Renew Your International Driving License in India: Ultimate Guide

Renew IDP

The process for Renew your International Driving License in India is straightforward and can be done either online or in person from India or Abroad. If you are a foreigner living in India, or an Indian citizen planning to travel abroad and drive, you will need to have a valid International Driving License. The International Driving Permit (IDP) is a document that allows you to legally drive in other countries without going through the hassle of obtaining a new license in each country.

About International Driving License (IDP)

Before we delve into the process, let us first understand what an international driving license is. An international driving license is a document that allows you to drive legally in other countries. It is issued by the Indian government and is valid for a year from the date of issue. The international driving license is valid in more than 150 countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and most of Europe.

The Indian government, through the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), issues International Driving Permits under the provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.

3 Ways to Renew your International Driving License

Online form India

To apply for the renewal of you International Deriving Permit from India you may proceed to apply for a new international driving license via the Parivahan Sarathi portal. The application process is similar to the one you underwent when obtaining your initial international driving permit.

The following are the steps to be taken:

• Visit the Parivahan Sarathi or Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) website.

• Then click on Online Services and Select Driving License Related Service.

• Select the appropriate state from the drop down list and it will take to your regional transport website.

• After that select International Driving Permit from the list of options.

• Now Read all the instructions for application carefully and click on Continue.

• Fill you Domestic License details carefully in the Application for Services on Driving License and click on Get DL Details, then click on Proceed.

• After that select the checkbox in front of Issue International Driving Permit and then click on Proceed.

• After that fill all the details carefully in Issue International Driving Permit form and click on Confirm.

• In the next step attach a copy of all the required documents such as your Identity proof, your valid Indian driving license, passport, visa and others to the application form.

• Submit the completed application form with all supporting documents.

• The next and final step is to make the payment for your International Driving Permit. Pay the prescribed fee i.e. Rs. 1000.

Offline form India

To renew your international driving license offline in India, you need to follow these steps:

Step 1: Check the validity of your current international driving license

The first step in renewing your international driving license is to check the validity of your current license. The international driving license is valid for a year from the date of issue. If your license has expired, you need to apply for a new one.

Step 2: Gather the necessary documents

To renew your international driving license, you need to gather the following documents:

1. A photocopy of your current international driving license.
2. A photocopy of your passport.
3. A photocopy of your visa.
4. A recent passport-sized photograph.
5. Proof of address (any one of the following):
• Voter ID card
• Passport
• Aadhaar card
• Utility bill

Step 3: Visit the RTO

Once you have gathered all the necessary documents, you need to visit the Regional Transport Office (RTO) where your license was issued. You can find the RTO address on your current international driving license.

Step 4: Submit the documents

At the RTO, you need to submit the following documents:

1. A photocopy of your current international driving license.
2. A photocopy of your passport.
3. A photocopy of your visa.
4. A recent passport-sized photograph.
5. Proof of address (any one of the following): 
• Voter ID card
• Passport
• Aadhaar card
• Utility bill

Step 5: Pay the fees

Once you have submitted the documents, you need to pay the renewal fees. The fees for renewing an international driving license in India vary from state to state. You can check the fee structure at the RTO.

Step 6: Collect the renewed international driving license

After paying the fees, you need to collect the renewed international driving license from the RTO. The RTO will either send the license to your address via post or you can collect it in person.

From Abroad

An alternative solution is available, which involves applying for the renewal of your international driving permit (IDP) from India. You can conveniently do this online even if you reside abroad. The renewal process has two stages, with the first step requiring you to submit an application to your High Commission or Embassy.

Upon submission, the Embassy will provide you with a certificate and payment receipt, which you will use for the second part of the renewal process. This involves applying for the renewal of your international driving permit (IDP) through the Parivahan Sarathi portal online.

Below, we have provided a step-by-step guide for both parts of the process:

1. Submitting your IDP renewal application at your Embassy

• First you have to download Application form available at your respective embassy website also called Miscellaneous Form found under Consular Services.
• Fill the all the required details in the above downloaded Application form carefully.
• Attach all the necessary documents such as your passport-size photo, sign your signature, identity proof, expired international driving permit, original copy of your domestic driving license, passport copy and others.
• Submit your finally filled application to your respective embassy office in-person or online, you might need to visit the embassy office for verification.
• After verification of your documents, you have to pay a processing fee (processing fee may differ from country to country).
• Once all these things are done and verified, embassy will issue a certificate and fee receipt which you can use for the further steps.

2. Applying for the renewal of your international driving permit

After obtaining the certificate and payment receipt from the Embassy, you may proceed to apply for a new international driving license via the Parivahan Sarathi portal. The application process is similar to the one you underwent when obtaining your initial international driving permit.

The following are the steps to be taken:

• Visit the Parivahan Sarathi or Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) website.
• Then click on Online Services and Select Driving License Related Service.
• Select the appropriate state from the drop-down list and it will take to your regional transport website.
• After that select International Driving Permit from the list of options.
• Now Read all the instructions for application carefully and click on Continue.
• Fill you Domestic License details carefully in the Application for Services on Driving License and click on Get DL Details, then click on Proceed.
• After that select the checkbox in front of Issue International Driving Permit and then click on Proceed.
• After that fill all the details carefully in Issue International Driving Permit form and click on Confirm.
• In the next step attach a copy of all the required documents such as your Identity proof, your valid Indian driving license, passport, visa and others to the application form.
• Submit the completed application form with all supporting documents.
• The next and final step is to make the payment for your International Driving Permit. Pay the prescribed fee i.e., Rs. 1000.

Required Documents

To apply for renewal an IDP in India, you need to submit the following documents:

• Expired/Old IDP
• Identity proof like Aadhaar Card.
• Form 4A
• Form 1A
• A completed IDP application form.
• A copy of your valid Indian driving license.
• A copy of your passport.
• A copy of your visa (if applicable).
• Two passport-size photographs.
• Copy of your round trip Air Tickets

Conclusion

Renewing your International Driving Permit is a simple and straightforward process. Whether you choose to apply online or in person and from India or Abroad, ensure that you have all the required documents and pay the renewal fee on time to avoid any delays. Remember that an International Driving Permit is only valid for one year from the date of issue. It is important to renew your license on time to avoid any legal issues while driving in other countries. So, make sure you renew your international driving license before it expires.