mParivahan Guide: Virtual Driving Licence and RC on Your Phone

mParivahan is the official transport app of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, built by the National Informatics Centre. Its current version appears in app stores as NextGen mParivahan. The app lets you keep a virtual copy of your driving licence (DL) and vehicle registration certificate (RC) on your phone, and look up basic details of vehicles registered in India. This guide explains how to set it up and use it well.

AppStepwise is an independent guide, not an official government service, and is not connected to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways or any RTO.

What mParivahan can do

• Virtual DL: a digital version of your driving licence, fetched from the transport department's records, with a QR code that officials can scan.
• Virtual RC: a digital version of your vehicle's registration certificate.
• Vehicle search: enter a registration number to see basic details, such as registering authority, registration date, make and model, fuel type, vehicle class, and insurance and fitness validity. The owner's name may be partly hidden for privacy.
• Information services: locations of RTOs and traffic offices, and transport notifications.

Menus and screens change between versions, so the options you see may look slightly different from the descriptions here.

Is a virtual DL or RC valid?

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has advised states that a DL or RC shown through mParivahan or DigiLocker should be treated as valid, on par with the certificate issued by the transport department. The important word is 'through'. The document should be shown live inside the official app. A photo or screenshot of your paper licence is not the same thing, because it cannot be checked against official records.

It still makes sense to keep your original documents safe and handy for RTO visits and other official work.

If you are asked to show your documents

Open the app and show your virtual DL or RC on screen. The official may scan the QR code to check it against transport records. Open the document yourself rather than handing over an unlocked phone, and keep your phone charged and your mobile data working so the app can load when you need it.

Before you install

mParivahan is free. Install it only from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store, and check that the publisher is the National Informatics Centre or the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. Many unofficial vehicle information apps use similar names and icons, so the publisher check matters.

The mobile number recorded with your licence and vehicle can matter, because the app may send an OTP to it. If your number has changed, update it through the official Parivahan Sewa website or at your RTO before you begin.

How to add your virtual DL

1. Sign up

   Open the app and register with your mobile number and the OTP sent to it.

2. Open the DL section

   Choose the option to add or create a virtual driving licence.

3. Enter your licence details

   Type your DL number exactly as printed, along with any other details the app asks for, such as your date of birth.

4. Verify

   Complete verification with an OTP if asked. The app then fetches your licence from the transport department's records.

5. Open and check

   Open your virtual DL and check your name, validity dates and vehicle classes. If something is wrong in the official record, it has to be corrected through the transport department.

How to add your virtual RC

1. Open the RC section and choose to add a vehicle.
2. Enter the registration number exactly as it appears on your RC.
3. Confirm that the vehicle is yours with the details the app asks for, such as part of the chassis or engine number from your RC, and an OTP where required.
4. Once verified, open the virtual RC and check the details carefully.

If the app cannot find your vehicle or licence, check the number format first. Some older records may not yet be fully available in the central database, and your RTO can help get them updated.

Checking a used vehicle before you buy

Vehicle search is handy before buying a second-hand car or two-wheeler. Enter the registration number and compare what the app shows with the seller's RC and with the vehicle itself.

• Do the make, model and fuel type match the vehicle in front of you?
• Does the registration date match what the seller told you?
• Is the insurance valid? If it has lapsed, you need a policy before driving the vehicle.
• Is the fitness validity current, especially for older or commercial vehicles?

Treat the app as a quick first check, not a full verification. Ownership transfer and other formal steps are done through the official Parivahan Sewa website and your RTO.

Tips for everyday use

• Keep the app updated from the official app store.
• Watch the validity dates of your licence, insurance, pollution under control (PUC) certificate and fitness certificate, and renew on time.
• Keep your phone charged when driving, so you can show your documents if asked.
• Keep your mobile number updated in transport records so that OTPs reach you.
• If you lose money to a fraud, call the national cyber crime helpline 1930 immediately.

Frequently asked questions