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 License: This type of licence comes with a short validity of up to only six months. You can obtain this licence while you are learning to drive. It is not possible to apply for a permanent licence at least one month from the date of getting a learner's licence.
2. Permanent Driving License: Once you complete the learner’s licence’s tenure, you must apply for a permanent driving licence. For this, you need to visit the local RTO and appear for both theoretical and practical exams. This licence is mandatory when driving in any part of India.
3. Commercial Driving License: Commercial Driving Licence is issued to those who drive commercial vehicles, including Light Goods Transport Motor Vehicles, Medium Motor Vehicles and Heavy Motor Vehicles. The eligibility varies based on the kind of vehicle.
4. International Driving Permit: This type of permit is essential for holders of Indian driving licences who wish to drive in a foreign country. It is a form of certification that the RTO provides to justify that the holder of this permit is capable of driving.
Before applying for a driving licence in West Bengal, you must check the eligibility criteria in detail. Otherwise, your application might be rejected if you do not meet its requirements. Here is a highlight of the eligibility criteria to apply for a driving licence in West Bengal.
For Vehicles Without Gears
For Vehicles With Gear
For Heavy Commercial Vehicles
While applying for a West Bengal driving licence, it is mandatory to provide certain documents. RTO authorities cannot approve your application without verifying your details through these. Here are the documents you need to produce.
1. Address Proof
2. Age Proof
3. Other Mandatory Documents
You can complete this application process for getting a driving licence in West Bengal online. Here are the steps to do so:
Step 1: Visit the official portal of Parivahan Sewa. Bring the cursor to "Online Services”.
Step 2: Choose “Driving Licence Related Services” from the drop-down list. Select West Bengal from the list of the state names.
Step 3: Click on “Apply for Driving Licence”. Click on “Continue” after reading the instructions.
Step 4: Enter your learner’s licence number and date of birth. Click on “OK”.
Step 5: Enter all the required information and fill up the online form. Upload all your documents.
Step 6: Book a time slot for your driving test. Pay the required application fee.
Step 7: Download the acknowledgement receipt. Carry it for your driving test on the specified date.
Now that you know all about the eligibility and documents, you can start your application process. Here are a few steps you can follow to apply for a driving licence in West Bengal offline.
Step 1: Download Form 4 from the official website of Parivahan Sewa. You can also collect it from the nearest RTO.
Step 2: Fill up this form with your details. Visit the nearest RTO with this filled form and other necessary documents.
Step 3: Submit this form along with other necessary documents to the relevant authorities. Pay the required fees.
Step 4: Book a driving test slot with the RTO authorities. Appear for this test on the decided date and time.
Once you clear the exam, RTO authorities will send a physical copy of your driving licence to your address.
There are nearly 93 RTO offices in West Bengal, spread across different cities. This makes it easier to seek RTO services from any part of the state. Here is the list of RTO offices in West Bengal:
| RTO Office | RTO Code |
| Alipore | WB-19 |
| Alipore | WB-22 |
| Alipore | WB-69 |
| Alipore | WB-70 |
| Asansol | WB-37 |
| Asansol | WB-44 |
| Asansol | WB-38 |
| Balurghat | WB-61 |
| Balurghat | WB-62 |
| Bangaon | WB-28 |
| Barasat | WB-25 |
| Barasat | WB-26 |
| Bardhaman | WB-42 |
| Bardhaman | WB-43 |
| Bardhaman | WB-41 |
| Baruipur | WB-95 |
| Birbhum | WB-45 |
| Birbhum | WB-54 |
| Birbhum | WB-53 |
| Bishnupur (WB) | WB-88 |
| Bolpur | WB-47 |
| Bolpur | WB-48 |
| Cooch Behar | WB-63 |
| Cooch Behar | WB-64 |
| Cooch Behar | WB-86 |
| Cooch Behar | WB-85 |
| Darjeeling | WB-76 |
| Darjeeling | WB-77 |
| Diamond Harbour | WB-97 |
| Diamond Harbour | WB-98 |
| Durgapur | WB-39 |
| Durgapur | WB-40 |
| Hooghly | WB-16 |
| Hooghly | WB-15 |
| Hooghly | WB-17 |
| Hooghly | WB-18 |
| Howrah | WB-11 |
| Howrah | WB-13 |
| Howrah | WB-12 |
| Howrah | WB-14 |
| Islampur (WB) | WB-92 |
| Islampur (WB) | WB-91 |
| Jalpaiguri | WB-71 |
| Jalpaiguri | WB-72 |
| Jalpaiguri | WB-59 |
| Jalpaiguri | WB-60 |
| Katwa | WB-75 |
| Kolkata | WB-04 |
| Kolkata | WB-06 |
| Kolkata | WB-07 |
