How to Apply for a Driving License in Chandigarh in 2026?

source: shell

Chandigarh has been a model for this country when it comes to being a city with exemplary urban planning. As a result, this bustling locality witnesses a steady traffic flow around the year. As a citizen here, it is also mandatory to have a driving licence in Chandigarh to be eligible to hit the roads with your vehicle.

There are certain different types of driving licences issued in Chandigarh for vehicle owners. These include:

Driving Licence for Two-Wheelers

This kind of licence is issued for motorcycles which may or may not have a gear. So, if you are looking forward to buying a scooter, moped, or bike – this is the kind of driving licence you will have to submit an application for.

Driving Licence for Light Motor Vehicles

Light Motor Vehicles or LMVs include the kinds like cars, two-wheelers, auto rickshaws, etc. However, please note that although this documentation is valid for both geared and automatic automobiles, it will only be issued to you for private or non-commercial vehicles.

Driving Licence for Transport Vehicles

On the other hand, if you have to apply for a driving licence in Chandigarh for commercial use of your vehicle, this kind of licence will be applicable. For instance, if you are driving a cab or a transport van, you must get a hold of this document.

Based on the kind of vehicle against which you are getting your driving licence, the eligibility criteria can vary largely. Details about such criteria have been given below:

• You must know all the traffic rules and regulations specific to Chandigarh clearly.
• In order to get a permanent driving licence, you must have to avail of a learner’s licence in the first place.
• Once you have obtained this learner’s licence, you must apply for a permanent one after the minimum timespan of a month but not more than 180 after receiving the learner’s permit.
• If you are applying for a driving licence in Chandigarh for a motorcycle whose engine capacity is below 50 ccs, you must be at the age of 16. For a driver applying for the same without reaching this threshold, his or her parent/guardian will need to provide a signature of consent to this application submitted.
• Alternatively, if you want to drive a light motor vehicle or a motorcycle whose engine capacity is above 50 ccs, you must be at the age of 18 years to be eligible for licence application submission.
• Moreover, if you want to be eligible for a driving licence to handle medium and heavy transport vehicles in this state, you should be at the age of 20.

The documents required for a driving licence in Chandigarh are as follows:

• Forms 1 and 1-A regarding your physical fitness and medical certification.
• The application form needed to obtain the licence - is also referred to as Form 4. Note that you will also have to fill out Form 5 if you are applying for a licence in order to be eligible for commercial driving.
• Original copy of your learner’s licence.
• Your proof of address.
• Your proof of age.
• Three passport-sized photographs of you.

If you are looking to apply for a driving licence in Chandigarh in offline mode, you will have to follow these simple steps as mentioned below:

On the other hand, if you want to apply for a driving licence in Chandigarh via digital means, you can do so by adhering to these steps as described below:

Step 1: Navigate to the official Parivahan website.

Step 2: Go to the ‘Online Services’ and select ‘Driving Licence Related Services’.

Step 3: Then select your state as ‘Chandigarh’ and complete the necessary application details.

Step 4: Upload all the required documents.

Step 5: Pay the fees and book a preferable slot for the driving test.

Step 6: Next, you will have to appear for the test itself.

Step 1: Get a hold of the driving licence application form from your nearby Regional Transport Office or R.T.O. Or, you can print out a copy of the same after downloading it from the official website of the state’s transport department. 

Step 2: In this form, you will need to provide the following details as mentioned below:

• Your name.
• Name of your father.
• Your blood group.
• Your residential address.
• The date and place of your birth.
• Your educational qualification details.
• Information about your identification mark. 

Step 3: Submit this form to the R.T.O., along with the necessary documents as mentioned above.

Step 4: Subsequently, you will be asked to appear for a test, where the concerned authorities will test whether you are adequately aware of the traffic rules of this state.

Step 5: Once you have passed this test, you will get a learner’s licence.

Step 6: Consequently, you will be able to apply for the permanent one after thirty days.

The applicant must clear the driving license test to obtain a permanent driving license in Chandigarh. The following section lists the procedure that the applicant has to go through:

Test for Two-Wheeler and Three-Wheeler

There are two tests for two-wheelers and three-wheelers to obtain a driving license in Chandigarh. The first is called the ground test, and the next is called the road test. The ground test requires the applicant to drive in an imaginary “T” or “8” pattern. 

The road test requires the applicant to ride on public roads by following all the traffic rules and regulations. The inspector then assesses the applicant's driving skills. If the applicant fails the test, it can again be taken after 7 days.

Test for Four-wheeler

The test for four-wheelers also involves two types of tests: the ground test and the road test. During the ground test, the instructor asks the applicant to drive the vehicle in a patterned track of “U” and “T”. After that, during the road test, the applicant will drive on a public road following all the traffic rules and regulations.

If you want to obtain an IDP in Chandigarh, go through the following section to learn about the process and documents required. 

Documents for IDP

• Photocopy of Form 1A and Form 4A

• Photocopy of your Existing Driving License

• 4 Passport-Sized Photographs

• Photocopy of Tickets

Process of IDP Application

Step 1: Go to the “Driving Licenses Services” on the Parivahan website. 

Step 2: Select “Apply for IDP” and fill in the form with the necessary details. 

Step 3: Upload the documents in the correct places.

Step 4: Note down the application number and get a print of the acknowledgment receipt.

The driving license does not have validity for a lifetime and needs to be renewed at certain time intervals. This can be done through two processes: Online and Offline. Both processes are elaborated on in the following section:

Offline Process for DL Renewal in Chandigarh

Step 1: Visit the nearby RTO and avail of Form 2 which corresponds to the renewal of driving license. You can also get it on the official website.

Step 2: Fill out the form with the proper details.

Step 3: Gather the documents together and submit your filled application at the nearest RTO. 

Step 4: Pay the required fees and get the acknowledgement receipt for future reference.

Online Process for DL Renewal in Chandigarh

Step 1: From the Parivahan portal, click on the Online Services.

Step 2: You will get a drop-down menu; from there, you must select “DL Services”.

Step 3: Click on “Chandigarh” and then process toward the DL renewal option.

Step 4: Enter all the necessary information required from your old driving license along with the captcha code and then select “Get DL Details”. 

Step 5: Go through all the details, select the mentioned categories and then click on “Proceed”.

Step 6: Fill in the application form that pops in front and upload the soft copies of the documents.

Step 7: Select “Submit”.

Step 8: Note the application number and keep a print of the acknowledgement receipt for future use. 

The documents required for DL renewal in Chandigarh are listed below:

• Original Driving License

• Passport-Sized Photographs 

• Form 2 (Driving License Renewal Application Form)

• Age and Address Proof

• Form 1A (Medical Certificate for the mentioned categories)

• Form 1 (Fit Certificate of the applicant)

R.T.O Offices of a state are distinguished by a unique code number. There are three Regional Transport Offices in Chandigarh where you can apply for a driving licence. The addresses for these R.T.O offices are:

• Registering & Licensing Authority, Sector 17, beside Municipal Corporation, Chandigarh.
• SDM Office (East), CTU Complex, Phase-I, Industrial Area, Chandigarh.
• SDM Office (South), Sector 42, Sports Complex, Chandigarh.

So, as can be understood from this discussion above, you can avail of a driving licence in Chandigarh without any hassle. However, please ensure you are up-to-date with all the transportation laws so that there are no obstacles when you appear for the test itself. This way, the licence-acquiring procedure will not be delayed.