By Jitendra Jangid- Friends, in India, you must have a valid driving license to drive a two-wheeler, car, truck etc., because driving without a license is a punishable offense under the Motor Vehicles Act. In such a situation, if your driving license has expired - especially if it is more than 4 years old - then you cannot get it renewed like a recently expired license. Instead, you will have to do the whole process again, almost like applying for a new license. Let's know its full details

Rules related to driving license in India

Every person in India is issued a driving license by the Regional Transport Office (RTO).

The driving license is valid for a certain period - usually up to the age of 40.

After the initial validity, it must be renewed from time to time.

There is a grace period of 1 month after the license expires, during which it can be renewed without any penalty.

If you do not renew your license within a year, it becomes invalid and the previous license is considered cancelled.

What if your license is expired for more than 4 years?

If your license is expired for more than a year, especially 4 years, it is no longer eligible for direct renewal. Here is what you need to do:

Apply for a new driving license

Go through the entire process again, which includes getting a learner’s license and possibly taking a driving test.

Steps to apply for a new license after 4 years expiry

Here are the steps you need to follow to apply again:

Visit the official transport portal:

Visit https://Sarthi.Parivahan.Gov.In.

Select your state:

Select your state from the dropdown menu.

Choose the right service:

Click on 'Services on Driving Licence (Renewal/Duplicate/AEDL/Others)' under the 'Driving Licence' section.

Fill the application form:

Fill in the required details and click on 'Next'.

Pay the required fee:

Make the payment online. Save or print the fee acknowledgement slip.

Visit the RTO office:

On the scheduled date, take your original documents and the acknowledgement slip to your RTO.

Driving test may be required

Since your licence has expired long ago, the RTO may ask you to do the following:

Apply for a learner's licence first

Take a driving test before a new permanent licence is issued

This ensures that you are still able to drive safely on public roads.