Let’s be real. Losing your Driving License (DL) is a shock. It’s not just about driving; it’s your main ID. Suddenly, you’re looking at traffic police trouble, and the worry that someone else has your papers. People freak out about going to the RTO, the long lines, the forms, or nothing.
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Also Read:ITR Refund Stuck? Use Your PAN to Find the Hold-Up (Tax Guide)
The thing is, the RTO is mostly online now. You can get your duplicate DL from your couch. All you need is the right sequence.
Step 1: The Most Crucial Step—FILE AN FIR.
You absolutely cannot skip this. If your DL is lost or stolen, the first thing you do is file an FIR (First Information Report) or a General Diary at the nearest police station.
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Why? This is your solid proof. It saves you if someone commits fraud using your old DL.
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How? Many city police forces (like Delhi Police or UP Police) now let you file a Lost Article Report online. Do it.
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Keep the Copy. You need the copy of this police complaint. Print it. It’s required for the online application.
Step 2: Hit the Government Website and Apply
Once you have that FIR copy, you go straight to the government portal. Cut out the middleman.
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Open the official site: Parivahan.gov.in
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Look for “Driving License Related Services.” Click it.
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Select Your State. (This is important; the system needs to route you correctly.)
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Find the service: “Apply for Duplicate DL” or “Apply for DL Services.” Click that.
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Start filling in your details: DL number, date of birth. The process begins here.
Step 3: Documents and the Fee
Get your digital folder ready. These are the papers you need to upload (scanned copies):
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Copy of FIR (The proof you filed the police report).
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Address Proof, Age Proof, Passport Size Photo.
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Form-2 (The application form).
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Details/photocopy of your old DL (if you have it).
The fee is straightforward. It usually runs between ₹200 to ₹500 for the duplicate DL, depending on your state. Delhi RTO, for example, charges ₹400 (₹200 fee + ₹200 for the smart card). Pay it online via card or net banking. Get that acknowledgment slip and application number. Save it.
Final Word: What to Watch Out For
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RTO Visit: In rare cases—if your old biometric data is missing, or the record is patchy—you might get called to the RTO for a photo or fingerprint verification. But mostly, it’s online.
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Tracking: You can track the status on the Parivahan website using that application number you saved.
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Delivery: They will SMS or email you. The new DL will either be sent to your registered address by post, or you might have to collect it from the RTO. It depends on your state’s rules.
Also Read:ITR Refund Stuck? Use Your PAN to Find the Hold-Up (Tax Guide)
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