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How to Renew Driving Licence in Chennai?

Team AckoApr 5, 2024

Chennai, the capital city of Tamil Nadu, has the largest population in the state. This is one of the reasons why the city experiences a heavy flow of motor vehicles on the roads daily. If you are one of these vehicle riders/drivers, please note that as per The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, only valid Driving Licence holders can legally drive a motor vehicle in the city.

The validity of a Driving Licence (DL) is limited. Hence, once it expires, you must get it renewed as a responsible driver. In this article, we will explain the process for Driving Licence renewal online and offline in Chennai.

Contents

Steps to renew Driving Licence online in Chennai
Steps to renew Driving Licence offline in Chennai
Documents required for DL renewal in Chennai
DL renewal Chennai: How to schedule an appointment online
Driving Licence renewal fees in Chennai
Grace period for renewal of Driving Licence in Chennai
How to check Driving Licence renewal status in Chennai
Why should you apply for DL renewal in Chennai?
Validity of a Driving Licence in Chennai
Learner’s Licence renewal in Chennai
Frequently asked questions

Steps to renew Driving Licence online in Chennai

Here are the steps to follow for online Driving Licence renewal in Chennai.

Step 1: Open the Parivahan Sewa portal and download Form 2.
Step 2: Fill out all the requested details in Form 2 for DL renewal.
Step 3: Via the Parivahan portal, select “Online Services” and choose “Driving Licence Related Services”.
Step 4: Choose “Tamil Nadu” from the dropdown list.
Step 5: Select the “Apply for DL Renewal” service.
Step 6: Carefully go through the instructions and scroll down to click on “Continue”.
Step 7: Provide your Driving Licence number and Date of Birth.
Step 8: Type the given Captcha code and select “Proceed” for the next step.
Step 9: Now, you can choose to apply for a smart card for DL.
Step 10: Upload your application as well as the requested documents.
Step 11: Pay the required fee through a payment gateway and collect a receipt.

After a successful payment, the Chennai RTO will initiate the document verification process and then issue your new/renewed Driving Licence.

Also, read: All about RTO Offices in India

Steps to renew Driving Licence offline in Chennai

Here are the steps to follow for offline Driving Licence renewal in Chennai.

Step 1: Visit the local Chennai RTO in your area.
Step 2: Obtain a Driving Licence renewal form and add all details to it.
Step 3: Submit the duly filled application along with all necessary documents.
Step 4: Pay the standard fee for the process to get a receipt and application number.

Documents required for DL renewal in Chennai

You must be ready with all the required documents in advance to avoid any procedural delay. Here is a list of different documents necessary to apply for Driving Licence renewal in Chennai.

Duly filled Form 2 to renew Driving Licence (Download online at Parivahan portal)
Original Driving Licence
Form 1A as medical certification (only for applicants older than 40 years and transport vehicle DL applicants)
Proof of identity (PAN Card, Aadhaar Card, etc.)
Proof of residential address (ration card, utility bills, etc.)
3 passport-size photos
Proof of age (self-attested copies)

DL renewal Chennai: How to schedule an appointment online

Use the steps mentioned below to schedule an online appointment with Chennai RTO for DL renewal.

Step 1: Visit the website of Sarathi Parivahan and select “Tamil Nadu” from the list of states.
Step 2: Go to the “Appointments” section.
Step 3: Click on “Slot Booking” and choose “LL/DL Service Slot Booking”.
Step 4: Provide details like your Date of Birth, Application Number, and given Captcha code.
Step 5: Click on “Submit” and select an appointment slot.
Step 6: Visit the local Chennai RTO on the date of your appointment along with the necessary documents.

Note: You can follow the same steps to book a slot for an LL/DL test.

Driving Licence renewal fees in Chennai

Refer to the following table for DL renewal fees in Chennai.

Service	Fees (in Rs.)
DL renewal for transport vehicle drivers	450
DL renewal for non-transport vehicle drivers	500
Added penalty if applying after 30 days of expiry	300
Added penalty if applying after 1 year of expiry	1000
Applying for a smart card	200 (additional to the regular fee)

Grace period for renewal of Driving Licence in Chennai

The grace period to renew Driving Licence in Chennai is 30 days after the date of its expiry. You can apply within those 30 days to avoid any additional charges over the regular fees. Beyond that grace period, one has to pay Rs. 300 more than the regular DL renewal fees.

How to check Driving Licence renewal status in Chennai

Follow these steps to know the application status of your Driving Licence renewal online in Chennai.

Step 1: Access the Parivahan Sewa portal and click on “Online Services”.
Step 2: Choose “Driving Licence Related Services” and pick “Tamil Nadu”.
Step 3: Select the “Application Status” tab.
Step 4: Enter your Application Number, Date of Birth and given Captcha code.
Step 5: Click on “Submit” to get the status of your DL renewal application.

Why should you apply for DL renewal in Chennai?

Here are the reasons why you must apply for DL renewal in Chennai.

It is a punishable offence to drive motor vehicles with an expired Driving Licence in Chennai.
If you don’t apply for DL renewal for a year of its expiry, there will be an added penalty of Rs. 1,000 at the time of renewal.
If you fail to renew your Driving Licence for 5 years after expiry, you will have to apply for a new one and take a driving test again.
You can use a valid Driving Licence as an identification document (proof of identity).

Validity of a Driving Licence in Chennai

The following are the key details of DL validity in Chennai.

A DL in Chennai comes with a validity of 20 years from the date it is issued or till the licence holder reaches 40 years of age.
After the expiry, one needs to renew his/her DL every 5 years.
The validity of a commercial vehicle DL remains for 5 years.

Learner’s Licence renewal in Chennai

If your existing Learning Licence (LL) expires, follow these steps to get a new LL issued in Chennai.

Step 1: Visit the official Sarathi Parivahan website.
Step 2: Pick “Tamil Nadu” from the list of states.
Step 3: Select the tab called “Learner Licence”, then choose “Expired Learner Licence Issue Again”.
Step 4: Provide your “Date of Birth”, “Expired Learner’s Licence Number”, and “Submit”.

Frequently asked questions

Answered below are a few common questions regarding Driving Licence renewal in Chennai.

Frequently asked questions

What if I apply for DL renewal in Chennai after a year of expiry?

There will be an additional fine of Rs. 1,000 added to the process as a penalty for not renewing your licence on time. Hence, you will be paying Rs. 1,500 to renew your non-transport licence after one year of expiry.

What if I don’t renew my DL for 5 years after its expiry in Chennai?

After 5 years of DL expiration, you will have to take a driving test again and pay a penalty added to the regular fees to get it renewed.

Is a Medical Certificate mandatory while applying for DL renewal in Chennai?

A Medical Certificate is mandatory in the following conditions.

For applicants over 40 years of age applying for a non-transport vehicle DL renewal.
For applicants applying for a transport vehicle DL renewal.

Do I need to take a driving test when applying for Driving Licence renewal in Chennai?

One doesn’t need to take a driving test if applying within 5 years of DL expiry or under the age of 40 years. However, a driving test will become mandatory if 5 years pass after the expiration of the licence or if you apply after crossing 40 years of age. Also, you will be required to take a driving test in case of adding a new vehicle class to your DL at the time of renewal.

What is the fine for late DL renewal in Chennai?

There is an additional penalty of Rs. 300 for people who apply for DL renewal in Chennai after the grace period (30 days of expiry). This penalty further increases to Rs. 1,000 if you apply for licence renewal after a year of expiry.

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Disclaimer: The information mentioned on this page is compiled from different websites and government sources. The information may be updated from time to time. Hence, please refer to the respective government websites and verify before making any DL-related decisions.