[rd18]

So, eventually I’ve gone through the process by myself and received the DL in hand.

It’s doable without an agent, given you have enough confidence, patience and time for it.

Went to the counter at scheduled time and it was overrun with agents and people coming via agents. All of their document sets looked similar.

My turn came and was asked to pay for token and car usage charges(200), car number was written on the back of token.

I was turned back with token and was asked for printout of complete application form for LL as well. I already had my both LL prints(MCWG, LMV).
The trick for them is to turn us back and ask for a new document each time, so that we can join the club of bribes.
I asked the xerox shop person to put all documents in order the officers want, which he did.
Remember, you need to bring your own two wheeler for test, and you need to have xerox of RC, insurance and PUC. I was not told at counter and that would have been next round for me.
Very softly I was asked at counter for arranging an agent which I politely turned down.

Then you present your token at gate and join queue for actual document check by inspector.
They wanted mobile number, address, sign from all. This is when you will get SMS about document verification.

Next, you are at the test stage. Basically you locate your car and then queue up for tests.

On the day I went the below tests happened

• LMV - gradient test
• LMV - 8 track test
• MCWG - one round

Most of people struggled with gradient test. A different car , all eyes on you and you feel different. You are asked to climb uphill, then make a complete stop and then climb again without stalling the car, going too much back, squeaking etc. I used handbrake and was fine, but saw many struggle as there were loose gravels as well.

For MCWG, drive with helmet and give hand signal/indicator while turning and keep your balance and speed in check.

For 8 test, no need of hand signals. You can ask the inspector before test about what exactly is to be done and they will guide.

At the end, you get sign/comment from all inspectors on your test sheet and submit it and come home. By evening, status gets updated and then DL is generated. About a month or more later, physical copy arrives via post.
Vahaan portal can be used for tracking all stages.

Overall, I found process useful and alert inspectors working on it with good real world testing.

[Kartman]

Hey, it’s great that you managed to get your licence without an agent. It has always been doable. I got my licence over 22 years ago and I remember at the time, my father insisted that I go at it on my own, which I did. As you rightly said, there are a lot of agents who overrun the place and cut in forward but the trick is that you need to be patient and the RTO officer will give you the test and the licence (if you pass). 22 years ago, I did not have a test track, in fact the officer asked me to drive on the roads and made me perform 3 point turns and parallel parking. I do not know if these are still followed.

[Indraneel Bhat]

As all Punekars say @rd18 - ek number thread!!! This is great information. Thank you!

[viXit]

It's a straightforward process.

Good that you did it without an agent and actually gave the test.

[Herschey]

I got my new DL without employing any agent but I did take 2.5k from my parents as license+agent fee. The extra ~2k were then spent on buying a new pair of Nike sneakers, a pair that totally refused to wear out even after 4 years and was ultimately given away. I did tell my parents a little later about how I saved those 2k and bought the sneakers but they really didn't mind.

Again, got my DL renewed last year by visiting the transport authority office at Vasant Vihar, Delhi and all it took was about an hour without the help of any agent whatsoever. Till about 2006-07, the licenses didn't use the embedded NFC microchip and hence, cannot be renewed online completely through the Vahan portal. Therefore, I uploaded all the relevant documents on the portal and scheduled an appointment through the portal itself which saved me a lot of time I would have otherwise spent standing in the registration queue at the authority office.

The office itself wasn't very crowded maybe because of Covid and the staff was decently helpful in sharing any information required. I took my original old DL along with 2 copies, 2 copies of the VAHAN portal's registration/ appointment forms, original Aadhaar & Voter ID card along with 2 self attested copies of each of the two documents, and a couple of passport sized photographs. After all my documents were verified and submitted, a process which took about 30 minutes, I was told to wait for collecting the stamped receipt which took about another 20 minutes.

While I downloaded the soft copy of the renewed DL through the 'Digital Locker' app after a week's time (maybe it was available much before that but I just didn't bother checking), the hard copy was delivered to my address as present in the DL through a courier in about a month's time.

[itsbaman]

In Himachal Pradesh, there is no prevailing system of agent-aided Driving Licence unless you want it without due process. We have always got the DL as well as the RC within a reasonable time frame, without any help of any type of agent by simply following the procedure.

[Torqueceptor]

Well, in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, it is next to impossible to get one without an agent. The entire system is designed to frustrate and push the applicant into helplessness and eventually seeking out an agent. Me and my wife paid the online fees not once but twice but got no response. Visiting the Noida RTO is a traumatic experience if you do not want to loosen your wallet. Staff is rude, unwilling to give you complete details at once and will assume that you are unemployed and have no place to be with all the time in the world. We eventually gave in and looked for an agent. Lo and behold, the experience turned into a 5 star one. We were in and out of the RTO in less than 20 mins and the licenses delivered to us at our residence within a week. It pains me to say this but those unwilling or unable to pay are really treated as second class citizens here.

[ghodlur]

Pune experts, need information urgently.

My wife's DL has expired and I am unable to raise the request on the Parivahan website as her DL is of the old laminated card type. There is no entry of the DL no on the Parivahan website as the DL issued is of 2004, the error message seen on Parivahan is mentioned below. In addition the DL has her maiden name plus an old address. In such a circumstance is it beneficial to go for the renewal or apply a new one. Would a visit to Sangram bridge RTO be of any help or should an agent be contacted? Any trusted agent reference near Sinhagad Road/Swargate area who can help sort out this mess?

Wife's Aadhar card address is of Thane, while she is staying in Pune (rented accommodation).

Details of given DL Number not available in the central Repository, On line applications provision is given only if the Driving Licence Details is available in the central Repository. However those candidates whose licence data not available in central Repository, can get the service by Concern RTO / RLA Authority