Car & Bike Smart Card Driving License

[harshit143]

I have the paper Driving License. I have heard that these old licenses are not valid in many cities now and they ask for those smart card driving licenses . Is it true?

Right now in my town they are valid. But i frequently visit Delhi and Lucknow and other major cities. Should I get my DL upgraded ?

P.S. I hate visiting RTO Office of my town

 

[raksrules]

You will have to do it eventually, so why not now. I don't suggest this because I hate touts and agents but if you want to avoid hassles, they can 'help' you for a 'fee', contact your local driving school may be.
If you want to do it yourself then first do your homework and see what all documents are needed and then go to their office to get it done. Expect inefficient workers and useless employees who only want the under the table money. Have immense patience and expect to go multiple times to the RTO.

 

[mathrisk]

I am from Bangalore and I have that laminated DL from other state. And traffic police do consider that though new DL issued here are smart cards.

And regarding the RTO, though I had my DL made through agents, two of my friends have very good experience with RTO Mysore.
They both needed two wheeler NOC as they are transferred to different state. At first though they thought of involving agents to skip the 'well known' hassles, but since the agents asked for exorbitant fee, they took the hard road. They filed all the necessary paper works themselves, got some approval/letter from police station. The process took 4/5 days and very nominal fee, both as per the guidelines. On the final day, the RTO (a very senior guy) called both of them and gave them a lesson.
He asked the people to spare some time and get the works done by themselves instead of involving agents. He was irritated seeing agents doing those stuffs.

Anyway, thats a story of the Mysore RTO. Things might be different for other places. So, if you got time, its worth a try IMO.

 

[booo]

Well, I had a normal credit card type license without a smart card and I lost it. I told them that I lost it and I had a xerox copy of the license. I paid some Rs. 67 and got a new one with chip without a problem. All this in Hyderabad in 2010.

 

[harshit143]

Whats the use of that sim card type chip?

 

[mrmash]

AFAIK the booklet type DL is valid all over India till there is an official announcement to get it changed to the card type one. I had mine made in 2002 and got a booklet type DL. It is valid till 2022, and can be used till then unless there is a nationwide call to get all licenses converted to the smart card based DL's.
In the past year I have driven in Gujarat, UP, Andhra Pradesh, MP (just 10 days back) and havent faced any sort of problems anywhere.

 

[eternoMind]

If you have the time, by all means do get it done!

Depending upon the staff at your local RTO and the adequacy of your paperwork, this task may take you between 1-3 days (or trips). The plus side being you'll save a sizable amount of money and a satisfaction of going the legal/ethical route will be yours.

The last time I went with a friend for the issuance of a new DL, the lady staff in-charge of checking all docs was sending away a guy citing inadequate docs multiple times. My friend, who was standing behind that chap and had opted for the agent route, later told me the guy was getting it done without paid help.

 

[nRiTeCh]

No need to panic. The older booklet/paper type license are still valid unless any official announcement. Policemen just want to make some quick bucks hence they tell you that way. I have my got my book type license in 2005 and still using it and similar type is been use by my dad, uncle & many relatives and even friends.

So no need to go the digital ones at this moment. Just laminate it properly and keep it safe.

@harshit143 : the use of chip contains all road crimes you committed till date- how many times you got busted by rto chase or jumped signals and any xyz crimes you committed with regards to road transport.

 

[Criminal]

the use of chip contains all road crimes you committed till date- how many times you got busted by rto chase or jumped signals and any xyz crimes you committed with regards to road transport.

i wonder how can one still have his/her chipped-DL after committing "road crimes"?