Motor Vehicles Act Section 15 — Renewal of driving licences
CHAPTER II LICENSING OF DRIVERS OF MOTOR VEHICLES
Civil
Summary
Sub-section (1) allows any licensing authority to renew a driving licence upon application, with the renewal taking effect from the date the licence expired. However, if the renewal application is made either one year before the expiry date or within one year after the expiry date, the renewed licence takes effect from the date of renewal itself, not from the original expiry date. Additionally, if the application is for renewing a licence to drive a transport vehicle, or if the applicant is forty years of age or older, the application must include a medical certificate in the same form and manner as required under sub-section (3) of section 8, and the provisions of sub-section (4) of section 8 apply to such cases as they do to a learner's licence.
Sub-section (2) states that an application for renewal of a driving licence must be made in the form and with the documents prescribed by the Central Government.
Sub-section (3) provides that when a renewal application is made before the licence expires, or not more than one year after its expiry, the renewal fee is the amount prescribed by the Central Government.
Sub-section (4) covers applications made more than one year after the licence's expiry, stating that the fee for such renewal is the amount prescribed by the Central Government. However, the licensing authority may accept the lower fee from sub-section (3) if it is satisfied that the applicant had good and sufficient cause for not applying within the time limit in sub-section (3). Further, if the application is made more than one year after the licence has ceased to be effective, the licensing authority must refuse to renew the licence unless the applicant undergoes and passes a test of competence to drive, as referred to in sub-section (3) of section 9.
Sub-section (5) says that if a renewal application is rejected, the fee paid will be refunded to the extent and in the manner prescribed by the Central Government.
Sub-section (6) requires that if the authority renewing the licence is different from the one that originally issued it, the renewing authority must inform the issuing authority about the renewal.
Official Text
(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 expiry:
Provided that in any case where the application for the renewal of a licence is made 1[either one year prior to date of its expiry or within one year] after the date of its expiry, the driving licence shall be renewed with effect from the date of its renewal:
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 2[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 2[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 3[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.