditions, you need to submit a Medical Certificate (Form 1A) when applying for DL renewal.