MVA Section 15: Renewal of driving licences
Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 · Chapter 2: LICENSING OF DRIVERS OF MOTOR VEHICLES
¶15. Renewal of driving licences.—(1) Any licensing authority may, on application made to it, renew a driving licence issued under the provisions of this Act with effect from the date of its [renewal]: [Provided that in any case where the application for the renewal of a licence is made within a period of one year prior to date of its expiry, the driving licence shall be renewed with effect from the date of its expiry:]
Provided further that where the application is for the renewal of a licence to drive a transport vehicle or where in any other case the applicant has attained the age of forty years, the same shall be accompanied by a medical certificate in the same form and in the same manner as is referred to in sub-section (3) of section 8, and the provisions of sub-section (4) of section 8 shall, so far as may be, apply in relation to every such case as they apply in relation to a learner’s licence.
(2) An application for the renewal of a driving licence shall be made in such form and accompanied by such documents as may be prescribed by the Central Government.
(3) Where an application for the renewal of a driving licence is made previous to, or not more than [one year] after the date of its expiry, the fee payable for such renewal shall be such as may be prescribed by the Central Government in this behalf.
(4) Where an application for the renewal of a driving licence is made more than [one year] after the date of its expiry, the fee payable for such renewal shall be such amount as may be prescribed by the Central Government:
Provided that the fee referred to in sub-section (3) may be accepted by the licensing authority in respect of an application for the renewal of a driving licence made under this sub-section if it is satisfied that the applicant was prevented by good and sufficient cause from applying within the time specified in sub-section (3):
Provided further that if the application is made more than [one year after the driving licence has ceased to be effective, the licensing authority shall] refuse to renew the driving licence, unless the applicant undergoes and passes to its satisfaction the test of competence to drive referred to in sub-section (3) of section 9.
(5) Where the application for renewal has been rejected, the fee paid shall be refunded to such extent and in such manner as may be prescribed by the Central Government.
(6) Where the authority renewing the driving licence is not the authority which issued the driving licence it shall intimate the fact of renewal to the authority which issued the driving licence.
Study: explanations and related material
Official reference: India Code, Government of India — edition as on 15 August 2026 — source review: 2 October 2026.Recorded edition / snapshot date: 2026-08-15.Banaka reference transcription, not an official or certified edition. General central text: regional amendment blocks are not consolidated. This edition includes Jan Vishwas 2026 changes effective 15 August 2026. Amendment brackets are retained; footnotes and superscript reference numerals are excluded. Consult the complete government PDF for schedules, amendment notes and authoritative wording. State rules and notifications may differ. Hindi guides are original explanations, not a statutory translation.Read the original schedule and amendment notes
This text is for reference, not legal advice. Consult the official source for the authoritative text.
Other sections in this chapter
- 3. Necessity for driving licence
- 4. Age limit in connection with driving of motor vehicles
- 5. Responsibility of owners of motor vehicles for contravention of sections 3 and 4
- 6. Restrictions on the holding of driving licences
- 7. Restrictions on the granting of learner’s licences for certain vehicles
- 8. Grant of learner’s licence
- 9. Grant of driving licence
- 10. Form and contents of licences to drive
- 11. Additions to driving licence
- 12. Licensing and regulation of schools or establishments for imparting instruction in driving of motor vehicles
- 13. Extent of effectiveness of licences, to drive motor vehicles
- 14. Currency of licences to drive motor vehicles
- 16. Revocation of driving licence on grounds of disease or disability
- 17. Orders refusing or revoking driving licences and appeals therefrom
- 18. Driving Licences to drive motor vehicles, belonging to the Central Government
- 19. Power of licensing authority to disqualify from holding a driving licence or revoke such licence
- 20. Power of Court to disqualify
- 21. Suspension of driving licence in certain cases
- 22. Suspension or cancellation of driving licence on conviction
- 23. Effect of disqualification order
- 24. Endorsement
- 25. Transfer of endorsement and issue of driving licence free from endorsement
- 25A. National Register of Driving Licences
- 26. Maintenance of State Registers of Driving Licences
- 27. Power of Central Government to make rules
- 28. Power of State Government to make rules