LLR apply guide: get your learner's licence online or at the RTO
To llr apply, open Sarathi, pick your state and start a new learner licence application in Form 2. Enter your details, upload proof of age and address, a photo, signature and Form 1, then pay Rs 150 per class plus Rs 50 for the test. Pass the rules test from home with Aadhaar or at the RTO, wait for approval and print Form 3.
Key takeaways
- An LLR apply runs on Sarathi in most states: Form 2 online, fee online, then a short rules test.
- Keep age proof, address proof, photo, signature and Form 1 scanned before you start; add Form 1A at 40 or above.
- The usual Sarathi test has 15 questions and needs about 60 percent correct; some states use other formats.
- After the test the RTO must record approval of the LL; only then can you print the Form 3 licence.
- A learner's licence lasts six months and cannot normally be renewed; an expired LL means a fresh application.
- Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Odisha all run the same Sarathi base with their own test and approval rules.
On this page · 38 sections
LLR apply: what are the steps from form to licence?
An LLR apply has seven parts: choose your state on Sarathi, open the learner licence form, fill Form 2, upload your papers, pay the fee, pass the objective rules test and print the Form 3 licence. Most applicants finish everything online in one sitting, apart from waiting for the RTO’s approval.
The short version
Form, papers, payment, test, approval, print. If any one of those six is incomplete, the application sits in a pending queue and the print option stays greyed out. Treat the list as a checklist and tick each item before you close the browser.
Who this guide is for
It suits first-time applicants who want a two-wheeler or car learner’s licence. If you want the meaning of the letters and the age rules in depth, read our page on the llr full form. For the wider licence journey, start at the driving licence guide.
What is LL?
LL is the learner’s licence, the first permit a new driver gets under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. It lets you practise on public roads for a limited time under set conditions. You cannot skip it: the permanent driving test is open only to people who already hold an effective LL.
LL in one sentence
A six-month practice permit issued in Form 3 after you pass a short test on rules and signs.
Where you will see the letters
Sarathi menus, fee receipts, SMS alerts and the Form 4 driving licence application all use LL. Some offices print LLR instead; both point to the same learner document.
Learner licence kya hota hai?
Learner licence woh pehla licence hai jo naye driver ko milta hai. Isse aap chhe mahine tak practice kar sakte hain, lekin kuch sharton ke saath: gaadi par laal “L” lagana, car mein saath mein licensed instructor rakhna aur bike par koi aur sawari na baithana.
Kyun zaroori hai
Bina learner licence ke permanent driving licence ka test nahi diya ja sakta. Yeh pehla kadam hai.
Kitne din chalta hai
Jaari hone ki tareekh se 6 mahine. Is beech kam se kam 30 din ke baad driving test dena hota hai.
LL full form in RTO records
In RTO records the LL full form is “learner’s licence”. Registers, Sarathi screens and receipts shorten it to LL, and the permanent card that comes later is shortened to DL. Knowing this helps you read counter slips and status messages without paying an agent to interpret them.
LL, LLR and learning licence
All three refer to one permit. LLR is a common spoken form in southern states; learning licence is the everyday phrase in the north. The Act itself only says learner’s licence.
LL versus DL on screens
LL menus lead to new learner applications, test slots and printing. DL menus cover the permanent licence, renewal and duplicates.
What is the LL test full form?
The LL test full form is the learner’s licence test, which CMVR rule 11 calls the preliminary test. It is an objective screen test on traffic signs, signals, rules of the road, duties after an accident and the papers a driver must carry. You must pass it before the licence is issued.
Why it is called preliminary
It comes before the practical driving test. Passing it proves you know the rules on paper; the later road test proves you can drive.
What it is not
It is not a driving test. You do not sit in a vehicle for the LL test; you answer questions on a screen.
LLR licence: what does it let you do?
An LLR licence lets you drive or ride the classes printed on it, on public roads, for practice. It does not let you drive alone in a car, carry passengers for hire or drive a class that is missing from the card. The conditions come from CMVR rule 3 and apply in every state.
