How to Obtain a Driving License in Bihar?

Driving license is a legitimate document that is generally issued by the Bihar RTO. Through this document, an individual can ride a specific class of vehicle according to the vehicle that he/she applied for. To obtain a permanent driving license in Bihar, the applicant must pass all the tests that were conducted by the local RTO.

The owner of the license is required to carry the license at all times and present it whenever an official from the law enforcement agency obliges it. The driving license, which is valid throughout the country, is also a valid address and identity proof. In Bihar, the Motor Vehicle Department, under the Government, carries the responsibility of issuing driving licenses.

Bihar Motor Vehicles Department

The Transport Commissioner heads the Bihar Motor Vehicles Department, which comprises Regional Transport Offices (RTO) and staff across the state. The functions of the motor vehicle department are as follows:

• Registration of geared and non-geared Motor vehicles

• Issuing permanent and learners’ driving licenses

• Implementing terms of the Motor Vehicles Act

• Collecting taxes, fees, and fines

• Other services such as issuing vehicle permits

In Bihar, there are 57 RTO where each RTO has a head. Some of the offices are known as sub-regional transport offices and they are headed by RTOs as well.

Driving Permit in Bihar

The Bihar RTO issues licenses under the Motor Vehicles Act 1988, which authorizes the license holder to drive a vehicle throughout the country. The applicants must, however, apply for a Learner's Licence first.

To acquire a learner’s permit, the applicant must be between the ages 16-18. It is also mandatory to obtain written consent from their parent/guardian. A holder can drive a non-geared vehicle under 50cc with a learner's permit. After the learner's license has been held by the driver for 6 months, he/she can apply for a permanent license within 180 days.

Eligibility Criteria to Acquire a Permanent Driving License

• Applicant must be 18-20 years to apply for a permanent DL.

• The applicant must be at least 20 years old and must have at least a year's experience in driving the non-transport vehicle to acquire a license for transport vehicles in Bihar.

• The new applicants will be needed to take a computer-based test at the selected centers.

• The questions will have aspects of road safety, signals, and signs, rules, and regulations for testing the knowledge of the applicants.

• Once the applicant has passed the test, he will be eligible to obtain a learner’s driving license, which is valid for 6 months. The driving test for a permanent permitcan only be taken a year after acquiring the LL. These tests consist of  two main phases:

  • Applicant's ability to control a vehicle
  • Applicant's driving skills

Documents Required

• Form 1 (self-declaration of the physical condition of the vehicle)

• Form 1A (for applicants who are above 50 years old, it is only valid for the non-transport vehicle)

• Learner’s license

• The applicant must also provide an age proof, address proof and the necessary health certificates from an authorized doctor.

Fees & Charges

The total fees that is charged for issuing the driving license in the state of Bihar has been listed on the table:

Fee Description	Amount
Driving License	Rs.200
Driving test (each class)	Rs.50
International License	Rs 500
Service charge	Rs.50

These charges are similar across all the RTOs across the country.

Driving License Renewal Procedure

If the license is due expiry, it is important to apply for a renewal 30 days before the expiry date.

If someone is applying for a renewal 30 days after the expiry, a new DL is issued. The RTO charges a fee of 250 rupees for the renewal of license 30 days after the expiry date has been completed.

Procedure for International Driving License

IDP or International Driving Permit is issued to people who already own a DL and people who plan on staying abroad for a stipulated period. An IDP form is filled duly to apply for an IDP in Bihar. In the IDP form, the applicant has to mention the details of the stay in the foreign country such as the duration of stay, purpose of visiting the country and the details of the countries that the applicant plans on visiting.