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Driving Licenses in India – Everything You Need to Know

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Driving a sophisticated vehicle like a car on a public road requires you to have special skills and fast decision-makingability. When you are driving a car, you are essentially operating heavy machinery with a lot of people around, and it is very important for the government to ensure that everyone remains safe. This is the reason why the government requires that a person who wants to drive a vehicle on a public road must hold a valid driving license and car insurance too.And as you already know, a driving license is basically a document which endorses the driving skills of its holder.

Importance of a driving license

As mentioned earlier, driving a vehicle requires a lot of skill and the ability to take split-second decisions. And having a driving license is very important in this regard, because it acts a proof that the government has, through its appropriate officials, tested your driving skills. It means that under the designed test conditions, you, the driving license holder, has been found to hold adequate driving skills to safely operate the vehicle for which you have been tested. Which is why, if you are caught driving without a valid license,you will be subject to a challan by the traffic police.In case of serious offences, it can also lead to imprisonment and seizure of the vehicle.

Who can get a driving license in India?

As in all other countries, India has a well-defined set of criteria for people who want to get a driving license. First, in order to get a driving license, you must prove yourself to be a resident of India. Next, you must prove that you have completed the age of 18 years and are legally considered an adult. Third, you must be aware of the basic traffic rules and regulations. In case you are looking to get a commercial driving license, you must have completed education till class 8. In addition, you must have held a valid personal driving license for a year and must also have completed the age of 20 years. In addition, you must have completed driving training course from a government authorised driving training school.

What are the documentation and paperwork needed for getting driving license?

As with car insurance, driving license application is now a mostly online process. The documentation needed to get a driving license can be classified into two categories. The first category includes application documents and the second category includes eligibility documents.

Application documents include application form, applicable declarations etc. andpassport size photos. Eligibility documents include your Aadhaar card, which proves your resident status, and Class 10 education certificate,which mentions your date of birth. You can also use your passport or voter ID or electricity bill in your name to prove your resident status. Similarly,birth certificate or PAN card can be useful as age proofs.

For commercial driving license, additional paperwork will include – valid personal driving license that is more than one year old, school leaving certificate after class 8, if class 10 certificate is not presented, certificate of completion of training from a government authorised driving training school and medical certificate as required.

Different types of driving licenses issued in India

Depending upon different requirements, you will be able to get different types of driving licenses.

• Learning license:

Everyone starts with a learning license. This means you are eligible to learn how to drive a vehicle. In order to get a learning license, you will need to clear an online or OMR test and a valid license holder must always be with you.

• Private or personal driving license:

This is the main driving license which is issued to most people. It can be obtained once you have held a valid learning license for at least one month and after qualifying a driving test.

• Commercialdriving license:

This is issued to people who want to drive vehicles with a yellow commercial number plate for earning money. The requirements for a commercial license are very strict and its eligibility is rather short compared to a private license.

• International driving permit:

This driving license comes with a one-year validity and is issued to people who plan to travel out of India and will be involved in personal driving in a different country.

Vehicle category-based license classification

Depending upon your driving license type, you may need to check the vehicle category.

• Private licenses are issued for Motor Cycle50cc (MC50CC), Motor Cycle Without Gear (MCWOG), Motor Cycle With Gear (MCWG), and Light Motor Vehicle Non-Transport (LMV-NT)

• Commercial licenses are issued for Medium Goods Vehicle (MGV), Light Motor Vehicle (LMV) like taxi, jeep etc., Heavy Motor Vehicles (HMV), Heavy Goods Motor Vehicles (HGMV), Heavy Passenger Motor Vehicle (HPMV), HeavyTransport Vehicle (HTV).

In summary, getting a driving license can be a life-changing event, so it is best that you get your own driving license as soon as you turn 18. But remember that getting a license is not enough. You need to drive carefully and follow traffic rules always. And don’t forget to get comprehensive car insurance, so that you can stay financially protected in case of unforeseen events like accidents, calamities and theft.

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purpose only. For more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.

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