What is allowed
Practice driving with an instructor in a car, practice riding with L plates on a two-wheeler, and taking the driving test after 30 days.
What is not allowed
Driving a car solo, carrying friends as pillion, driving a transport vehicle without the right class, or using the LL after six months.
Applying for learners license: who is eligible?
Applying for learners license is open to anyone who meets the age for the class, can show proof of age and address, and is fit to drive. The age is 16 for a gearless motorcycle up to 50cc with consent, 18 for most bikes and cars, and 20 for transport vehicles.
Fitness
Every applicant signs a Form 1 self-declaration. Applicants aged 40 or above and anyone applying for a transport class submit a doctor’s certificate. Our page on the medical certificate form 1a explains who signs it.
Where to apply
Section 9(1) of the Act lets you apply at the licensing authority for the area where you live or work, or where your driving school is.
What is the scooty licence age?
The scooty licence age is 18 for almost every scooter sold today, because their engines are above 50cc. The 16-year exception in section 4 of the Act covers only motorcycles up to 50cc, and it needs the written consent of a parent or guardian.
Check the engine size first
Look at the RC or the brochure. If the engine is 100cc or more, the 16-year rule does not apply, whatever the dealer says.
Electric scooters
Low-speed electric scooters that are exempt from registration need no licence. Faster models that carry a number plate need a licence like any other two-wheeler.
Without gear licence: which class should you tick?
A without gear licence is the class “motor cycle without gear” on the form, written MCWOG on many screens. Tick it if you only want to ride a scooter or a gearless bike. If there is any chance you will ride a geared bike, tick motor cycle with gear instead.
MCWOG or MCWG
A gearless class never lets you ride a geared bike, so think about the next few years before you choose. When unsure, ask the counter before paying.
Adding a class later
You can add a class later with a fresh learner’s licence for that class, but it means another test and fee.
Applying for learners license for more than one class
When applying for learners license you can tick more than one class in the same Form 2, for example a geared bike and a car. One test covers all of them. You pay the licence fee once for each class you tick, and each class is printed on the same learner’s licence.
Why combine classes
It saves a second test and a second wait. The driving tests for each class can then be booked separately within six months.
When not to combine
If you have no access to a car for practice, adding LMV only adds a fee. Pick only what you will practise.
Which documents required for learning driving licence uploads?
The documents required for learning driving licence uploads are proof of age, proof of address, a recent photograph, a signature scan and Form 1, plus Form 1A where it applies. CMVR rule 4 lists accepted proofs such as a birth certificate, school certificate, passport, electoral roll entry or a government pay slip.
| Paper | When needed | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Proof of age | Always | Birth certificate, school certificate or passport |
| Proof of address | Always | Must match the address typed in Form 2 |
| Photo and signature | Always | Scan in the size the screen shows |
| Form 1 | Always | Self-declaration of fitness |
| Form 1A | Age 40 and above, or transport class | Signed by a registered doctor |
| Guardian consent | Under 18, gearless up to 50cc | Signed by parent or guardian |
If you have no listed document
Rule 4 lets the licensing authority accept an affidavit before a magistrate or notary when you cannot produce any listed proof for good reason.
Photo specifics
Some states take a live photo at the RTO; others ask for a scan. Our photo licence page covers sizes. The complete list for the permanent stage is on our page about documents required for driving license.
Documents required for learning driving license when under 18
The documents required for learning driving license at 16 or 17 add one item to the usual list: a written consent from the parent or guardian. The class must be a gearless motorcycle of 50cc or less, because section 7 of the Act allows no other class below 18.
What the consent says
It names the applicant and the guardian, states the relationship and agrees to the application. States print their own format; download it from the state section of Sarathi.
Age proof matters more
The portal checks the date of birth against today’s date. A school certificate with a clear birth date is the safest proof at this age.
How does LLR apply online work on Sarathi?
