Steps to apply for a Four Wheeler driving license in West Bengal

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Vehicle owners in the state of West Bengal and the rest of the country need to have a valid driving license to be eligible to drive. The four wheeler driving license document proves that the vehicle owner has good enough skills to control the car/four wheeler and is well-versed in road rules and regulations set by the State Transport Department and Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. In addition, it can be used as proof of identification. The driving license document is valid for a period of 20 years or till the driving license holder reaches the age of 50 years.

Vehicle owners in the state of West Bengal have the benefit of carrying out the application process either at the RTO in their jurisdiction or on the website of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. Candidates wishing to apply for the a permanent four wheeler driving licence book their driving test slot for the same only 30 days after they have been issued their learner's licence from the RTO. For the permanent driving license test, the candidate will be judged on his/her driving skills, knowledge of the road signals and rules and regulations.

Types of driving licenses issued by the Transport Department of West Bengal

Listed below are the types of driving licenses issued by the State Transport Department of West Bengal:

• Permanent driving license for motorcycles below 50cc.
• Permanent driving license for geared and gearless or automatic vehicles.
• Permanent driving license for a transport vehicle or passenger vehicle.
• Permanent driving license for a commercial vehicle.
• Permanent driving license for a heavy goods vehicle.

Eligibility to apply for a four wheeler driving license in West Bengal

Only if the applicant meets the below-listed conditions can he/she apply for the driving license test in West Bengal:

• Should be at least 16 years old to apply for a driving license for a motorcycle that is 50cc or below.
• For a vehicle exceeding engine capacity of 50cc (geared or gearless), the candidate should be a minimum of 18 years old.
• If the applicant wishes to take the driving license test for a commercial vehicle or a transport vehicle of any kind, he/she should be a minimum of 20 years old.
• The applicant for the driving license should have been issued a learner's license. The application for the permanent driving license can be made only 30 days after being issued the learner’s license.
• The candidate for the driving license should have enough knowledge of the on-road rules and regulations and should be able to control the vehicle confidently.

Steps to apply for a four wheeler driving license in West Bengal

The candidate can carry out the offline application process at the RTO in his/her jurisdiction, and for the online application process, he/she should visit the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways website.

Offline process:

• The driving license candidate has to visit the RTO in his/her jurisdiction.
• Procure Form 4 for a driving license for a private vehicle and Form 5 for a commercial or transport vehicle.
• The applicant has to fill in the application form and self-attest the form.
• The application form along with relevant documents – proof of age, proof of identity, etc. – will have to be submitted at the RTO.
• The authorized personnel will then verify the documents and collect the fees for the application.
• The Regional Transport Officer will then allocate a slot for the four wheeler driving test of the applicant.
• The candidate will have to appear at the RTO on the day of the test with the attested application form, relevant documents and passport-size photographs. The candidate will also have to submit documents linked with the vehicle he/she will be taking the test with, such as the registration certificate, pollution under control certificate and the insurance document of the vehicle.

Online process:

• Visit the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways - https://parivahan.gov.in/sarathiservice9/stateSelection.do
• Enter your language of preference and choose the state the RTO is located in.
• Click on ‘online services’ and select ‘new driving license’ from the options listed in the drop-down menu.
• Enter your learner’s license number and date of birth and click on ‘ok’.
• Now, download the application form, fill in the required details and self-attest the form.
• Once you have signed the application form, upload the application form along with other relevant documents (age proof and identity proof) and your recent passport-size photograph.
• Once what’s required is uploaded on the website, book a slot for the car driving test using the application number. The slot can be booked using the learner’s license number as well.
• Pay the fees for the application and print the receipt.
• You will have to visit the RTO on the day of the driving test and submit the attested application form, relevant documents, and documents of the vehicle you will be using to take the test.

Documents required to apply for a driving license in West Bengal

The applicant will have to submit the below-listed documents when applying for a four wheeler driving license:

• Application form. Form 4 or Form 5.
• Proof of identity – Passport, Voter ID card, ration card, Aadhaar card, etc.
• Proof of age – Birth certificate, Passport, Voter ID card, etc.
• Registration certificate of the vehicle that will be used for the driving test.
• Pollution under control certificate and insurance documents of the vehicle that will be used for the driving test.
• Medical certificate along with Form 1 of Form 1A.
• Recent passport-size photographs.

On completion of the car driving license test, the applicant can use the application number to check the status of the driving license. He/she can also use the learner’s license number to check the driving license status. If the candidate clears the practical driving license test, the RTO usually sends the driving license document or smart card to the home address of the candidate within 30 days.