Lost your driving license, here's how you can get it back. I know its a lot of trouble, all those cops pulling you over and without any questions asked fining you up to Rs.200 or even a 1000 bucks for this small mishap. You feel terribly violated , after all you are licensed to drive, only that you do not have a license, the records wouldn't have any problems.

But, being a third world world country as it is, we do not have the latest online patrol cars going around with all systems online. Rather, its the pot-bellied ruthless undiplomatic khakiwallah policeman/woman. So you got to have the license, duplicates are sufficient but when you don't have even a duplicate one or a photocopied one, you are bound to receive some trouble from our esteemed khakiwallah's. They treat you like a terrorist. I have experience.

Well here's a lowdown on how to get a duplicate license issued from the Motor Vehicle's Department.

STEP1: get your driving license number. If you have saved a scanned copy or at lease have the license number alone both are helpful.

So, what happens when you don't know you driving license number. So here we go, you can either try asking the driving school people if they have any record of your driving license, as it would be convenient as they would be more close to home rather than the MVD, where you can go to the PRO(Public Relation Office) and ask for help. They would require details like year of issue and approximate time of issue and also would require your name, address, and an ID like your Voter's card etc to be able to ascertain your identity.

STEP2: By now, I hope you are in the know about your driving license number. Now, after you've got your driving license number you could either get the forms and follow procedure and submit an application for a duplicate driving license or (recommended) get a police certificate stating that you have lost your driving license. This is in light of all the the complications that could arise of the times that we live in now, with all the mayhem about terrorists, threatening mails and all the fake ID market etc.

At the POLICE STATION, write a letter to the Inspector or whomever concerned stating that your driving license with number XX/**/****/**** has been missing/lost from within the precincts of the station. And request his help in issuing a certificate that states the same. After making a preliminary search they would provide you with a certificate stating that your license number XX/**/****/**** has been lost. This certificate is accepted by most policemen as a substitute for your original driving license while conducting random checks, but is not applicable everywhere.

The certificate you obtained from the POLICE STATION would make things faster and more simpler to move in the Motor Vehicles Department, while trying to get a duplicate license issued.

STEP3: the AFFIDAVIT and the form works. As is the case in any government function, there is paper work involved and a lot of signs and running around the post, here let me try to make is a little simpler.

AFFIDAVIT- you've got to make a affidavit (on a stamp paper of Rs.20 or higher, maybe Rs50) stating that you've lost the license and in case it is found again, you will surrender the same, alongside your name, details of your residence and the license number mentioned in it, and in the add a line requesting them to issue duplicate driving license.

DLLD Form (Intimation of loss or destructio of driving licence and appplication for duplicate, see RULE41), or the driving license duplicate form. This form has to be filled out and then a signature from the Motor vehicle Department Inspector has to obtained.

There might be some other forms that have to be filled out, as per what the temperament of the people in the particular MVD are. Although the process is supposed to be uniform over al India, it is not the case.

STEP4: Collect all the above documents and file it with the PRO office or the designated office
and also give along with these documents an self-addressed envelope affixed with Rs.25/- worth of postage stamps.

The payment for the issue of the Duplicate driving license should be paid before 1PM. As, they usually close the cash counters by then. The challaan of Rs.250/-; Rs.200/- for the Issue of Duplicate DL and a service charge of Rs.50/-.

The whole process shouldn't cost you more than Rs.500 including the small "tip" bribes for the police.

Hope you benefit from this write. Happy driving and always put your seatbelt on, you don't want to get charged!