Losing the physical card is stressful, but you usually do not need to start the entire licensing process again. A duplicate driving licence is intended for situations where the original has been lost, destroyed or otherwise unavailable.
Simple, practical guidance for Indian driving-licence services. We are an independent website; applications and official records are handled by government portals.
Information on this page is based on current guidance published by DigiLocker and Parivahan Sewa. State/RTO workflows, document lists and fees can change, so always follow the instructions shown on the official portal.
First, make sure the licence is actually lost rather than misplaced. If you think it was stolen, consider making a police complaint because your state/RTO may require or recommend a loss report as part of the duplicate process.
Keep any photocopy, scan, photograph or old digital record of the licence. Parivahan's guidance specifically mentions an attested photocopy if available in a loss case.
If your licence is available in DigiLocker as an issued document, keep that digital record accessible while you arrange the replacement. DigiLocker states that issued digital DL documents are recognised as legal equivalents of physical originals.
Open the official Sarathi portal and choose the state that issued your licence.
Select the driving-licence services and look for the duplicate DL option.
Enter your licence/application details and complete the verification steps shown by the portal.
Upload the requested documents. The exact list can vary by state, but Parivahan's central guidance includes Form 2 and supporting evidence relating to the lost licence.
Pay the official fee shown by the portal.
If an appointment or RTO verification is required, complete it at the instructed office.
Save the application receipt and application number so you can check progress later.
Check an old photocopy, photo, insurance record, employer record, previous renewal paperwork or other legitimate document where the DL number may have been recorded.
If you cannot recover the number, use official Parivahan services or contact the issuing RTO for help identifying the record. Avoid third-party sites that ask for unnecessary identity documents.
Do not treat a screenshot or an unofficial photocopy as automatically equivalent to the original. If you have an issued DigiLocker driving licence, DigiLocker's official FAQ says issued digital DL/RC documents are legally recognised at par with original documents.
If you do not have an issued digital document, ask the RTO or transport authority what proof they expect while the duplicate application is pending.
We explain the process here, but your licence record, application and payment should be handled on the official systems.