How to Apply for a Driving Licence in Patna in 2026?

Patna, the capital of Bihar, has been identified as one of the 100 smart cities in India. With a population of more than 2.39 million, it is the 19th largest city in the world. It is well connected by airways, railways, and roads.

The RTO offices enforce road safety rules, so driving licences are a crucial factor. Under the Motor Vehicles Act 1988, a person must possess a valid driving licence to drive anywhere in India. Read on to learn about driving licences in Patna, and don’t miss a single detail!

Before applying for it, one should be familiar with the various types of driving licences available in Patna. This makes it easier to determine the type of licence you require. Here are the four types of driving licences you can receive in Patna:

1. Learner’s Driving Licence

This type of licence is highly limited in terms of expiration duration since it only lasts for up to six months. It is issued when one is learning how to drive a car. A person cannot apply for a permanent licence for at least one month from the date of issue of a learner’s licence.

2. Permanent Driving Licence

After the expiration of the learner’s licence, you need to apply for a permit for a driving licence. You must go to your local RTO and take the theoretical and practical tests to do this. This licence is basic and mandatory for anyone who wants to drive anywhere within the Indian subcontinent.

3. Commercial Driving Licence

A commercial driving license is granted to those who drive commercial vehicles such as Light goods transport motor vehicles, Medium motor vehicles, and Heavy motor vehicles. The requirement can also differ based on the type of vehicle involved.

4. International Driving Permit

This type is crucial to foreigners or Indians with driving licenses from India to operate a car in a foreign country. Exempted is a form of certification that the RTO offers to affirm that the holder of this permit can drive.

The eligibility criteria to apply for a driving licence in Patna are mentioned below:

• A person must be 16 years or older to ride a two-wheeler with an engine capacity of 50 cc or less.
• The legal age to drive a light motor vehicle or a vehicle with gear is eighteen.
• The person applying for the commercial vehicle licence should be at least 20 years old, with education qualifications up to 8th standard. They should also have at least one year of work experience.
• Prospective drivers must first acquire a learner's licence before applying for a permanent one.
• Applicants can get the licence permanently after 30 days and within 180 days from the date of issue of the learner’s licence.

Here are the key documents required for issuing a driving licence in Patna

1. Proof of Age

Documents that can be provided as proof of age are mentioned below:

• Aadhaar Card 
• Voter ID Card
• Ration Card
• Indian Passport

2. Address Proof

The documents that can be provided as address proof are mentioned below:

• Voter ID
• Aadhaar Card
• PAN Card
• Ration Card
• LIC Policy Bonds

3. Other Mandatory Documents

Documents necessary to apply for a driving licence are mentioned below:

• Application form 2/4
• Driving Licence Form 5 for those applying for a commercial driving licence
• Passport size photographs
• Application fee charges

Here is a step-by-step guide to applying for a Driving Licence in Patna online mode:

• Step 1: Go to the official website of the Sarathi Parivahan for the application for a driving license.

• Step 2: On the website's first page is a tab labelled “Licence Related Services.” Click on this tab to find the Drivers/Learner Licence.

• Step 3: Select “Bihar” from the dropdown list on the next page since Patna is located in Bihar.

• Step 4: The list of services related to licensing is given on the following page. You must apply through the ‘Apply for Learner Licence’ button without a learner's licence. Following the road signs and traffic rules test, you will receive a learner's permit for 180 days.

The following is the detailed procedure for getting a DL in Patna offline.

• Step 1: Download the application form from the Parivahan website or get it from the local RTO office.
• Step 2: Please complete all the fields with the necessary data.
• Step 3: Enclose the filled application form and all the documents you have been asked to submit.
• Step 4: Pay the application fees as required for the application.
• Step 5: Make sure to keep the receipt for future reference.

A learner’s permit is the first step to take as they learn to drive. It is possible to apply for one through the Parivahan Sewa website. You must undergo a test to check your knowledge of traffic rules and signs.

To get a driving license, one has to take a test. This test is split into a ground and road test, as outlined below.

Ground Test

• Vehicle Inspection: The first step of the ground test is to assess the vehicle that the applicant wants to operate. The examiner looks for basic features like the brakes, signals, lights, and general appearance of the car.