| Kolkata | WB-02 |
| Kolkata | WB-08 |
| Kolkata | WB-09 |
| Kolkata | WB-03 |
| Kolkata | WB-05 |
| Kolkata | WB-10 |
| Kolkata | WB-01 |
| Maldah | WB-66 |
| Maldah | WB-83 |
| Maldah | WB-65 |
| Maldah | WB-84 |
| Murshidabad | WB-58 |
| Murshidabad | WB-94 |
| Murshidabad | WB-93 |
| Murshidabad | WB-57 |
| Nadia | WB-52 |
| Nadia | WB-89 |
| Nadia | WB-90 |
| Nadia | WB-51 |
| North 24 Parganas | WB-27 |
| Paschim Medinipur | WB-33 |
| Paschim Medinipur | WB-36 |
| Paschim Medinipur | WB-50 |
| Paschim Medinipur | WB-34 |
| Purulia | WB-55 |
| Purulia | WB-56 |
| Purulia | WB-81 |
| Purulia | WB-82 |
| Rampurhat | WB-46 |
| Siliguri | WB-73 |
| Siliguri | WB-74 |
| South 24 Parganas | WB-20 |
| South 24 Parganas | WB-96 |
| Tamluk | WB-30 |
| Tamluk | WB-29 |
| Bankura | WB-68 |
| Bankura | WB-67 |
| Barrackpore | WB-23 |
| Barrackpore | WB-24 |
| Contai | WB-31 |
| Contai | WB-32 |
| Kalimpong | WB-79 |
| Kalimpong | WB-78 |
RTO offices in West Bengal have the primary role of maintaining smooth traffic movement and road safety. Here are some common functions that RTOs perform in West Bengal:
Once you submit your application, it will remain under processing and verification by the RTO. However, you can track the application status to know more. Here are the steps to do so:
Step 1: Visit the official portal of Parivahan Sewa. Bring your cursor to the "Online Services" section.
Step 2: Choose “Driving Licence Related Services” from the drop-down list. Select West Bengal from the list of the state names.
Step 3: Click on “Application status” on the right side of the page. Enter details like your application number and date of birth.
Step 4: Enter the Captcha code and click on “Submit”. Details of your application status will be visible on this page.
People often feel the need to get a duplicate driving licence if their original licence has been mutilated or stolen. Here are the steps you can follow to apply for a duplicate licence in West Bengal:
Step 1: Visit the official portal of Parivahan Sewa. Bring the cursor to "Online Services".
Step 2: Choose "Driving Licence Related Services" from the drop-down list. Select West Bengal from the list of state names.
Step 3: Bring your cursor to the "Driving Licence" section. Click on "Services on DL" from the drop-down list.
Step 4: Read the instructions and click on “Continue”. Enter your DL number and date of birth on the next page, along with the Captcha code.
Step 5: Click on "Get DL details" and then on "Proceed". Select your state and RTO on the next page, and click on "Proceed".
Step 6: Click on “Confirm” if your DL details are accurate. From the drop-down list, select “Issue of Duplicate DL” and click on “Proceed”.
Step 7: Enter your reason for applying for a duplicate DL. Download the Prefilled Application Form and Acknowledgement and make the payment.
You need to visit your nearest RTO with the downloaded form and receipt of fee payment and submit these.
Step 1: Visit the concerned RTO office in West Bengal with the damaged driving licence. In case the licence is stolen or lost, carry the Police FIR copy with you.
Step 2: Ask for the LLD form and duly fill it up with all the relevant details.
Step 3: Submit the form with all the required documents to the concerned authority.
Step 4: Request for the acknowledgement receipt.
After completing the above mentioned steps, your application will be registered by the RTO office and you will receive the duplicate licence copy within a few days time.
Renewing a driving licence is essential to avoid traffic violations. Here are the steps you can follow to renew driving licence in West Bengal:
Step 1: Visit the official portal of Parivahan Sewa. Bring the cursor to the "Online Services" section.
Step 2: Choose “Driving Licence Related Services” from the drop-down list. Select West Bengal from the list of the state names.
Step 3: Bring the cursor to the "Driving Licence" section. Click on "Services on DL" from the drop-down list.
Step 4: Read the instructions and click on “Continue”. Enter your DL number and date of birth on the next page, along with the Captcha code.
Step 5: Click on "Get DL details" and then on "Proceed". Select your state and RTO on the next page, and click on "Proceed".
Step 6: Click on “Confirm” if your DL details are accurate. From the drop-down list, select “DL Renewal” and click on “Proceed”.
Step 7: Upload the required documents and enter other details. Click on “Submit”.
Step 1: Visit the designated RTO office of your locality. Carry all the required documents such as present driving licence, passport size picture and requisite fees.
