How to Change Address on Driving License – Step-by-Step Guide

There are specific rules followed in India regarding driving a car on the road. To carry a valid driving licence (DL) is one such mandatory rule. Equally important is to keep the address up-to-date by changing the address on the driving licence.

In this post, let us look at the step-by-step guide to making address changes to the Driving Licence and other relevant inputs.

Eligibility for Change of Address on Driving Licence

Eligibility 

• To change the address on a driving licence, one should have a valid driving licence in India.
• 18 years is the eligibility age to apply for a licence in the country to drive a vehicle on the highway
• For driving a two-wheeler under 50cc, the minimum eligibility age is 16 years
• However, to drive a two-wheeler of more than 50cc, one must be 18 years and above

Methods for Updating Your Driving Licence Address

The address on your driving licence can be changed or updated through:

• Online method, and
• Offline method

The process of changing the address on your driving licence online saves time and effort and is a hassle-free digital procedure.

Steps to Change the Address on Driving Licence Online

Here are the steps to follow for a change of address via the online method:

Step-1: To change their address on DL online, applicants can visit the Sarathi Parivahan website at https://sarathi.parivahan.gov.in

Step-2: On the homepage, select the tab of “state” of residence

Step-3: You will be redirected to a page with different services on DL https://sarathi.parivahan.gov.in/sarathiservice/sarathiHomePublic.do

Step-4: Here, you can select the “Apply for Change of Address” option and click on it

Step-5: You will land on a page with instructions for application submission for changing address on your DL

Step-6: Read the instructions and click on the ‘Continue’ button to proceed further

Step-7: On the next page that appears, enter your DL number, date of birth, and captcha code. Click on the tab “Get DL Details”

Step-8: Next, select RTO and the State and continue further by clicking on the ‘Proceed’ button

Step-9: You will reach a page with details like mobile number, email ID, blood group, qualification, and other categories as required. Submit/confirm the information displayed

Step-10: Find the address details on the same page, make changes as required, and click on the ‘Confirm’ button

Step-11: You will receive a pop-up notification from Sarathi.Parivahan.gov.in mentioning the address that will be printed on your DL (Smart Card). Confirm the address and click on the ‘OK’ button

Step-12: On the next page, select the change in services of the DL (in this case, address change) from a list of services mentioned

Step-13: Go ahead by clicking on the ‘Proceed’ button. On the next page, fill in your present and permanent address details and click on “Confirm”

Step-14: You will see a “Data accepted successfully’ message

Step-15: Fill in the ‘Self-Declaration’ that appears on the next page and click on the ‘submit’ button

Step-16: You will receive a message about your application being submitted successfully

Step-17: Next, you have to upload the supporting documents as required (mentioned below in the post). Once done, click on the “confirm” button

Step-18: You can see the message of successful document upload on the screen that appears. Click on ‘Next’ to proceed further and make the payment

Step-19: Use your preferred payment gateway to make the necessary payment as mentioned on the screen. Authenticate with OTP for successful payment

Here, it is important to note that linking the Aadhaar card of the applicant with their DL is very important. Though the exact process of linking Aadhaar with DL might differ depending on the State/UT you reside in, the basic procedure will be more or less similar. Also, don’t forget to use your digital signatures for authentication.

Offline Process for Change of Address on Driving Licence

Steps to change the address on DL through the offline method:

• The first step is to get a no objection certificate (NOC) or clearance certificate (CC) (as applicable) from the RTO where you have applied and issued your DL originally

(NOC is mandatorily required in case of change in the state of residence, whereas CC is needed if you have changed your town or city within the same state)

• The next step requires the applicant to get the form for an address change from the RTO, which can also be downloaded from the official Parivahan portal. Submit the form along with the required documents
• The documents required are:

• • Application Form
  • Address Proof (new address) such as an Aadhaar card, passport, voter ID, and rent agreement
  • Original Driving Licence
  • Passport-size photographs
  • No Objection Certificate (NOC) (in case of changing state)
  • Any additional document (as per RTO requirement)
• The documents will be verified by the RTO superintendent
• Once verified, the applicant has to submit the applicable fees
• Collect the receipt and keep it safely until you receive the DL

It takes about 30 – 60 days for the new DL with the changed address to reach you after applying. To locate your nearest RTO, you can visit the transport dept. websites of your state/union territory.