The applicant should also ensure that his/her vehicle is in the right condition for the test before presenting it to the examination centre.

• Basic Control Test: The applicant then goes to the basic control test area, where the examiner checks the applicant’s mastery of basic vehicle control skills.

The applicant should be able to confidently and smoothly accelerate, decelerate, and manoeuvre the vehicle. Basic controls such as clutch, brake, and accelerator pedals are also assessed.

• Parking Test: The parking evaluation is a subtest within the ground test crucial for the whole process. It examines the applicant's ability to manoeuvre the car into the correct parking space. Some of its types include parallel parking, perpendicular parking, and angle parking.

The accuracy and coordination exhibited during these parking manoeuvres are crucial in establishing the applicant’s success in the ground test.

Road Test

• Pre-Road Test Briefing: The examiner then introduces the applicant to the procedures to be followed during the road test.

• Adherence to Traffic Rules: The examiner keenly observes the Applicant’s compliance with traffic laws and regulations during the road test. Some examples include observing traffic signs and signals, giving way to other vehicles, proper use of signals, and maintaining a safe distance while on the road.

• Handling Traffic Situations: The road test tests traffic signals and signs and traffic control elements like intersections, roundabouts, and pedestrian crossings. Informed decisions and the ability to act promptly regarding changes in the road environment are essential to the competition's outcome.

• Lane Discipline: It includes adherence to lane discipline, especially during the road test. The examiner assesses the applicant’s ability to maintain position within specified lanes, change lanes when necessary, and turn. Lack of adherence to some traffic rules, such as lane discipline, can affect the overall score.

• Speed Control: Driving safely and within the legal speed limits during the road test is crucial. The applicant must also adhere to the set speed limits, vary the speed according to the condition of the road and ensure that he or she has full control over the vehicle.

Anyone interested in renting and driving a vehicle in another country on an international journey must obtain an International Driving Permit. In the offline application mode, you can approach the nearest RTO, and they will provide you with an IDP. By the 1949 Geneva Convention agreement, all RTOs have the authority to provide IDPs.

Also, getting an IDP in India online and then going to the respective RTO for the required test is possible. Below are the steps to follow when applying for an IDP.

• Step 1: First, please complete Forms 4A on driving competence and 1A on the medical fitness certificate.
• Step 2: You must also provide other documents like your current driving permit, identification, proof of residence, and two passport photos.
• Step 3: The next step involves paying the necessary fees for an IDP, which is ₹1000.
• Step 4: Last, you must take a driving test in your nearest RTO. After the course of this, you will be given an International Driving Permit.

A renewal application shall be entertained not later than one month before the licence expiry date. If the lapse is more than five years from the date of the licence expiry, the applicant should go through all the procedures for getting the new licence. Now, the application for renewing a driver's license can be made Online and Offline.

Online Process for Driving Licence Renewal in Patna

• Step 1: Proceed to the official Patna RTO Website
• Step 2: Select the driving licence option and then select the renew driving licence option.
• Step 3: Pursue and make a fee payment for the Smart Card DL.
• Step 4: Submit the soft copies of all the necessary documents to be checked and verified.
• Step 5: After the documents are verified and confirmed, you will be given a renewed DL.

When RTO successfully processes your documents and completes all the procedures, you will be issued a renewed DL.

Offline Process for Driving Licence Renewal in Patna

• Step 1: Visit your nearest RTO in Punjab.
• Step 2: Submit all the necessary documents and NOC for the vehicle if you are applying for a driving licence renewal from another state.
• Step 3: Provide your driving licence details and your passport-size photographs.
• Step 4: Complete the payment process. Book a slot for a driving test.
• Step 5: Take the exam and receive your driving licence after successfully clearing it.

You must renew a driving licence after 5 years from the expiry date. If you fail, you must apply for a new driving licence. It is due to the reason that the earlier driving licence will lose its validity.

The incorporation of the following documents is usually required at the time of Bihar's driving licence renewal.

• Two passport-size photos

• Expired driving licence

• Application form 9

• Address and age proof

• Certificates of physical fitness and medical fitness.