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What is the best way to carry a licence in modern India? Choose a plastic smart card driving licence!

Wondering how to get one?

This article will show you how to apply for a smart card driving licence online and what it entails. Let's begin!

A smart card driving licence is an upgraded version of the old book licence. It is a plastic card that contains a 64KB microprocessor. This card stores all essential information about a driver.

Some of the information contained in this card include -

• Retina scan
• Blood type
• Address
• Fingerprint
• Name

All information on this card can be read through a suitable machine.

Generally, the RTO and ARTO verify the information present in the smart card driving licence.

Online Application for Smart Card Driving Licence

Follow these steps, and you should get your smart card driving permit in no time!

• Step 1: Visit the official portal of your State’s Transport Department.
• Step 2: Download the “Smart Card Driving Licence” application form from the website. 
• Step 3: After filling in the form, visit your nearest RTO and submit it along with necessary documents. 
• Step 4: Pay the fees for the smart card and apply for a driving test. 
• Step 5: If you clear the driving test, the authorities will record all biometric data.

Once all this information has been processed and verified, you will receive your smart card driving licence at your registered address.

Offline Application for Smart Card Driving Licence

For the offline process, follow these steps -

• Step 1: Visit your nearest RTO and ask for a Smart Card Driving Licence form.
• Step 2: Fill it in and let the authorities record your biometrics.
• Step 3: Pay its requisite fees, and you are free to leave.

The authorities will send the smart card driving licence to your registered address.

Converting Old Book Driving Licence to New Smart Card

Following are the steps to convert an old book driving licence to new smart card online -

• Step 1: Visit your nearest RTO with your old driving licence.
• Step 2: Get an application form to upgrade your licence.
• Step 3: Fill in this form, pay its necessary fees, and you will receive the licence at your registered address.

There is no process for converting an old book driving licence to a new smart card online. You will have to visit your nearest RTO.

Learner's Licence to Smart Card Driving Licence

If all you have at present is a learner's licence, and you wish to upgrade it to a smart card one, follow these steps -

• Step 1: Get the application form for a Smart Car Driving Licence and submit all required documents.
• Step 2: Book a slot to take your driving test. If you successfully pass the test, then the authorities will record your biometrics.

Upon completing this process, the smart card driving licence will be sent to your address via speed post.

To convert an old DL for a new one, then follow these simple steps:

• Step 1: Bring your old driver's license and proof of identity, residence, and age, such as a passport, PAN card, or voter ID card.
• Step 2: Fill out a license upgrade or Smart Card Driving License application form for a new DL at your local RTO. Provide relevant information, including your name, address, date of birth, and other personal details. You will also need to submit your biometric data.
• Step 3: Submit the required documents and the completed application form to the RTO.
• Step 4: Pay the applicable fee for the driver's license renewal.
• Step 5: Keep the receipt you receive until your Smart Card Driving License (SCDL) arrives.
• Step 6: Once your application is approved, you will be issued a new driver's license.

There are some essential documents you will need to provide to get a smart card driving licence. They are -

1. Application fees
2. Address proof (Aadhaar card, passport, Ration card, house agreement, gas electricity, telephone bills, letter from employer that you are residing in a particular city)
3. Age proof (10th class mark sheet, PAN card, birth certificate, passport, transfer certificate from any school with the date of birth printed on it)
4. Passport-size photographs
5. Medical certificate forms 1A and 1, which a government doctor should sign
6. The application form for the smart card driving licence

If you are changing your old DL to a smart card, these are the documents you will require -

1. Age proof (birth certificate, school transfer certificate, passport, etc.)
2. Address proof (passport, ration card, voter ID, Aadhaar card, electricity bill, etc.)
3. Copy of the original book-style driving licence.

