Illustrative AI-generated image.
Quick answer: once your learner licence is at least 30 days old, you can apply for a permanent driving licence on the Sarathi portal, pay the fee, book a driving test slot and take the test at your RTO. Maharashtra’s fee table lists ₹716 for a permanent licence, and a candidate who fails can retry after 7 days. This guide picks up where the learning licence guide ends. The exact documents, forms and slots are generated for your own application, so follow what Sarathi shows when you apply.
This is general information, not legal advice. Fees, forms and test arrangements change and differ by RTO, so check the current requirement on Sarathi and with your RTO before you apply. This guide is independent and is not affiliated with the Maharashtra Transport Department.
When you can apply
- You must have held your learner licence for at least 30 days before you take the driving test. Maharashtra’s permanent licence page states this (see the Maharashtra Transport Department page).
- A learner licence is valid for six months (see the validity page), so apply and test inside that window. If it lapses, you will need to start again with a new learner licence, so check your own expiry date.
- The minimum age depends on the vehicle. Under the Motor Vehicles Act, the minimum age to drive in public is 18, with 16 for a motorcycle up to 50 cc and 20 for a transport vehicle. Check the class you are applying for.
- No one may hold more than one permanent licence.
Documents and the medical form
The Maharashtra permanent licence page lists the following: Form 4, your learner licence, three recent photographs, age and address proof, and the fee. A driving school certificate in Form 5 is listed for the transport vehicle category. You also need the valid documents for the vehicle you use in the test.
- Form 4 is the application form, which you fill in on Sarathi.
- Age and address proof: the same kinds of documents you used for the learner licence. See the learning licence guide for the document list.
- Medical: applicants for a transport vehicle licence give a medical certificate in Form 1A. Other applicants may give a self-declaration in Form 1. Whether an applicant aged 40 or above needs Form 1A at a new application is not stated consistently, so confirm with your RTO or the Sarathi checklist before the test.
- Photo and signature specifications are shown on the portal when you upload them.
How to apply on Sarathi
| Step | What to do |
|---|---|
| 1 | Open Sarathi and choose Maharashtra. Use only the official Parivahan address, because look alike sites exist |
| 2 | Choose the new driving licence service and enter your learner licence number. Your details are usually brought in from the record, so check each one |
| 3 | Fill in Form 4, choose the vehicle class and upload the documents the application asks for |
| 4 | Pay the fee online and save the receipt and application number |
| 5 | Book your driving test slot on Sarathi through the DL test slot booking service, for your RTO |
| 6 | Attend on the day with your originals and the vehicle for the test |
The home page of Sarathi lists the new driving licence service and the DL test slot booking and cancellation services. The exact labels and screens can change, so follow what the portal shows after you log in.
Fees
Maharashtra’s fee table lists ₹716 for a permanent licence, and notes that the table is for guidance (see the fee page). It does not itemise the amount and does not state a retest fee or postal charges, so check the payment breakdown on Sarathi and keep the receipt. Some websites quote ₹50 or ₹150 for a permanent licence. Those amounts belong to the learner stage or are old figures, so rely on the portal.
The driving test
Maharashtra’s page says the test checks these skills:
- Adjusting the mirror and starting the engine safely.
- Driving straight and changing gears.
- Starting on a hill.
- Reversing in limited space and turning around.
- Overtaking, changing lanes and signalling.
- Parking and stopping.
- Obeying signs, signals and the police, and anticipating other road users.
- Retest: a candidate who fails can retry after 7 days, according to the Maharashtra page. Book a new slot on Sarathi and check the fee for a repeat test on the payment screen.
- Track: the layout of the test (for example a figure of eight or a ramp) is not specified on the official page, so ask your RTO or your driving school what your office uses.
- Automated tracks: Maharashtra is adding automated test tracks that use video analytics and face recognition to decide results (see the Free Press Journal report). That report does not say whether Vashi or Panvel use one, so check with your office.
- Practice: if you need lessons, see the driving schools guide.
