Download Driving Licence Online: DigiLocker and mParivahan Guide (2026)

Lost your driving licence, or need a copy urgently for a document check? You do not need to visit the RTO for a reprint. In 2026, your driving licence exists as an official digital record on DigiLocker and the mParivahan app, and you can download driving licence online in minutes, straight from your phone. This guide walks you through both methods, plus how to print your DL and where the digital version is legally accepted.

To download driving licence online, all you need is an Aadhaar-linked mobile number (for DigiLocker) or the mParivahan app installed on your phone. Both give you the same official data, pulled directly from the Sarathi database that every RTO uses.

Why the Digital Driving Licence Is the Official One

Under the Information Technology Act, 2000, documents fetched from DigiLocker are treated as on par with the original physical documents. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has confirmed that a driving licence shown in DigiLocker or mParivahan is valid during traffic checks, and enforcement agencies across states are instructed to accept it. A downloaded DL with the official issuer’s signature is not a photocopy, it is the document itself in digital form. That said, keeping a printed copy in your vehicle as a backup is still sensible, especially in areas with patchy mobile network coverage.

If you want to check the details on your licence before downloading, see our guide to check driving licence details online. For licences that are lost beyond recovery, the formal route is to apply for a duplicate driving licence.

Method 1: Download Driving Licence from DigiLocker (Step by Step)

DigiLocker is the Government of India’s official document wallet, and it is the most reliable way to get your DL. The licence is fetched live from the Sarathi database, so it always shows current data.

1. Visit digilocker.gov.in or install the DigiLocker app, and sign up or sign in with your mobile number and Aadhaar.
2. Click “Get More Now” or go to the “Driving Licence” section under issued documents.
3. Select “Driving Licence, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways”.
4. Enter your driving licence number exactly as printed on the card, along with your date of birth, and consent to fetch the document.
5. DigiLocker pulls your DL from the Sarathi database and saves it under “Issued Documents”, ready to download as a PDF or XML.

The fetched document carries the issuer name “Ministry of Road Transport and Highways” and a digital signature, which is what makes it valid. Note that the name and date of birth on your Aadhaar must match your DL records for the fetch to succeed, a mismatch is the most common reason this step fails.

Method 2: Download Driving Licence from mParivahan App

The mParivahan app, run by the National Informatics Centre for the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, is the second official channel, handy because it also shows your RC and insurance details in one place.

1. Install the official mParivahan app from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store. Verify the developer is listed as “National Informatics Centre”, and download it only from the official store, never from a WhatsApp-forwarded APK.
2. Open the app and complete the mobile number sign-up with OTP.
3. Tap “DL Search” or the driving licence section, enter your DL number and date of birth, and fetch your virtual driving licence.
4. The app displays your virtual DL with a QR code. Traffic police can scan this code to verify the licence instantly.

The mParivahan virtual DL is particularly useful during roadside checks because the QR code lets officers verify authenticity on the spot, without needing your phone’s data connection to reach a backend.

Method 3: Sarathi Portal Reprint (For Printouts)

If you want a paper reprint that looks like the original card, the official Parivahan Sewa portal‘s Sarathi services let you download a DL extract. Go to the Sarathi portal, select your state, and use the “Print Application Forms” or DL services section. You will need your DL number and date of birth. This is the same database that powers driving licence renewal, so the data is authoritative.

How to Print Your Downloaded Driving Licence

A downloaded DL is most useful as a backup. To print it well:

• Download the PDF from DigiLocker rather than screenshotting the app view, the PDF renders at proper resolution.
• Print in colour on A4 or letter paper. Colour printing preserves the photo and the QR code, which matter for verification.
• Laminate the printout if you plan to keep it in your wallet or vehicle, and keep the digital original in DigiLocker too, because printouts fade and phones get replaced.

Where the Digital DL Is Legally Valid

The downloaded driving licence is legally valid for traffic police checks, insurance claims documentation, ID verification at rental agencies, and as address proof in most official processes. Two practical exceptions: when a court or RTO transaction needs the physical smart card, and when travelling abroad, where an International Driving Permit is a separate document your downloaded Indian DL does not replace.

Common Download Problems and Fixes

“Record not found” on DigiLocker. This almost always means a name or date-of-birth mismatch between Aadhaar and your DL record, or that your DL predates digitisation at your RTO. Visit the RTO once to get the record updated, after which the fetch works.

DL number not accepted. Indian DL numbers follow a state-code format like “DL-0120110001234”. Enter it exactly, including hyphens where the form expects them, and double-check for confused characters like 0 and O.

Old licence issued before computerisation. Very old licences may not exist in the Sarathi database at all. In that case, get the licence digitised at your RTO first, then download.

App shows someone else’s details. You entered the wrong DL number. Delete the saved document, re-enter carefully, and never save someone else’s document in your DigiLocker.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to Download Your Driving Licence Online