MVA Section 3: Necessity for driving licence
Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 · Chapter 2: LICENSING OF DRIVERS OF MOTOR VEHICLES
¶3. Necessity for driving licence.—(1) No person shall drive a motor vehicle in any public place unless he holds an effective driving licence issued to him authorising him to drive the vehicle; and no person shall so drive a transport vehicle [other than [a motor cab or motor cycle] hired for his own use or rented under any scheme made under sub-section (2) of section 75] unless his driving licence specifically entitles him so to do.
(2) The conditions subject to which sub-section (1) shall not apply to a person receiving instructions in driving a motor vehicle shall be such as may be prescribed by the Central Government.
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
- 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
- 15. Renewal of driving licences
- 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