The smart card driving licence has 3 sections or zones. In brief, they are -

1. Zone 1: Visual Inspection Zone

It contains some of the basic information about the applicant. The information is as follows -

• Applicant's name
• Registered address
• Date of birth
• Vehicle type
• Vehicle class
• Signature

2. Zone 2: Machine Readable Zone

This zone contains information such as -

• Serial number of the driving licence chip
• Date of issue of the driving licence
• Some details regarding the issuing authority
• Driving licence validity

3. Zone 3: Central Motor Vehicles Rules Zone

This is sometimes viewed as the most important part of the form. It contains information such as -

• Was the driver ever penalised?
• Does he have any endorsements?
• Details of the violations

To apply for a driving licence in India, Indian citizens need to provide the following documents:

1. Proof of Identity (one of the following)

• Aadhaar Card
• Passport
• PAN Card
• Voter ID Card

2. Proof of Address (one of the following)

• Aadhaar Card
• Passport
• Utility Bills (electricity, water, telephone) not older than 3 months
• Voter ID Card
• Rental Agreement

3. Proof of Age (one of the following)

• Birth Certificate
• Aadhaar Card
• Passport
• School Leaving Certificate

4. Learner’s Licence

The original learner's license must be submitted.

5. Application Form

Form 4 (Application for License to Drive a Motor Vehicle) duly filled and signed.

6. Passport-Sized Photographs

3 to 4 recent passport-sized photographs.

7. Medical Certificate

Form 1A and Form 1 are issued by a certified government doctor (mandatory for applicants over 50 or those applying for a commercial driving license).

8. Acknowledgement of Fee Payment

Receipt of the fee payment for the driving license application.

The following sections discuss the documents foreign citizens require to get a Driving Licence in India.

1. Proof of Identity

• Passport
• Visa (with a validity of at least 6 months)
• Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) card (if applicable)

2. Proof of Address

• Passport
• Utility Bills (electricity, water, telephone) not older than 3 months
• Rental Agreement
• Lease Agreement

3. Proof of Age

• Passport
• Birth Certificate

4. Driving Licence from Home Country

• Original and a photocopy of the driving license issued in the home country (if available).

5. Learner’s Licence

• Original learner's license issued in India.

6. Application Form

• Form 4 (Application for License to Drive a Motor Vehicle) duly filled and signed.

The following sections discuss the documents diplomats require to get a Driving Licence in India.

1. Proof of Identity

• Diplomatic ID Card
• Passport

2. Proof of Address

• Certificate from the concerned embassy or diplomatic mission
• Utility Bills (electricity, water, telephone) not older than 3 months
• Lease Agreement

3. Proof of Age

• Passport
• Birth Certificate

4. Driving Licence from Home Country

• Original and a photocopy of the driving license issued in the home country (if available).

5. Learner’s Licence

• Original learner's license issued in India.

6. Application Form

• Form 4 (Application for License to Drive a Motor Vehicle) duly filled and signed.

The following sections discuss the documents refugees require to get a Driving Licence in India.

1. Proof of Identity

• Refugee ID Card issued by the Government of India or the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
• Passport (if available)

2. Proof of Address

• Certificate from the refugee camp or recognized NGO
• Utility Bills (electricity, water, telephone) not older than 3 months
• Lease Agreement

3. Proof of Age

• Birth Certificate
• Refugee ID Card

4. Driving Licence from Home Country

• Original and a photocopy of the driving license issued in the home country (if available).

5. Learner’s Licence

• Original learner's license issued in India.

The driving licence smart card fee is ₹200. You will have to make this payment when you submit the documents and application form.

There are a vast number of benefits of the smart card driving licence. A few of them are -

• Nobody will be able to tamper with or fake the details of the smart card as the biometrics will be stored on it.
• All the details of the cardholder will be declared in the smart card.
• The details in the smart card cannot be changed, creating a permanent audit trail.
• Since the driving licence cannot be tampered with, there will be high efficiency in the maintenance of law enforcement.

The smart card driving licence looks to change the way India works! It's a part of a new system of doing things that are finding mass support from citizens. Hence, now that you know how to change a driving licence book to a smart card, do so in an instant!

Get your smart card driving licence today!