Lost your driving licence? Don't panic. A duplicate DL can be obtained from your issuing RTO in about 7-15 working days using Form LLD and Form 1, with an FIR required only if the licence was stolen. Your DigiLocker DL remains legally valid while you wait, so you don't have to stop driving. Here is the exact process, documents and costs.
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It depends on how the licence was lost. If the DL was stolen, filing an FIR at the nearest police station is mandatory in most states - it also protects you if the licence is misused. If it was simply misplaced, many RTOs accept a self-declaration (Form 1 or affidavit) instead; a non-cognisable report (NCR) is a faster alternative that many police stations offer for lost items. If the card is merely damaged, no FIR is needed - you submit the damaged card with the application.
Apply on the official Sarathi portal under "Apply for Duplicate DL" (or in person at the RTO). Enter your DL number and date of birth, fill Form LLD online, upload your photograph, FIR copy and Aadhaar, pay the fee, and book an RTO appointment - biometric re-capture is typically required. Important: the application must go to the RTO that originally issued your licence, not just any RTO. After the visit, the duplicate smart card is dispatched by speed post within 7-15 working days (up to 21 in high-volume RTOs). Find your office with our RTO search.
Your DL, if issued under the Sarathi system, is available in DigiLocker, and a DigiLocker DL is legally equivalent to the physical card. After applying, keep the RTO acknowledgement slip along with the DigiLocker DL on your phone - this combination is accepted by traffic police, so you can continue driving legally while the card is in transit.
The fee is ₹200 for a single vehicle category and ₹300 for two or more, with small state variations. Note that a duplicate carries the same expiry date as the original - it is a replacement, not a renewal. If your licence is close to expiry, consider a renewal via Form 9 as well; see our DL renewal guide. For the wider process, read the complete driving licence guide, and if your RC is also missing, the duplicate RC guide covers that.
No. You must apply at the RTO that originally issued your licence - the licensing authority. The Sarathi portal lets you initiate the application remotely in many states, but the physical verification step remains at the original RTO.
Only if the DL was stolen. For a misplaced licence, many RTOs accept a self-declaration or affidavit (Form 1) or an NCR instead. For a damaged card, no FIR is needed - just submit the damaged card. Practices vary slightly by state.
Yes. After filing the application and receiving the acknowledgement slip, you can drive legally. Keep the slip together with your DigiLocker DL on your phone - DigiLocker documents are legally equivalent to physical cards.
You can search for it on the Sarathi portal using your name, date of birth and Aadhaar number. Alternatively, visit your issuing RTO with your Aadhaar and they can look up your record in their database.
No. A duplicate carries the same expiry date as the original licence - it is a replacement, not a renewal. If your DL is close to expiry, apply for renewal with Form 9 alongside or instead of the duplicate application.