Last updated: 16 September 2026
Quick Answer: MCWOG is the two-wheeler driving licence class for gearless scooters, while MCWG covers motorcycles with gears. Both need you to be 18, except a gearless motorcycle of up to 50 cc, which you can ride from 16 with a parent's consent. Your licence lists each class it covers, and each class has its own riding test and fee.
Getting a driving licence for two wheeler riding follows one route for both classes: a learner's licence on Sarathi, the Parivahan licensing portal, then a riding test at least 30 days later at your Regional Transport Office (RTO). The central fee for one class is ₹700 before state user charges.
| Detail | What applies |
|---|---|
| Licence classes | MCWOG (Motor Cycle Without Gear) and MCWG (Motor Cycle With Gear) |
| Issuing authority | Your state Transport Department (RTO), under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 |
| Minimum age | 18 for both; 16 for a gearless motorcycle up to 50 cc, with parent or guardian consent |
| Central fee, one class | ₹700 (₹150 learner's licence, ₹50 learner's test, ₹300 riding test, ₹200 licence), plus state user charges |
| Timeline | Learner's licence first; riding test after 30 days and within its six-month validity |
| Where to apply | Sarathi on parivahan.gov.in, or assisted filing |
What is the difference between MCWG and MCWOG?
The difference is the gearbox. MCWOG covers two-wheelers without a gear lever, such as scooters and mopeds, while MCWG covers motorcycles with a clutch and gears.
| MCWOG | MCWG | |
|---|---|---|
| Full form | Motor Cycle Without Gear | Motor Cycle With Gear |
| Typical vehicles | Gearless scooters and mopeds | Motorcycles with a clutch and gear lever |
| Minimum age | 18, or 16 for 50 cc or less (a separate 50 cc class in some states) | 18 |
| Parent's signature | Needed on the learner's licence form if you're under 18 | Not needed |
| Riding test | On a gearless two-wheeler | On a geared motorcycle |
Which licence do you need for a scooter, a geared bike or an electric scooter?
Go by the gearbox, then by engine size if you're under 18.
- Gearless scooter or moped above 50 cc: MCWOG, from age 18.
- Gearless two-wheeler of 50 cc or less: from 16 with a parent's consent.
- Motorcycle with gears: MCWG, from age 18.
- Electric scooter (not a low-speed model): check the minimum age with your RTO.
- Certified low-speed electric scooter: no licence needed.
Do electric scooters need a driving licence?
Yes, unless it's a certified low-speed model. Under Rule 2(u) of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, a battery-operated vehicle isn't a motor vehicle when a testing agency has verified its motor power is under 0.25 kW and its top speed under 25 km/h. Ask the dealer for that certificate.
The same rules group a gearless e-scooter with a motor up to 4.0 kW and a top speed up to 70 km/h with 50 cc motorcycles as Category L1. But the Act's 16-year rule covers only engines up to 50 cc, so ask your RTO about your model before an under-18 rider applies.
What is the age limit for a two-wheeler licence?
You must be 18 for any two-wheeler licence, with one exception. At 16, you can get a licence for a gearless motorcycle whose engine capacity doesn't exceed 50 cc, if a parent or guardian consents. The Delhi Transport Department states this 16-year rule for motorcycles up to 50 cc under Section 4 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.
Before a minor rides, check the engine capacity on the registration certificate (RC).
Does an MCWG licence cover a gearless scooter?
Don't assume it does. The central rules list motor cycle with gear and motor cycle without gear as separate classes, and a licence authorises the classes printed on it. Check the classes on your card, or in DigiLocker or mParivahan, before riding a scooter on it.
If you'll ride both kinds, select both classes on the same learner's licence application. You'll take one riding test for each. If you already hold one class, add the other later: get a learner's licence for it, pass its test and pay the ₹500 addition fee.
What does a two-wheeler licence cost?
The central fee for one two-wheeler class is ₹700, set out in the licensing fees and charges on Parivahan. States add user charges on top.
| Fee item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Learner's licence, per class | ₹150 |
| Learner's licence test | ₹50 |
| Riding test, per class | ₹300 |
| Issue of driving licence | ₹200 |
| Adding a class to an existing licence | ₹500 |
A second class adds ₹150 and ₹300. Delhi collects ₹500 at the learner's stage for one class and ₹950 for two.
Can you add a four-wheeler to a two-wheeler licence?
Yes. Parivahan says a motorcycle licence holder may apply to add a light motor vehicle (car) at any time. You need your current licence, a learner's licence for the car class, Form 1, Form 2 and the ₹500 addition fee, then a driving test in a car.
How long is a two-wheeler licence valid?
If you're under 30 when it's issued, it's valid until you turn 40. Parivahan's driving licence validity rules set the term by your age at issue or renewal:
| Your age at issue or renewal | Validity |
|---|---|
| Under 30 | Until you turn 40 |
| 30 to 49 | 10 years |
| 50 to 54 | Until you turn 60 |
| 55 and above | 5 years |
The exact expiry date is printed on your licence. Near expiry, follow the steps to renew your driving licence online.
How do you apply for a two-wheeler licence?
To get a driving licence for two wheeler riding, use Sarathi and your RTO.
- Choose your state on Sarathi.
- Apply for a learner's licence online with MCWOG, MCWG or both selected.
- After 30 days, apply for the permanent licence.
- Take the riding test at your RTO on the matching two-wheeler.
For help filling the form and booking the test, Jaagruk Bharat's learner's licence application service files it with you on the official portal.