Step 2: Ask for a licence renewal form at the RTO office.
Step 3: Submit all the relevant documents along with the form to the designated authority.
Step 4: Schedule your driving test, if prompted.
Step 5: Take the test (if required) and then pay the requisite fees to renew your licence.
After completing the procedure, you should receive the renewed driving licence within a few days.
Smart DLs have gained much popularity recently in India. These are safer than regular licences. These are also convenient for record keeping, as the microchip in SCDL contains your detailed information. There are two ways of acquiring a Smart Card Driving Licence in West Bengal. The first way is to apply for a new DL and get a Smart DL. Another way is to convert an old DL into a smart DL.
Step 1: Visit the official portal of Parivahan Sewa. Bring the cursor to the "Online Services" section.
Step 2: Choose “Driving Licence Related Services” from the drop-down list. Select West Bengal from the list of the state names.
Step 3: Click on “Apply for Driving Licence”. Click on “Continue” after reading the instructions.
Step 4: Enter your learner’s licence number and date of birth. Click on “OK”.
Step 5: Enter all the required information and fill up the online form. Upload all the relevant documents. This process will also include gathering your biometric details.
Step 6: Book a time slot for the driving test. Pay the required application fee.
Step 7: Download the acknowledgement receipt. Carry it for your driving test on the specified date.
Step 1: Collect SCDL application form from your nearest RTO office. Fill out this form with all the required data.
Step 2: Gather the required documents. Visit the RTO office with the filled form and documents.
Step 3: Submit these and pay the application fee. Book a date and time slot for your driving test.
Step 4: Appear for the driving test on the scheduled date. Your biometric details will be collected once you pass this test.
Step 1: Visit your nearest RTO. Get a licence upgrade form or a Smart Card Driving Licence application form from the office.
Step 2: Fill up this form with all relevant data. Give away your biometric details in the office.
Step 3: Submit the necessary documents along with the application form. Pay the required fee.
Step 4: Collect the receipt of the fee payment and wait for the verification process. You will receive your Smart DL after this process.
You can get an international driving licence in West Bengal if you already have a licence in any state of India, which includes West Bengal. Such a permit is essential for driving in a foreign country. Here are the steps for acquiring such a licence in West Bengal:
Step 1: Visit the official portal of Parivahan Sewa. Bring the cursor to "Online Services".
Step 2: Choose “Driving Licence Related Services” from the drop-down list. Select West Bengal from the list of the state names.
Step 3: Click on “Apply for International Driving Permit (IDP)”. Read the instructions and click on “Continue”.
Step 4: Enter your driving licence number and date of birth. Click on “Get DL details” and then on “Proceed” if the details are accurate.
Step 5: Enter all the required details and click on “Confirm”. Click on “Generate OTP”.
Step 6: Enter the OTP you received and select “Authenticate with Sarthi". On the next page, select "ISSUE INTERNATIONAL DRIVING LICENCE PERMIT”.
Step 7: Enter details of your VISA and the country visiting. Click on “Confirm” and pay the required fee.
The driving test takes place after booking a slot during the application process. Here are a few steps for booking a driving test in West Bengal:
Step 1: Visit the official portal of Parivahan Sewa. Choose “Driving Licence Related Services” under the “Online Services” section.
Step 2: Select West Bengal from the state names’ list. Click on “Apply for Driving Licence”. Click on “Continue” after reading instructions.
Step 3: Enter your learner’s licence number and date of birth. Click on “OK”. Enter all the required information and fill up the online form.
Step 4: Upload all the relevant documents. Book a time slot for the driving test. Pay the required application fee.
The test for two and three-wheelers takes place near the RTO, and applicants have to ride their vehicles within a certain border. Applicants must make about eight figures without touching the poles on the corners while showing gear changes, speed shifts, reversing, etc. For four-wheelers, applicants need to drive on the marked H-shaped lines without touching the columns.
It is helpful to know about certain tips if you are planning to appear for a driving test. Passing the test on the first chance is always favourable. Here are a few tips that can help you pass your driving test in one go:
Tip 1: Practice with your vehicle a few days before the test.
Tip 2: Reach the RTO before the scheduled time to avoid delays.
Tip 3: Carry the necessary documents to your exam centre.
Tip 4: Wear seatbelts and use the mirrors of the vehicle effectively.
Tip 5: Look ahead on the road and stay attentive.
Tip 6: Shift gears smoothly while turning off the ignition when your vehicle comes to a complete halt.
Tip 7: Use indicators and hand signs while turning on the road.
Please try one more time!
Disclaimer: This information is added only for informative purposes and collected from different sources across the Internet. Digit Insurance is not promoting or recommending anything here. Please verify the information before making any decisions.
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