Driving License Renewal

Who needs this?

• Anyone whose smart driving licence has expired or is about to expire
• Drivers who want to renew within the three-month window after expiry, before any penalty applies
• People who let their licence lapse and now need to renew it with a late penalty (possible for up to five years after the window closes)
• Public-vehicle drivers, who must also submit a doctor's fitness certificate at renewal
• Anyone who needs an active licence to drive legally and avoid police fines

What documents do you need?

• Your existing smart driving licence — original, plus a photocopy
• Citizenship certificate — original, plus a photocopy
• National ID card or the Nagarik App, if you have them — the new portals can fill in your details from the National ID QR code; without them you type the details in
• A medical fitness certificate — the eye and health check is done at the transport office on your visit
• A mobile number registered in your own name and an email address for the portal

How do you do it, step by step?

1. Check the expiry date on your smart licence: you can renew without penalty until three months after it
2. From 17 July 2026 (Shrawan 1, 2083) renewals are done on your province's EDLVRS portal — open edlvrs.dotm.gov.np and choose your province (Koshi, Madhesh, Bagmati, Gandaki, Lumbini, Karnali or Sudurpashchim)
3. Fill in your details by scanning your National ID QR code or through the Nagarik App, or type them in by hand
4. Choose renewal, select your Transport Management Office and pick an appointment date
5. Pay the renewal fee (plus any late penalty) online on the portal
6. Visit the office on your appointment date with your original documents for the compulsory medical check and biometrics
7. Collect your renewed smart licence once it is printed; the new licence is valid for 10 years

How much does it cost?

Set by each province; doubled from 17 July 2026 (Shrawan 1, 2083) under the provincial Economic Acts, as reported in the press. Category A and K (motorcycle, scooter): NPR 3,000 in all seven provinces. Category B (car, jeep, van): NPR 4,000, or NPR 5,000 in Madhesh. Category C and D: NPR 4,000. Heavy categories G to J: NPR 6,000, or NPR 7,000 in Madhesh. Category E and F fees differ between reports, so check your province's portal. If your licence covers several categories you pay only the highest fee. Late penalty, on top of the fee (Motor Vehicles and Transport Management Act, section 56): 100% if renewed within one year after the three-month window, 200% within two years, 300% within three, 400% within four and 500% within five. After that the licence is cancelled automatically and cannot be renewed.

How long does it take?

The online form and payment take one sitting, and the medical check and biometrics one office visit. There is no official printing time; the press reported in July 2026 that the card backlog had been cleared. A renewed licence is valid for 10 years (raised from 5 years by the 2025 amendment to the Act).

Common mistakes to avoid

• Missing the three-month window after expiry, which adds a penalty of 100% or more on top of the fee
• Leaving the licence unrenewed for more than five years after the window, after which it is cancelled and cannot be renewed
• Still using the old applydlnew portal — renewals moved to the province EDLVRS portals in July 2026
• Budgeting for the old fees: they doubled from 17 July 2026
• Registering the portal with a mobile number that is not in your own name
• Going to the office without the original citizenship and original licence
• Paying online but skipping the in-person medical check, which leaves the renewal incomplete

Official sources

Before you go — your checklist

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