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Driving Licence Renewal Rules in India: Validity by Age Explained

How long an Indian driving licence stays valid under the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act 2019, the age-banded validity periods, and how renewal works — including the grace period after expiry.

Written by Daniel Mercer

Reviewed by Sofia LindqvistUpdated July 2026

Short answer

Since the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act 2019, an Indian driving licence issued before you turn 30 is valid until your 40th birthday. If you obtain or renew it between 30 and 50, it is valid for 10 years; between 50 and 55, it runs until your 60th birthday; and above 55 it is issued for 5 years at a time. Before the amendment, licences carried a flat 20-year validity.

Validity periods by age

The 2019 amendment replaced the old flat 20-year validity with age-banded windows. Apply before age 30 and the licence is valid until you turn 40. Between 30 and 50 years of age, each issue or renewal is good for 10 years. From 50 to 55, the licence is issued up to your 60th birthday, and after 55 each renewal covers 5 years.

The banding exists so that medical fitness is re-checked more often as drivers get older — which is also why renewals after 40 require a medical certificate (Form 1A) in most states.

How renewal works

Renewal is handled by your state RTO (Regional Transport Office) or online through the Parivahan Sarathi portal. You submit Form 9, your existing licence, passport photographs, the fee, and — after age 40 — a medical certificate.

You can apply for renewal up to one year before expiry, and there is a grace window after expiry: renew within 30 days and the licence continues without penalty. Wait longer and late fees apply, and if the licence has been expired beyond the period your state allows (typically five years), you may have to pass the driving test again as a fresh applicant.

What this means for driving abroad

An International Driving Permit is a translation of your national licence, so it is only as valid as the licence behind it. If your Indian licence lapses, any IDP based on it lapses with it — check your renewal date before a trip, not after you land.

Once your licence is current, our per-country pages at /countries show what each destination expects Indian licence holders to carry.

FAQ

How long is an Indian driving licence valid?

It depends on your age at issue: until age 40 if you applied before 30; 10 years if issued between 30 and 50; until your 60th birthday if issued between 50 and 55; and 5 years at a time after 55. This replaced the earlier 20-year validity under the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act 2019.

Is there a grace period after my Indian licence expires?

Yes — renew within 30 days of expiry and the licence is treated as continuous with no penalty. After that, late fees apply, and a licence left expired for years can require re-testing.

Can I renew an Indian driving licence online?

Yes. The Parivahan Sarathi portal handles renewal applications for most states, though some RTOs still require an in-person visit for biometrics or the medical check.

Does an expired Indian licence invalidate my IDP?

Yes. An IDP is a translation carried alongside your national licence — if the underlying licence expires, the IDP no longer supports you. Renew the licence first, then travel.

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About the author

Daniel Mercer

Lead Author & Head of Documentation

Daniel leads the country research behind every International Driving Permit guide on this site. He has spent the past six years documenting cross-border driving requirements — which destinations follow the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic, which apply the 1968 Vienna Convention, and what that means in practice at a rental counter or a police checkpoint.

Reviewed by Sofia LindqvistOur editorial policy →

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