An LLR apply online runs on sarathi.parivahan.gov.in for most states. You pick your state, choose the new learner licence service, fill the form, upload papers, pay and book or take the test. The portal saves your work against an application number, so note it down at the first screen.
- Open Sarathi. Choose your state from the drop-down on the licence services page.
- Start a new learner licence. Choose to submit with or without Aadhaar authentication.
- Fill Form 2. Enter personal details, address, emergency contact and vehicle classes.
- Upload documents. Add age and address proof, photo, signature and Form 1 or Form 1A.
- Pay the fees. Pay online and save the receipt with the transaction number.
- Take the test. Sit it from home if your state allows it, or on your booked RTO slot.
- Print Form 3. Download the learner’s licence once approval is complete.
Save the application number
Every later step, from payment retries to printing, asks for the application number and date of birth.
Session time-outs
Sarathi logs you out after a period of inactivity. Keep scans ready so the upload step does not expire.
LLR apply online without Aadhaar: what changes?
You can still llr apply online without Aadhaar authentication in most states, but the test and document check move to the RTO. You fill the form and pay online, then visit on a booked slot with original papers. The faceless home test is only for Aadhaar-verified applicants.
What you lose
No home test, no e-KYC shortcut and an extra trip. Your documents are checked by hand at the counter.
When it is the better choice
If your Aadhaar mobile number is out of date, or your Aadhaar address is old, the counter route avoids a mismatch that can block e-KYC.
LLR apply charges: what goes on the payment page?
The LLR apply payment page shows the central learner’s licence fee for each class and the test fee, plus any state service or online charge. CMVR rule 32 sets the central part. States collect it through Sarathi’s e-payment gateway, so cash is rarely accepted for online applications.
| Item | Central fee |
|---|---|
| Learner’s licence, each class of vehicle | Rs 150 |
| Learner’s licence test or repeat test | Rs 50 |
Working out your total
Two classes on one form means two licence fees and one test fee, plus your state’s charges. The payment screen shows the final figure before you pay.
Failed payments
If money leaves your account but no receipt appears, use the verify payment option on Sarathi before paying again. A full fee table for later stages is on our driving licence fee for 4 wheeler and 2 wheeler page.
LL apply at the RTO counter: when is it still needed?
An LL apply at the RTO counter is still needed if you skip Aadhaar authentication, your face match fails, or your state has not switched on the home test. The form is still filled online; the counter checks your originals, records biometrics and seats you at a test terminal.
| Point | Online with Aadhaar | At the RTO counter |
|---|---|---|
| Form 2 | Online | Online |
| Document check | e-KYC and uploads | Originals at the counter |
| Test | Home or office | RTO terminal |
| Travel | None | One visit |
Book a slot first
RTO tests run on slots. Our slot booking guide shows how to pick a date and reschedule.
What to bring
Originals of every upload, the fee receipt and the slot printout.
What happens in the learning license test?
In the learning license test you answer objective questions on a screen about road signs, signals, right of way, overtaking, parking and duties after an accident. The common Sarathi format has 15 questions and you need 9 correct. The result appears as soon as you submit.
Question topics
CMVR rule 11 lists the topics. Signs and their shapes take a big share, followed by rules of the road and the documents a driver must carry.
Time per question
Each question has its own timer, usually around half a minute. Unanswered questions count as wrong. For practice sets, see our learning license test questions page.
How should you prepare for the learning license test?
Prepare for the learning license test by watching your state’s road-safety tutorial, learning the three sign families and practising timed mock questions. Two or three evenings are enough for most people. The questions come from a fixed bank, so repetition works better than reading the Act.
Learn signs by shape
Red circles order, red triangles warn, blue rectangles inform. Once the shapes are clear, half the sign questions become easy.
Practise against the clock
Answering correctly but slowly fails just as surely as a wrong answer, so practise with a timer.
Learning license test day: what to carry?
For a learning license test at the RTO, carry the fee receipt, slot letter and the originals of every document you uploaded. For a home test, you need a laptop or phone with a camera, a steady connection, good light and a quiet room where nobody else appears on screen.
