Dear Forum Members,
I thought it is worth sharing the experience of renewing my driving license here in Bengaluru (KA-51 RTO). Hopefully, it will help people avoid paying huge amounts to these "Driving Schools" who now double up as agents for getting RTO work done.
When I inquired initially, the driving school near my home mentioned charges between Rs. 3000/- to 5000/- for renewing my
license that was expiring mid-November as I turned 50 years. Also, as my DL (Driving License) was issued in Chennai, charges were higher because it was an out-of-state case.
I decided to try doing the renewal on my own as I had the advantage of knowing the local language. Here is the process -
1. Confirm the RTO office jurisdiction - depends on the address proof being furnished. Mine was the Electronics City office - KA-51.
2. On checking at the RTO office, I was informed that I needed to get a NOC (No Objection Letter) from the RTO that issued the license initially (Chennai North-West - TN-02 in my case).
a. If it is not possible to go to the issuing RTO physically, send a letter requesting for NOC. Please send it using either India Post's Registered Post with Acknowledgement Due or through Speed Post with Acknowledgement Due. You will receive the acknowledgement confirming that the letter has been received by the RTO (that issued the license).
b. Retain the following -
i. Copy of the NOC request letter
ii. The acknowledgement slip/card that you received via regular post/mail
3. The following is the checklist for renewing license (these forms are downloadable from Karnataka RTO website -
http://rto.kar.nic.in) -
a. License Renewal Form (CMV Form-9)
b. Filled up and Self Attested Fitness declaration - (CMV Form-1)
c. Medical Certificate from State Govt. recognized medical practitioner - (CMV Form-1A). I got mine from the Arakere Govt. Hospital/Primary Healthcare Center - the doctor issued the certificate without a fuss. A Rs. 50/- fee is all that I paid. I am unsure if that is official - no receipt was provided. Considering the amount and the fact that the process itself was very smooth and short duration, I did not insist on a receipt.
d. Change of address form - available in the petty shops near the RTO office premises. Alternatively, one can write to the RTO officer on a plain sheet of paper
e. Outside State RTO NOC - from the office that issued the license OR
i. Copy of letter sent to the respective RTO requesting for NOC
ii. Acknowledgement slip/card of the letter sent to the license issuing RTO
f. Plastic sealable cover that can hold the credit card sized license or the old license book - typically available in the petty shops near the RTO premises
g. Self addressed stamped envelope (it was Rs. 17/- for me) that will be used to mail the new license by the RTO - available in the petty shops near the RTO premises
h. Address and ID proof document copy - Passport/Aadhar card or other document as permissible. I used my passport. Please carry the original that will be scrutinized by the officer during the application process
4. When all documents are in place, go to the RTO and ask for the DL Renewal section - the official will scrutinize the documents and inform you the fees to be paid - in my case it was Rs. 370/- (DL Renewal + Smart Card fee + Change of Address fee). The official will also indicate the counters that need to be visited. The workflow is generally as follows -
a. Payment of required fees at the cash counter. Please attach the receipt (and its copy) with the other documents. Secure all of them using a tag/staple to ensure no loose sheets are present. Any loss of a document sends you back to square one literally!
b. Scrutiny of the documents - by a designated officer
c. Biometrics - photo and left thumb print is taken.
d. Entry of key data - existing/expired license details, new address, class of vehicle for which renewal is being sought, etc.
d. Finally the application form and all supporting documents including the expired/to expire license in original need to be submitted to an official who hands out an acknowledgement slip.
RETAIN THE SLIP UNTIL THE NEW LICENSE IS RECEIVED.
In my case, I was informed that the wait will be for about 45 days before I receive the new license. Until then, my license is the acknowledgement slip that says I have applied for a new license.
Including the postage amount, it costed me about Rs. 500/- to complete the license renewal process - of course, almost a full working day had to be set aside for this.
Parting thoughts - in contrast to the perception that it will be a painful process, I was pleasantly surprised! The officials were cooperative and conversed in Hindi and English besides Kannada. So, it should not be a major issue for people who dont know the local language - knowing it though helps a lot.
If one is able to invest a little time and find out the process ahead, it will help greatly in avoiding waste of time and unnecessary headaches.
Hope this is useful.
Thanks,
Ramas.