When can a duplicate driving licence be requested?
A replacement or duplicate driving licence may be sought when the original licence is lost or destroyed, or when it is torn, defaced or otherwise damaged so that it requires replacement. The concerned licensing authority processes the application in accordance with the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 and applicable State/UT rules and procedures.
Open Sarathi Portal Official Form 2
Is an affidavit or FIR compulsory?
There is no safe basis for treating an affidavit or an FIR as a single, uniform requirement for every duplicate-driving-licence application in India. State and Union Territory transport departments may prescribe supporting documents for loss, destruction or damage, and the portal may ask for documents depending on the selected service and jurisdiction.
Sample affidavit for a lost or damaged driving licence
The following is a general drafting format. Modify the heading, attestation, stamp-paper value and supporting statements to meet the rules or checklist of the concerned State/UT licensing authority.
AFFIDAVIT / DECLARATION FOR ISSUE OF DUPLICATE DRIVING LICENCE
I, ________________________, aged about _____ years, son/daughter/spouse of ________________________, residing at ________________________________________, do hereby solemnly affirm and state as follows:
1. I am the holder of Driving Licence No. ________________________, issued by ________________________ Licensing Authority on/about ____________, and I am competent to make this affidavit/declaration.
2. My aforesaid driving licence was lost / destroyed / torn / mutilated / damaged on or about ____________ at ________________________.
3. In case of loss, I have made the appropriate police/lost-property report, where required, bearing reference No. ________________ dated ____________ at ________________________.
4. To the best of my knowledge, the original driving licence has not been deposited with or retained by any court, police authority or licensing authority, except as specifically disclosed here: ________________________________________.
5. To the best of my knowledge, the licence is not being withheld from me under any subsisting order of suspension, cancellation, disqualification, seizure or impoundment. If any such proceeding or order exists, I undertake to disclose it fully to the licensing authority.
6. I am applying for issue of a duplicate/replacement driving licence because the original is unavailable or unusable for the reason stated above.
7. If the original driving licence is subsequently recovered after a duplicate is issued, I shall not misuse both documents and shall surrender or deal with the original as directed by the competent licensing authority.
8. The particulars stated above are true and correct to my knowledge and belief, and no material fact relevant to this application has been concealed.
Place: ____________________
Date: _____________________
DEPONENT / APPLICANT
VERIFICATION
I, ________________________, the above-named deponent/applicant, verify that the contents of paragraphs 1 to 8 are true and correct to my knowledge and belief and that nothing material has been concealed.
Verified at: ____________________
On: ___________________________
DEPONENT / APPLICANT
How to apply online through Sarathi
- Open the official Sarathi portal and select your State or Union Territory.
- Choose the menu for Driving Licence and then Services on DL (Renewal/Duplicate/AEDL/Others), or the corresponding DL-services option displayed for your State.
- Enter the required driving-licence particulars and authenticate as prompted.
- Select Duplicate Driving Licence and complete the application details.
- Upload the documents requested for your jurisdiction, pay the applicable fee/user charges and book an appointment if the portal requires one.
- Save the application/acknowledgement number and use the portal's application-status facility to track processing.
Documents commonly requested
The exact list is jurisdiction-specific. Depending on the State/UT and the reason for replacement, the authority may ask for Form 2/application details, the damaged or defaced original if available, a copy or particulars of the existing driving licence, proof relating to the reported loss, identity/address evidence, photograph/signature capture, an affidavit or declaration where prescribed, and the applicable fee or user charges.
Applicable law and important points
The governing framework is the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, read with the applicable State/UT motor vehicle rules. The current central Form 2 includes the duplicate-driving-licence service. Where licence data are available electronically, the licensing authority can use the portal records; older or unavailable records may require verification from the original licensing authority.
Do not state that a licence is merely "lost" if it has actually been seized, suspended, impounded or deposited pursuant to a legal proceeding. A duplicate document should not be used to defeat a lawful restriction affecting the original licence.
Frequently asked questions
Is old Form LLD still the central form for duplicate driving licence?
The current Central Motor Vehicles Rules Form 2 expressly includes "Duplicate Driving Licence." State-specific legacy forms or terminology may still appear on some local portals, so follow the form shown by the competent authority for your jurisdiction.
Must I go to the RTO after applying online?
Not necessarily. The workflow depends on the State/UT and the service configuration. The portal may permit online completion or may require document verification, biometrics, an appointment or another in-person step.
What if I find the original licence later?
Do not use two licence documents as if both were independently valid. Follow the directions of the licensing authority and surrender the recovered original where required.
Can I use this affidavit in every State?
Use it only as a drafting model. The authority may prescribe a self-declaration, different wording, specific stamp-paper value, notarisation or no affidavit at all.