At the RTO
Arrive early; slots start on time and late arrivals often lose the slot.
At home
Close other apps, charge the device and sit facing a window or lamp so the face match works first time.
LL test from home: how does the online test work?
The LL test from home is part of the faceless service that MoRTH allowed through Aadhaar authentication in 2021. You log in with your application number, watch a short road-safety video, pass a live face match against your Aadhaar photo and answer the questions. A pass is recorded automatically.
What the camera checks
The software compares your live face with the stored photo, and some states also check for a second person in the frame. A mismatch ends the test.
Who cannot use it
Applicants who submitted without Aadhaar authentication, and those whose face match keeps failing, take the test at the RTO instead.
What does the RTO learning licence test at the office involve?
The RTO learning licence test at the office is the same question bank on a computer terminal in a supervised hall. Staff check your originals, take biometrics and a photo, then seat you at a numbered terminal. You see your result on screen, and the counter tells you when the licence can be printed.
Steps on the day
Token, document check, biometrics, test, result. Large RTOs run several sessions a day.
Language choice
Most states offer English, Hindi and the state language. Choose the language before the first question appears.
LL test failed: what do you do next?
If your LL test result is fail, pay the repeat test fee and book another attempt. The central repeat fee is Rs 50. Some states allow a retry the next day; others make you wait a few days. Your application number and documents stay the same.
Find out why
Most failures come from timed-out questions on signs. Spend the gap on timed practice rather than reading.
Do not reapply from scratch
A fresh application means paying the licence fee again. Use the retest option inside your existing application.
What does approval of LL by licencing authority mean?
Approval of LL by licencing authority is the Sarathi status stage after your pass is recorded and before the licence is printed. It means the RTO officer has to sign off the application. Until it shows completed, the print learner licence option will not work, however long ago you passed.
Where states automate it
Odisha has auto-approved learner licences after a pass since 2020, and Delhi’s faceless service issues them without a counter step. In those states the stage completes almost at once.
If it stays pending
Check the status with your application number. Our page on learning licence application status explains each stage. If nothing moves for a week, visit the RTO’s licence section with the receipt.
In how many days learning license is issued?
The answer to in how many days learning license is issued is often the same day. In states with automatic approval, the PDF opens within minutes of a pass. Where the RTO approves applications by hand, expect a few working days. Physical copies are not posted; you print the PDF yourself.
Same-day states
Delhi issues the LL on the day of a pass. Odisha’s auto approval works the same way for most applicants.
Manual approval states
Delays usually come from a document query. A clear photo and matching address cut the wait.
How learning licence look like when printed?
Asking how learning licence look like is common because there is no card. The learner’s licence is a one-page Form 3 printout, usually A4, with your photo, name, date of birth, address, LL number, vehicle classes, the issuing RTO and a valid-till date. Many states add a QR code.
Paper, not a card
Keep the printout in a plastic sleeve. DigiLocker and mParivahan can also show it on your phone.
Check before you leave
Make sure every class you paid for is printed. A missing class is corrected only through the RTO.
Where is the learner licence number printed?
The learner licence number is printed near the top of the Form 3 page, next to your photo details. It also appears in Sarathi’s status screen and in the SMS sent after approval. Its format differs between states, so copy it exactly as printed, including any slash or letters.
Lost the number?
Search Sarathi’s print learner licence option with your application number and date of birth. Our llr download guide walks through it.
Application number versus LL number
The application number tracks the form; the LL number identifies the licence once issued. Forms for the driving test ask for the LL number.
LL number means what on forms?
When a form asks for an LL number, it means the learner’s licence number printed on your Form 3. LL number means the permanent licence application can link to your learner record, test result and photo. Without it, Sarathi cannot open the Form 4 driving licence application.
Where you enter it
The driving licence application, the test slot booking and some insurance forms ask for it.
Common mix-up
Do not type the application number in the LL number field. The two look similar but the portal rejects the wrong one.
Can learning license holder drive alone?
