My driving licence expires on 22 Oct ’19 (My 65th birthday falls on 23 Oct ’19).

I found that I have to apply for a renewal within 30 days prior to its expiry, or do it later with a fine.

Only part of the process can be done online, and I did it.

I went to Parivahan Sewa at
https://parivahan.gov.in/parivahan/

and under “Online Services”, clicked on “Driving Licence Related Services”.

I got this page:

https://sarathi.parivahan.gov.in/sarathiservice9/stateSelection.do

I selected my state (Karnataka).

Under “Driving Licence” on the left hand side, I clicked on

“Services on Driving Licence (Renewal/Duplicate/Aedl/Others)”

I found the following 5 steps listed:. Fill Applicant/Request Details
2. Upload Documents (if required)
3. Upload Photo and Signature if required (applicable only in certain states)
4. Driving Licence Test Slot Booking -required only for Additional Endorsement of Driving Licence(AEDL)
5. Payment of Fee

There was some confusing stuff about NOC, which I ignored.
Since I have not changed the address, and took my licence last time from the same RTO, I clicked on “Continue”.

I then entered all the details about my driving licence, and clicked on “Proceed”.

I was asked several confusing things about “village” and “taluka” in the succeeding forms, but filled them out as best as I could, and my form was accepted. I got an SMS giving the reference no. of the application.

I then had to go to a Govt Hospital to get a medical fitness certificate (it cannot be given by any practising physician, but has to be obtained this way.) I went to Jayadeva Hospital and after a long delay, paid Rs. 300 to get this.

I then went back to the RTO where I was told that the doctor’s certificate also had to be uploaded. Rather than go back home, I went downstairs to one of the photocopy shops on the ground floor, and paid to have this done. The charge for this was Rs.150. The guy also told me that I would need a stamped cover, and sold me an envelope with Rs.15 stamps, for Rs.30. He pinned together all the papers and a small plastic cover containing my original driving licence.

Pinning it all together, I went to Counter no. 11 and got a signature and a rubber stamp (oh how fond we are of rubber stamps.) Then I went to Counter 15 and stood in a looooong queue to pay the fees. It took 45 min, with several people jumping the queue. Finally I paid Rs. 380, and got a receipt which I also pinned to the sheaf of papers.

I then went to Counter no. 13, where after another delay and my protesting at the security lady letting in others who had joined the queue after me, I posed for the camera, paid Rs. 60, and came out, not believing that it was over.

The new driving licence will be despatched to the address I wrote on the stamped cover, after 30 days. We are not given the option of collecting it from the RTO. Thankfully, I still have the colour photocopy, laminated, of the old driving licence, which I will carry around for this interim period (no one told me to do this…I never carry my original licence, only this copy.)

I am waiting to see what I look like on my driving licence photo….when I get it.

Time taken: On 23 Sept ’19: 3 hours at the RTO on the first day. 2.5 hours at Jayadeva Hospital (I had to go with the filled-up form). On 24 Sept ’19: 5 hours, including going to the various counters to get the work done.

Costs: Rs.180 at the photocopy shop for the uploading of the doctor’s certificate and the stamped envelope.
Rs.320 for the fees (I paid in cash, I do not know if cards are accepted, I felt it might cause further delay)
Rs. 60 for the biometrics process.

Total: Rs. 560

I would advise anyone to have a colour photocopy of their licence taken and laminated and to carry this about with them. I will now be depending on this until my new licence card arrives. Getting a duplicate licence is also a painful affair.