Steps to apply for a learning licence in Karnataka

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Vehicle owners in Karnataka who wish to legally drive their vehicles/car on the roads of the state, they need to have a permanent four wheeler driving license. This is as per the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. That said, to be eligible to take the permanent driving license test, the candidate needs to have a valid learner’s license. Getting the learner’s license is the first step towards being able to legally drive on the roads of the country with a permanent driving license. In order to get the learner’s license document, the candidate needs to first take the written test at the RTO in his/her jurisdiction. If the candidate clears the test, he/she is issued the learner’s license and only after a month from the day of the issuance of the learner’s license can he/she apply for the permanent driving license test. The application for the permanent driving license has to be made within the validity period of the learner’s license - 6 months.

Vehicle owners in the state of Karnataka have the convenience of applying for the learner’s license test either online or offline - as per their convenience. The online process can be carried out on the website of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, and the offline process has to be carried out at the RTO in his/her jurisdiction.

Types of learner’s license issued in Karnataka

The State Transport Department of Karnataka issues the following types of learner’s licenses:

• For two-wheelers having an engine capacity less than 50cc.
• For gearless two-wheelers.
• For geared two-wheelers, four-wheelers and light motor vehicles for private purposes.
• Transport and commercial vehicle learner’s license.

Eligibility criteria to apply for a four wheeler learner’s license in Karnataka

Depending on the vehicle class, the learner’s license applicant has to meet the below-listed requirements:

• For geared vehicles and light motor vehicles, the applicant has to be 18 years old at least.
• For commercial and transport vehicle learner’s license applicants, they should be at least 20 years old.
• The applicant has to know the road rules and regulations as set by the State Transport Department and the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.

Steps to apply for a four wheeler learner’s license in Karnataka

Learner’s license applicants in Karnataka have the option of carrying out the application process either offline or online:

Learner’s license offline process

If the learner’s license candidate wishes to apply for the learner’s license offline, the whole process has to be carried out at the RTO in his/her jurisdiction. He/she has to follow the steps mentioned below:

• Visit the RTO and procure the application form for the four wheeler learner’s license from the respective counter.
• The learner’s license applicant has to then fill in his/her required details in the form. Once the details have been filled, the applicant has to attach his/her passport-size photograph and self-attest the form.
• The application form along with relevant documents to prove age, address and medical fitness has to be submitted for verification.
• Once the Regional Transport Officer verifies the documents and deems them legitimate, the learner’s license applicant will be requested to book a slot for the learner’s license written test.
• The learner’s license candidate will have to then pay for the fees for the application and the test. He/she will have to then appear on the day of the written test.

Learner’s license online process

If the learner’s license candidate chooses to apply for the learner’s license test online, the whole process has to be done on the website of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. For the online process, the applicant will have to follow the steps mentioned below:

• Visit the official website of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways - https://parivahan.gov.in/parivahan/
• On the top bar of the screen, choose ‘online services’ and from the options choose ‘driving related services’.
• The learner’s license applicant has to then choose the state he/she will be taking the written test. In this case, choose ‘Karnataka’ from the drop-down list.
• The learner’s license candidate has to then download the learner’s license application form, fill in the required details and self-attest the form.
• Once the details of applicant have been filled in the form, he/she has to upload the application form along with documents to prove his/her address, age and medical fitness.
• The passport-size photographs of the individual have to be uploaded as well.
• Once the learner’s license candidate is done with the uploading process, using the application number, he/she has to book a slot for the written test.
• The payment for the application fees and test have to be made on the website of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.

On the day of the written test, the applicant has to submit the application receipt to carry on with the process.

Documents required to apply for a learner’s license in Karnataka

To apply for the learner’s license test, the applicant has to submit the below-listed documents:

• Learner’s license application form.
• Medical certificate signed by a medical practitioner. The medical certificate proving the fitness of the individual has to be submitted along with Form 1 or Form 1A.
• Proof of age - Voter ID card, Birth Certificate, Passport, etc.
• Proof of address - Passport, Ration Card, Voter ID Card, etc.
• Passport-size photographs.

If the learner’s license candidate in Karnataka fails to clear the test, he/she can retake the test in 7 days. If the candidate does clear the learner’s license test, in 30 days he/she is eligible to apply for the permanent driving license. The candidate can check the status of his/her learner’s license online, on the website of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.