A learning license holder cannot drive a car alone. CMVR rule 3 needs a licensed instructor beside the learner who can control or stop the car. On a motorcycle, a Karnataka High Court ruling held that no instructor is needed, but L plates are still required and no other pillion is allowed.
In a car
The person beside you must hold an effective driving licence for that class. Dual controls are not required for private practice.
On a bike or scooter
Ride with L plates front and rear and carry nobody else. A traffic officer can still ask to see the LL, so carry it.
LLR renewal: what does the law allow?
LLR renewal is not a routine service. Section 14(1) of the Act makes a learner’s licence effective for six months from issue. Rule 10 mentions renewal in its heading, but states treat a lapsed LL as finished and ask for a fresh application. The safe plan is to take the driving test within six months.
Why the law is strict
The learner stage exists to lead to a road test. A licence that rolls over indefinitely would remove that push.
What a fresh application costs
You pay the licence fee and test fee again and sit the rules test again.
Can learning license be renewed after it expires?
In most states the answer to can learning license be renewed after expiry is no. Tamil Nadu’s transport department, for example, says an applicant must apply afresh once the LLR has expired. A few states have announced reactivation steps, so check your state’s notice before paying for a new form.
What still carries over
Your Sarathi profile and uploaded documents can often be reused, which shortens the new form.
What does not
The old test pass and the 30-day count both reset with the new LL.
How to extend learning license validity?
There is no routine way for applicants on how to extend learning license validity. Extensions happen only when the government notifies one. Delhi, for example, extended learner’s licences that expired between February 2020 and November 2021 until 31 January 2022 because of COVID-19 and test slot shortages.
Watch for notices
Extensions are announced through the state transport department or a MoRTH advisory. Without one, plan to pass the road test inside six months.
Use the window well
Book the driving test soon after day 30. If you fail, there is still time for a retest before the LL lapses.
How to apply DL online after the learner stage?
To apply DL online, open Sarathi after you have held the LL for at least 30 days, choose the driving licence application, enter your LL number and date of birth and book a road-test slot. The details from your learner record fill in automatically, so the form is short.
What the Form 4 application needs
An effective LL, the test and issue fee and, if you trained at a school, a Form 5 driving certificate.
On test day
You drive the vehicle class you applied for at the RTO track. A pass leads to the smart-card licence.
Learning licence Delhi: how do faceless services work?
A learning licence Delhi applicants get through faceless services needs no office visit when Aadhaar is used. The Delhi Transport Department launched the service on 11 August 2021. The SOP lets applicants take the learner test online from home, a workplace or a college, after Aadhaar e-KYC with an OTP.
Without Aadhaar in Delhi
Applicants who do not use Aadhaar authentication still apply online but take the test at a motor licensing office.
Fees in Delhi
Delhi collects the central rule 32 amounts. See our page on driving licence fees in delhi for the later stages.
How to apply learning licence in Delhi step by step?
To apply learning licence in Delhi, choose Delhi on Sarathi, select the learner licence application with Aadhaar, complete e-KYC with the OTP on your Aadhaar-linked mobile, fill and pay, watch the road-safety video, take the test online and download the LL after a pass.
Before you start
Check that your Aadhaar address is your current Delhi address. If it is not, update Aadhaar first or use the office route with another address proof.
After you pass
Delhi issues the licence the same day. Save the PDF and book the driving test after 30 days.
LLR Tamilnadu: how does the state route work?
For LLR Tamilnadu applicants, the form starts on Sarathi with Tamil Nadu chosen as the state, and tnsta.gov.in is the state’s own information portal. Anyone aged 18 or more can apply online for a car or geared bike. The state allows an online test for eligible applicants through Sarathi.
Expired LLR in Tamil Nadu
The state transport department asks for a fresh application once an LLR expires, so do not wait past six months.
Transport classes
Tamil Nadu applies the national age of 20 for transport vehicle classes.
AP LLR apply: how does the home test work?