Also Read: Types of Driving Licenses in India

Required Documents for Change of Address on Driving Licence

Here is the list of documents required to change the address on your DL:

• Application Form
• Address Proof (new address) such as an Aadhaar card, passport, voter ID, and rent agreement
• Original Driving Licence
• Passport-size photographs
• No Objection Certificate (NOC) (in case of changing states)
• Any additional document (as per RTO requirement)

When applying for the DL address change online, make sure to have all the documents required handy for uploading in the exact jpeg/jpg form mentioned. Similarly, if you prefer to visit the RTO to make the changes, you must gather all the required documents beforehand and keep them in one place to avoid missing any important paper.

Fees and Processing Time for Change of Address on Driving Licence

A fee of INR 200 is charged to change the address on the Driving Licence. However, it may vary depending on the RTO and the online and offline mode used to change the address.

The processing time required for the update to take effect is normally 30 working days from the date of processing the application. It may, however, vary from RTO to RTO. Generally, you should receive your DL with the new address within 30-60 working days.

Reasons to Keep the Address on your DL Updated

• Firstly, India’s Motor Vehicle Act of 1988 offers a provision to update the address of an individual on the driving licence if the person moves permanently or for a particular duration.
• Secondly, a driving licence is an essential legal document for identity proof, and it should be up-to-date to ensure its legitimacy and requirement in different legal matters.
• A driving licence serves as evidence of legal identity for an individual and as proof of address in different legal aspects

Hence, it is essential to change the address on your DL if you move to a different city/location permanently or for a long duration.

Common Issues and Troubleshooting during Change of Address on DL

• The most common error people encounter while changing the address on their DL is regarding spelling mistakes or errors in the address. It may be a mistake from the end of the RTO officials or your end.

In such cases, it is recommended to visit the nearest RTO and get the query resolved. You may have to apply once again for the address change procedure if there is a major error in it.

• There are other problems that one may encounter while applying for the service online. For instance, your DL details may not show on the SARATHI portal. If that is so, you may have to contact the RTO and carry the original documents to get the issue resolved.

Similarly, you may face issues like;

• • Your DL with the new address is not showing on the Sarathi App
  • You are charged a fee for a service you haven’t applied for, etc.

To resolve these issues, you will have to approach your RTO’s helpdesk. You must carry the original documents while visiting the RTO for the particular query.

Also Read: Process To Apply For Driving License Online In India

Frequently Asked Questions on Change of Address on Driving Licence

Here are some commonly asked FAQs related to changing your address on a driving licence:

1. What if I don’t change/update the address on my DL?

If you fail to update your address on your DL, you may have issues in receiving notifications, challans/penalties, as well as may face ID tracing issues during emergencies.

2. Is the option to check the application status for the address change on DL available online?

Yes, this option of checking application status online for the address change on DL is available.

3. How many days does it take to change the address on my DL?

Though the time required to change the address in DL differs as per the RTO you are applying, it usually takes about 30 days.

4. Within how many days one must apply for a change in address on DL after moving into a new place?

One may apply within 14 days for an address change in DL after moving into a new location.

5. Can an individual change the address on DL if they move to a different state in India?

Yes, you can easily change your address on your driving licence if you move from one Indian state to another.

Final Steps and Post-Update Actions

Once you apply for the address change on your driving licence, you must keep abreast with the status of the application. You can easily do this online without paying a penny. You can either visit the official portal of your state transport department or go to the Parivahan Seva portal.

Here are the steps to follow:

• Visit https://sarathi.parivahan.gov.in/sarathiservice/stateSelection.do
• Select concerned state
• Select “Application Status” on the right-hand side of the top navigation and click on it
• On the screen that appears, submit your application number and DOB along with the captcha code and click on the submit button
• You can see the status of your address change on DL on the page that appears

Besides, you may also visit the official website of your state’s transport department and choose the DL/LL (learner’s licence) registration button. Next, select the ‘know your application’ status and click on it. Submit the application number on the page that appears next, and click on the submit button. You can see the status of the application on the screen that appears.

Also, you must inform your insurance provider about the address change to keep them updated with the new address. You may also update any other relevant agencies on the address change to avoid any hassle in the future.

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Conclusion

Changing address is not a tedious task if you know the procedure well and if you prefer to change the address on your licence online to get the procedure done. Having all the required documents handy is important to avoid any mistakes while processing the change of address and uploading the documents.

Your DL is a very crucial document that you must carry while driving. It also serves as your identity during any emergency on the road. Your DL is further significant to receive notifications and other government notices. Hence, keeping the address on your DL up-to-date is crucial, and everyone must carry out this process promptly.

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