How to Apply for a Driving Licence in West Bengal in 2024?

Located in the eastern part of India, West Bengal is currently the fourth-most populous state in India. As its capital Kolkata is developing as a metropolitan city, the state government has focused on improving roads and transportation here. Multiple national highways pass through West Bengal, which has increased the number of vehicles on roads. 

According to the Motor Vehicles Act 1988, it is mandatory to obtain a driving licence to be able to drive in any part of India. Find out all about getting a driving licence in West Bengal if you are a resident.

It is important to know the different types of driving licences issued in West Bengal when you are applying for it. This helps you understand the kind of licence you need. Here are the four types of driving licences you can receive in West Bengal:

1. Learner’s Driving Licence

This type of licence is highly limited in terms of the expiration duration since it only lasts for up to six months. This licence 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 following envisages the conditions determining the qualification to a permanent DL in West Bengal.

• Gearless vehicle driving licenses are granted to applicants at least sixteen.
• A geared vehicle Two-wheeler Driving Licence is provided for candidates who are at least 18 years old in West Bengal.
• West Bengal also issues a Four-wheeler Driving Licence for applicants who have passed 18 years or more.
• Licences are granted to persons above twenty years of age for driving transport vehicles.
• The participant must possess sufficient knowledge of traffic rules.
• An applicant needs to have a Learner’s Licence to be qualified to apply for a DL.

Here are the key documents required for issuing a driving licence in West Bengal.

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 Driving Licence in West Bengal through online mode:

• Step 1: Go to the Parivahan India website. 
• Step 2: If you click “Online Services”, you can avail of DL services and shift to the Sarathi platform.

• Step 3: Select West Bengal from the list of states listed.

• Step 4: Then select the Learner’s Licence application tab.

• Step 5: After filling out the application, attaching the documents, and paying the fees, you will receive a preliminary test booking.

Below are the steps you need to follow to apply for a Driving Licence offline in West Bengal.

• Step 1: Visit an RTO centre in your city to complete an application for LL if you do not possess a valid LL.
• Step 2: Visit the nearest LL Test Center and obtain a Driving Licence by taking the LL Test.
• Step 3: It is advisable to arrange for a driving test to be conducted one month after the issuance of the LL.
• Step 4: Sit for your test at the RTO and surrender your biometric details as required by the authorities.

After passing your driving test, you will receive the DL, which will be posted within a few days.

In West Bengal, it is necessary to have motor vehicle inspectors to hold the driving test. In this test, the applicant must bring his/her own car of similar category with the license he/she has applied for. 

However, if the applicant owns no vehicle, the motor driving school can make one available.

Driving Test for Two-Wheeler & Three-Wheeler

The applicant must ride within the confines of the imaginary figure eight, with the understanding that the vehicle should not come to a standstill. Following this, the applicant undergoes a driving test whereby the inspector monitors the applicant’s driving skills before they can drive on the highways.

Driving Test for Four-wheeler

For four-wheelers, the applicant must repeat the test on a road with a different design and should not touch the columns when completing the test. If the columns get even slightly touched, the applicant is disqualified. The applicant is then taken to the public road and driven on it; depending on the applicant’s performance, they pass or fail.

Any applicants who fail the test for a driving license can redo the test and apply to take it after seven days. Retest is allowed, and a token fee is charged.

An International Driving Permit will be given to the applicant who holds a valid Indian Licence and is a resident of India. The application has to be made in form 4A or in writing to the RTO in whose jurisdiction the applicant resides following the proposed visit and the duration of stay in the country or countries to be visited, etc.

Here are the steps for acquiring such a licence in West Bengal:

• Step 1: To begin, go to Parivahan Sewa official website. Move the cursor to the "Online Services.”
• Step 2: From the list of options given below, select “Driving Licence Related Services.” In the list of the state names, click on the West Bengal.
• Step 3: Select any RTO of West Bengal according to your preference.
• Step 4: This will prompt the user to enter the permanent driving license number.
• Step 5: Please input your birth date in the format of DD/MM/YYY.
• Step 6: When your driving license is displayed on the screen, click the Next button.
• Step 7: Enter all the remaining details in the fields and click apply.
• Step 8: Download the required application forms and remember the application number for future use.
• Step 9: Ensure that you compile all the required documents and forms and deliver them to the selected RTO near you.

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, then 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.

Offline Process for Driving Licence Renewal in West Bengal

For those interested in renewing your DL in West Bengal Offline, follow the below process.

• Step 1: You can download the application forms required for renewal of DL from the official website of RTO West Bengal, or you may get it by personally visiting the RTO office.
• Step 2: Please complete all the application forms and provide the necessary details.
• Step 3: Assemble all the necessary papers to ensure that the process is completed without fail.
• Step 4: Proceed to the nearest Regional Transport Office and submit the application and attested documents.
• Step 5: At the fee collection point, pay the relevant fees as required by the institution.
• Step 6: Please ensure that you retain a copy of the acknowledgement receipt for future use.

The RTO will examine your documents, then register and issue the renewed DL, which will be delivered to your doorstep.

Online Process for Driving Licence Renewal in West Bengal

• Step 1: Open the Parivahan website link in your browser.
• Step 2: Click ‘Online Services’ and select ‘Driving Licence Services’ from the drop-down list.
• Step 3: Select the state; in this case, please choose West Bengal and click ‘Apply for Driving Licence Renewal’.
• Step 4: Refer to the instructions on the next page and click ‘Continue’.
• Step 5: Go to the details, such as the DL number and date of birth. Enter the captcha code at the bottom of each section and click the “Get DL Details” button.
• Step 6: You will have an option to view the Driving Licence details. Check whether all information provided is correct.
• Step 7: Click “Proceed” after selecting the RTO, DL category, and the state.
• Step 8: Select the details you want to change on the next page and click “Proceed”.
• Step 9: Select the service type from the drop-down menu and complete the online form with the required details.
• Step 10: Scan and upload the soft copies of relevant documents and click the “Submit” button.

Please find below some of the general requirements necessary when applying to renew a Driving Licence in West Bengal.

• Original Driving Licence
• Form 2 (Application for renewal of the DL, intended for persons with an existing permit)
• Form 1, which is known as the Certificate of Fitness
• Form 1A (Medical Certificate of Fitness to drive for non-transport vehicle DL renewal or if the applicant is above forty years).
• Passport-size photographs
• A photocopy of a passport-sized photograph and any document as proof of age and address (Voter ID Card, Aadhaar card, Birth certificate, etc.).