What is a Driving Licence?
A Driving Licence (DL) is an official document issued by the Regional Transport Office (RTO) in India, certifying that an individual is legally authorized to operate one or more types of motor vehicles on public roads. It serves as:
Proof of identity
Proof of address
Authorization for vehicle operation (two-wheeler, LMV, HMV, etc.)
Under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, no person can drive a motor vehicle in a public place unless they hold a valid driving licence for that specific class of vehicle.
How to Get a Driving Licence in India
The process to obtain a DL in India is regulated by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) and typically includes the following steps:
1. Apply for a Learner’s Licence
Minimum age: 16 years for gearless two-wheelers, 18 years for others
Submit ID/address proof and medical certificate
Take a written test on traffic rules
2. Training & Practice
Mandatory training through a driving school (especially for commercial licences)
3. Apply for Permanent Licence
After 30 days and within 180 days of getting the learner’s licence
Schedule a driving test at the RTO
4. Driving Test
Conducted by a Motor Vehicle Inspector
Assesses road sense, vehicle control, and adherence to traffic rules
5. Issuance of DL
A unique 16-digit DL number is assigned
Valid for 20 years or until the age of 50 (whichever is earlier)
With digitization, most of this process can now be initiated online via the Parivahan Sewa portal (https://parivahan.gov.in/).
Why Driving Licence Verification is Critical in India
With over 25 crore (250 million) active driving licences in India, the authenticity and validity of these documents have become increasingly critical—especially in today’s digital-first economy.
Factual Case: Surge in Fake Licences
As per a 2023 Hindustan Times report, a fake driving licence scam at Mumbai’s Andheri RTO exposed serious lapses in the Driving Licence verification process, highlighting the urgent need for stricter digital checks to prevent fraud and ensure road safety
Fake DLs Lead to:
Road accidents by untrained drivers
Insurance claim rejections
Employment of unverified staff
Legal liabilities for employers
Hence, robust Driving Licence verification has become a non-negotiable step in hiring, lending, insurance, and logistics sectors.
What is Driving Licence Verification?
Driving Licence verification is the process of confirming the authenticity of a DL issued by an RTO. It involves checking the following:
Whether the DL is valid and not expired
The DL holder’s name, DOB, and address
Licence issuance and expiry dates
Class of vehicle authorized
Current DL status (active, suspended, or revoked)
Issuing RTO and state
Online Driving Licence Verification: How It Works
Traditionally, employers or service providers relied on photocopies or physical DLs submitted by applicants, but these were easy to forge.
Today, online DL verification is enabled via government-authorized APIs and platforms like OnGrid that securely fetch real-time data from the central VAHAN database and state RTOs.
Key Steps:
Enter the DL number and basic details
Validate against government records via secure API
Get real-time results including DL status and matching fields
Identify red flags like mismatched details or invalid status
Why Use OnGrid’s Driving Licence Verification Service?
OnGrid offers a seamless, enterprise-grade solution for verifying DLs across India. Whether you’re onboarding delivery partners or issuing auto insurance, OnGrid ensures that every DL is validated instantly and securely.
✅ Instant Verification
Results in seconds via OnGrid’s DL API or dashboard
No manual data entry with OCR auto-fill support
✅ Nationwide Coverage
Validates DLs from all Indian states and union territories
Unified access, no need to contact individual RTOs
✅ Fraud Detection
Flags suspicious DLs (fake numbers, expired licences, class mismatch)
Helps eliminate high-risk candidates before onboarding
✅ Bulk & Scalable
Verify hundreds or thousands of DLs in one go
Ideal for logistics, ride-hailing, and gig platforms
✅ Regulatory Compliance
Meets KYC norms and ensures audit readiness
Transparent consent-based verification
Use Cases for Driving Licence Verification in India
Logistics & Delivery Startups
Ensure that fleet drivers or delivery partners hold valid DLs for two-wheelers or LMVs.
Ride-Hailing Platforms
Verify DL class and validity before onboarding commercial drivers.
NBFCs & Auto Lenders
Confirm identity and driving eligibility of vehicle loan applicants.
Insurers
Prevent fraudulent claims by confirming licence status of policyholders or claimants.
Employers
Use DL as an ID/address proof for staff, verified directly from the source.
What Data is Returned via Online DL Verification?
With OnGrid’s DL verification, the following information is typically retrieved:
Full name of DL holder
Driving licence number
Date of birth
Vehicle class (LMV, MCWG, HMV, etc.)
Licence issue and expiry date
RTO and state code
Current licence status
How to Get Started with OnGrid DL Verification
Visit: https://ongrid.in/services/driving-license-verification
Schedule a demo or sign up for sandbox access
Integrate API into your workflow or use the web dashboard
Start verifying DLs in real time, with consent-based workflows
Final Thoughts
In a landscape where digital trust, road safety, and compliance are non-negotiable, Driving Licence verification stands out as a crucial layer of identity and eligibility screening.
From reducing fraud to ensuring only qualified individuals operate vehicles, online DL verification empowers businesses to operate safely, ethically, and confidently.
By using platforms like OnGrid’s Driving Licence Verification Service, Indian businesses can move beyond paper checks and embrace real-time, accurate, and scalable verification solutions.
FAQs
1. What is Driving Licence (DL) verification?
Driving Licence verification is the process of confirming the authenticity, validity, and ownership details of a DL issued by an Indian RTO using official government records.
2. Why is DL verification important for businesses?
It ensures road safety, prevents fraud, and helps companies comply with KYC norms when hiring drivers, issuing loans, or providing insurance.
3. Can I verify a driving licence online in India?
Yes, online DL verification is possible through platforms like OnGrid, which securely fetch real-time data from RTOs via APIs.
4. What information is required to verify a driving licence?
You typically need the DL number and the holder’s basic details (name/DOB) to initiate verification.
5. What details are returned after verification?
Key fields include name, DL number, vehicle class, issue and expiry dates, current status, and issuing RTO/state.
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