An AP LLR apply now includes a home test option. In October 2026 the Andhra Pradesh Transport Department and NIC launched the Sarathi new learner licence test from home. You log in with your application number, password and date of birth, pass a live face check and answer 10 questions.
The Safe Exam Browser
The test opens only in the Safe Exam Browser, which blocks other apps and sites while it runs. Install it before your slot.
What cancels the test
A pre-recorded video, a second face on camera or a mismatch with your application photo ends the test at once.
Learning licence Odisha: what is auto approval?
A learning licence Odisha applicants pass for is approved automatically. Since January 2020 the state has let candidates who clear the computer test download the LL without waiting for an officer’s sign-off. The test uses Sarathi’s STALL module and needs at least 10 correct out of 15.
| State | Test route | Approval |
|---|---|---|
| Delhi | Faceless online test with Aadhaar | Same day |
| Andhra Pradesh | Home test in Safe Exam Browser | After RTO processing |
| Tamil Nadu | Sarathi form and online or RTO test | After RTO processing |
| Odisha | Computer test, 10 of 15 to pass | Automatic |
The exception
Applicants with more than one biometric record are still approved by the RTO after their biometrics are matched.
Paying in Odisha
All payments are online through Sarathi.
LLR apply: common mistakes that cause rejection
Most rejected LLR apply forms fail for simple reasons: an address that does not match the proof, a blurred photo, a wrong class ticked or a payment that never reached the portal. Each one is easy to avoid if you check the preview page before you submit.
Before you pay
Read the preview line by line. Name spelling, date of birth and address cannot be edited freely once the fee is paid.
After you submit
Download the acknowledgement and fee receipt at once. They are the only proof that the application exists if the portal goes down.
Official links
Sarathi: learner and driving licence servicessarathi.parivahan.gov.in ↗Parivahan Sewaparivahan.gov.in ↗Transport Department, Delhitransport.delhi.gov.in ↗Ministry of Road Transport and Highwaysmorth.nic.in ↗LLR apply questions
How do I start an LLR apply online?
Open sarathi.parivahan.gov.in, choose your state and select the new learner licence application. The form is Form 2 and takes about 15 minutes if your scans are ready.
What papers do I need for a learner's licence?
Proof of age, proof of address, a recent photo, your signature and a Form 1 self-declaration. Add Form 1A at age 40 or above and a guardian's consent if you are under 18.
How much does a learner's licence cost?
The central rule sets Rs 150 per class of vehicle and Rs 50 for the test or a repeat test. Your state may add a service or online charge.
How many questions are in the LL test?
The usual Sarathi test has 15 multiple-choice questions and you need 9 right. Kerala and Andhra Pradesh run different formats, so check your state's screen.
Can I take the LL test from home?
Yes, in states that allow Aadhaar-based faceless service. You log in, pass a live face match and answer the questions on a laptop or phone with a camera.
What does approval of LL by licencing authority pending mean?
Your test result is recorded and the RTO still has to sign off. When the stage shows completed, the print learner licence option will open.
How many days does it take to get a learner's licence?
Often the same day you pass when approval is automatic, as in Delhi and Odisha. Where the RTO approves by hand, it can take a few working days.
Can a learner licence be renewed?
Not as a routine service. It is valid for six months; once it lapses you apply afresh, unless your state has notified a special extension.
Can I drive a car alone on a learner's licence?
No. CMVR rule 3 needs a licensed instructor beside you who can stop the car, and L plates must be shown front and rear.
When can I apply for the permanent driving licence?
After holding the learner's licence for at least 30 days and before the six months run out.
What is the scooty licence age?
Most scooters have engines above 50cc, so you need to be 18. At 16 you can only learn a gearless two-wheeler up to 50cc with a guardian's consent.
Where do I find my learner licence number?
It is printed near the top of the Form 3 learner's licence, under your photo details, and appears in Sarathi's status page and SMS messages.
Parivahan Sewa (parivahansewa-in.com) is an independent information website and is not affiliated with MoRTH, Parivahan or any state transport department. Confirm fees and rules on the official portal before you pay or apply.