Parivahan Sewa
Parivahan Sewa is the Government of India's online platform for road transport services, run by the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways. It brings together Sarathi for driving licences, Vahan for vehicle registration, and e-Challan for traffic fines. Almost every RTO and traffic service across the country is now available online through this single gateway.
Three services, one portal
Parivahan Sewa splits into three service families. Whatever you need to do, it falls under one of these. Pick the one that matches your task to see every related guide.
Driving Licence
Powered by Sarathi. Apply for a learner's or permanent licence, renew it, download it, update your details, or get an international permit.
Explore licence servicesVehicle Services
Powered by Vahan. Register a vehicle, download or transfer your RC, renew it, book an HSRP plate, or check ownership details.
Explore vehicle servicese-Challan
Powered by e-Challan. Check pending traffic fines against your vehicle or licence, pay challans online, and raise a dispute if needed.
Explore e-Challan servicesPopular services
The tasks people come to Parivahan Sewa for most often, drawn from both licence and vehicle services. Jump straight to the guide you need.
About Parivahan Sewa
A few things worth knowing about how the portal works before you begin.
The Three Systems
Sarathi, Vahan & e-Challan
Sarathi handles driving licences, Vahan handles vehicle registration, and e-Challan handles traffic fines, all under the Parivahan umbrella.
Official Portal
parivahan.gov.in
The single national gateway, run by the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, covering every state and union territory.
Aadhaar Authentication
Contactless services
Linking Aadhaar lets you complete many services online without visiting an RTO, using OTP-based verification.
Digital Documents
mParivahan & DigiLocker
Your DL and RC can be carried digitally on these apps and are accepted by traffic police across India.
What You Need
Mobile + documents
A mobile number for OTPs and scanned copies of your proof of age, address, and identity cover most applications.
Coverage
All states & UTs
Services are standardised nationwide, though some fees and processing times vary slightly between states.
Which service do I need?
Not sure where your task belongs? The split is simple once you know it: anything about you as a driver lives under Sarathi, anything about your vehicle lives under Vahan, and traffic fines live under e-Challan. Find your task below.
The most common mix-up: updating your address on your licence is a Sarathi service, while updating your vehicle's details is a Vahan service. They are separate records, so changing one does not change the other.
How Parivahan Sewa works
Whichever service you pick, the online flow follows the same three steps. Many tasks can now be completed without ever visiting an RTO.
Pick your service
Choose the right system for your task: Sarathi for licences, Vahan for vehicles, or e-Challan for fines.
Verify your identity
Sign in with your mobile number and an OTP. Aadhaar e-KYC unlocks faster, contactless processing.
Apply, pay & download
Fill the form, pay any fee online, track the status, and download your digital document when it's ready.
Carry it on your phone
Once issued, your driving licence and RC can be carried digitally on two official apps. Both are accepted by traffic police across India, so you don't need the physical card on you.
mParivahan
The Ministry's own app. Holds your digital DL and RC, lets you verify any vehicle's details, check challans, and access RTO information on the go.
Available on Android and iOS.
DigiLocker
The government's document wallet. It pulls your DL and RC straight from the Parivahan database, so the copies are official and always up to date.
Available on Android and iOS.
Frequently asked questions
The orientation questions people ask most often about the Parivahan Sewa portal.
What's the difference between Sarathi and Vahan?
They are the two halves of Parivahan Sewa. Sarathi handles everything about the driver, meaning driving licences and learner's licences. Vahan handles everything about the vehicle, meaning registration and the RC. A traffic fine is handled by a third system, e-Challan.
Is Parivahan Sewa the same as mParivahan?
Not quite. Parivahan Sewa is the website where you apply for and manage services. mParivahan is the companion mobile app, mainly used to carry your digital DL and RC and to verify vehicle details. Both are run by the same ministry and share the same records.
Do I need separate logins for licence and vehicle services?
Yes, usually. Sarathi and Vahan are separate systems, so you typically create an account on each when you first use it. Both verify you through your mobile number and OTP, and Aadhaar linking works across them.
Is the Parivahan Sewa website free and official?
Yes. parivahan.gov.in is the official Government of India portal and is free to use. You only pay the prescribed government fees for the service itself. Be wary of look-alike sites that charge extra to "help" with applications.
Can I use Parivahan Sewa from any state?
Yes. The portal covers every state and union territory, and you select your state and RTO during the process. The core services are the same nationwide, though some fees and processing times vary slightly by state.