Last updated: 16 September 2026
Quick Answer: Only if your driving licence is a credit-card-size plastic card with a QR code, the smart-card format prescribed nationally in March 2019. To convert a paper or booklet licence, choose Replacement of DL under Services on Driving Licence on Sarathi. If your record doesn't show there, it needs a backlog entry first, online in some states or at your RTO.
The driving licence smart card replaced paper and booklet licences when the central government set one card design for the whole country. Any renewal, duplicate or address change is now issued on that card.
Overview: driving licence smart card at a glance
| Detail | What applies |
|---|---|
| Current format | PVC or polycarbonate card with a QR code (CMVR Form 7); a chip is optional for each state |
| Old format | Paper licence or booklet, including paper sealed in plastic |
| Rule set by | Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), notification of 1 March 2019 |
| How to convert | Replacement of DL, under Services on Driving Licence on Sarathi |
| Before you convert | Your licence must show on Sarathi; if not, it needs a backlog entry (online in some states, otherwise at your RTO) |
| Fee | Shown on Sarathi before payment; central rules add ₹200 for a smart-card licence issued in Form 7 |
| Delivery | Issued by your RTO, sent by post or collected at the RTO, depending on your state |
How do you check if your driving licence is a smart card?
Look at it: a bank-card-size plastic card with a QR code is the current smart-card format. A paper licence or booklet is the old format, even if it's laminated.
Under MoRTH's March 2019 announcement on the common licence format, licences are issued only on PVC or polycarbonate cards with a QR code; a chip is each state's choice.
| What you hold | Format | Do you need to convert? |
|---|---|---|
| Paper licence or booklet, even laminated | Old | Yes, if you want the card |
| Plastic card without a QR code | Older card design | Optional; ask your RTO |
| Plastic card with a QR code | Current | No |
Then check your record on Sarathi with Get DL Details (steps 1 to 3 below). If your details appear, you can apply online.
How do you convert an old paper driving licence to a smart card?
Apply for Replacement of DL on Sarathi, the Parivahan licence portal. It's for a valid licence you want on the new card; pick Duplicate DL only if yours is lost or damaged.
- Open Sarathi's state selection page and pick the state that issued your licence.
- Go to Driving Licence, then Services on Driving Licence, and click Continue.
- Enter your DL number and date of birth, then click Get DL Details.
- Confirm your mobile number and select Replacement of DL.
- Fill in the form, upload your documents and pay the fee.
- Book an RTO slot if your state asks for one. Then wait for the card by post, or collect it from the RTO when you're told it's ready.
Steps vary by state. In Delhi, Replacement of DL is a faceless service with Aadhaar authentication, and you pick up the card at the RTO.
Odisha asks for a Form 1 self-declaration and an RTO visit. If Replacement of DL isn't listed for your state, ask your RTO which service to use.
What if your old licence doesn't show up on Sarathi?
It needs a backlog entry first. Its details were never digitised, so they must be added to Sarathi before any online service works.
Parivahan's FAQ on driving licence services says some states let you make this entry online. Everywhere else, visit your zonal office or transport department with the original licence. Go there with your original documents in two other cases too:
- An older licence shows, but your latest renewal or change is missing.
- Your backlog entry has a mistake that needs correcting.
What does converting to a smart card cost?
Parivahan's central fee table has no separate line for replacing a valid licence with a card, so Sarathi shows your state's exact amount before you pay. Under the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, an extra ₹200 is charged when a smart-card licence is issued in Form 7. Delhi Transport's fee tables list it as a ₹200 smart-card fee.
For comparison, these services also give you the card. Fees are from Parivahan's licensing fees and charges table:
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Renewal of driving licence | ₹200 |
| Renewal after the grace period | ₹300, plus ₹1,000 for each year or part of a year after the grace period |
| Change of address or other particulars | ₹200 |
Pay only on Sarathi, and keep the receipt until the card arrives.
How do you check your driving licence smart card status?
Check it on Sarathi: select your state and choose Application Status from the menu (some states list it under Apply Online). You'll need your application number.
Lost that number? Use Find Application Number under the Others menu. Approved, but your driving licence physical card hasn't arrived? Parivahan says to get the dispatch tracking number from your RTO and track the card delivery with it.
While you wait, you can download your driving licence from DigiLocker or mParivahan.
Replacement, duplicate or renewal: which service do you need?
Choose by your licence's condition and expiry date, not by the words "smart card".
| Your situation | Service on Sarathi | Where to read more |
|---|---|---|
| Valid paper licence in good condition | Replacement of DL | This page |
| Lost, destroyed, torn or defaced, or photo needs replacing | Duplicate DL | Duplicate driving licence guide |
| Expires within a year, or expired less than a year ago | Renewal | Driving licence renewal guide |
| You've moved house | Change of Address | Address change guide |
Parivahan lets you renew within one year before or after expiry, so if renewal is due, renew instead of replacing. You can always apply on Sarathi yourself. If your old licence is lost or too damaged to read, Jaagruk Bharat can help you apply for a duplicate driving licence on the official portal. That help covers duplicates only, not replacing an undamaged licence.