Driving school certificates and the test
MoRTH has said that a certificate from an accredited driver training centre (Form 5B under the 2021 rules) can exempt the holder from the test, while an ordinary driving school certificate does not (see the report on the clarification). The licensing authority still issues the licence. Check whether an accredited centre operates near you before you rely on this, and do not assume that a normal driving school certificate replaces the RTO test.
Which RTO in the Navi Mumbai area
- Apply to the RTO that covers your address. In the Navi Mumbai area, that is usually Vashi (MH 43) or Panvel (MH 46). See the Vashi RTO guide for the Vashi office, and check the office’s current contact details and hours before you travel.
- Test ground, timings and slot availability differ by office and change, and no official page lists them for these two offices. Check your slot details and ask the office where the test is held.
After you pass
- The licence is issued after a pass. The smart card is posted by Speed Post, as an RTO has said. No current official delivery time is stated, so do not plan around a figure from a blog.
- Sarathi lists print licence, DL extract and DL search services. Use them to check your record, and see whether a digital copy is available to you.
- Check the name, date of birth, classes and validity on the card when it arrives, and contact your RTO quickly if anything is wrong.
Validity
Maharashtra’s validity page says a transport vehicle licence is valid for five years, a hazardous goods licence for three years, and other classes for 20 years or until age 50, whichever is earlier (see the validity page). For renewal timing, see the driving licence renewal guide. If you will drive abroad, see the International Driving Permit guide.
Check the current rules before you apply
Maharashtra’s Transport Minister told the Assembly in July 2026 that a Maharashtra domicile certificate would be needed for driving licences from 1 August 2026, subject to legal clearance (see the ThePrint report). Whether it applies to private licences and learner licences has not been confirmed in the reports reviewed, so check the current notice on Sarathi or at your RTO before you gather documents.
Common mistakes and scams
- Applying before the learner licence is 30 days old, or letting it expire.
- A mismatch in name or date of birth between the learner licence and the documents.
- Using an agent who promises a licence without a test. Every applicant must pass the licensing authority’s requirements.
- Paying on a site that is not the official Parivahan portal.
- For help, the Sarathi helpdesk number is 0120 4925505 (6 am to 10 pm) and helpdesk-sarathi@gov.in, as listed by the Maharashtra Transport Department.
Frequently Asked Questions
How soon after a learner licence can I take the driving test?
After at least 30 days, and within the six month validity of the learner licence.
How much is a permanent driving licence in Maharashtra?
The Maharashtra fee table lists ₹716, as guidance. Check the payment breakdown on Sarathi and keep the receipt.
What if I fail the driving test?
You can retry after 7 days, according to the Maharashtra Transport Department. Book a new slot on Sarathi.
Where do I book the test slot?
On Sarathi, using the DL test slot booking service, for your RTO.
Which documents do I need?
Form 4, your learner licence, three photographs, age and address proof and the fee, plus the vehicle documents for the test. A medical form applies in some cases.
Which RTO should I apply to?
The one that covers your address, usually Vashi or Panvel in the Navi Mumbai area.
How long does the licence take to arrive?
It is sent by Speed Post, and no current official delivery time is stated. Check your status on Sarathi and with your RTO.
How long is a permanent licence valid?
Maharashtra’s validity page says 20 years or until age 50, whichever is earlier, for most classes, and five years for transport vehicles.
Sources
| Point | Source |
|---|---|
| Permanent licence documents and the 30 day rule | Maharashtra Transport Department |
| Validity | Maharashtra Transport Department |
| Fee table | Maharashtra Transport Department |
| Portal services | Sarathi, Parivahan |
| Accredited training centre clarification | ThePrint |
| Automated test tracks | Free Press Journal, April 2026 |
| Domicile certificate announcement | ThePrint, July 2026 |
Reviewed on 5 November 2026. Fees, forms and test arrangements change, so check the current requirement on Sarathi and with your RTO before you apply.
NaviMumbai.com is an independent information site and is not affiliated with any government body.
