New driving licence (smart card)
नयाँ सवारी चालक अनुमतिपत्र (स्मार्ट लाइसेन्स)
Responsible office
Transport Management Office (licence), run by the provincial government; the federal Department of Transport Management (DoTM) runs the national system and arranges card printing
यातायात व्यवस्था कार्यालय (सवारी चालक अनुमतिपत्र)
01 · Before you apply
Essential information
Legal basis
Motor Vehicles and Transport Management Act, 2049 (सवारी तथा यातायात व्यवस्था ऐन, २०४९) and Regulations, 2054; fees set by each province's Finance Act 2083 (e.g. Bagmati Economic Bill 2083); DoTM Guideline 2083 on electronic driving-licence services (विद्युतिय माध्यमबाट सवारी चालक अनुमतिपत्र सम्बन्धी सेवा प्रवाह गर्ने निर्देशिका, २०८३), dated 16 Asoj 2083
Fee information as of
FY 2083/84 (Bagmati only; other provinces not found)
Source updated
16 Asoj 2083 BS (DoTM Guideline 2083, title only); fees from news on the Bagmati Finance Bill 2083, 1 Jul 2026 (Asar 17, 2083)
Data confidence
medium
02 · Prepare
Documents you need
Bring original documents together with readable photocopies. Names, dates and record details should match across every document.
- Citizenship certificate (नागरिकता प्रमाणपत्र): a photocopy when you hand in the form, and the original at the written test, at the trial and when you collect the card
- The verification page printed from the online application, if you registered online
- Health certificate (स्वास्थ्य परीक्षण प्रमाणपत्र). DoTM has asked provinces to accept one from any doctor registered with the Nepal Medical Council (circular of Asar 32, 2083). Check what your office accepts.
- Admit card (प्रवेशपत्र) and payment receipt for the written test, and the trial payment receipt for the trial
- Recent passport-size and auto-size photos when you collect the card. The number needed is not published, so confirm at the office.
- You must attend in person, because fingerprints, photo and signature are taken at the office
03 · At the office
Step-by-step process
- 1
Register online (DoTM online licence application / EDLVRS) and print the verification page, or register at the office.
- 2
Hand in the form at the Transport Management Office (licence). Your fingerprints, photo and signature are taken, and your colour vision and blood group are checked.
- 3
Sit the written test (लिखित परीक्षा): 20 multiple-choice questions on traffic rules, transport law and basic vehicle mechanics. You need at least 10 correct. Results usually come out the same day. (This exam format comes from 2020 guidance and may have changed.)
- 4
Take the practical driving test (ट्रायल) on the date the office gives you, in your own vehicle or a hired one.
- 5
After you pass the trial, pay the licence fee at the office. You no longer need to carry a paper receipt. Pay within 18 months, or you must start again.
- 6
The office sends your details to DoTM by 5 pm the same day, and the Security Printing Centre prints the smart card within about 24 hours.
- 7
The card is posted to your office. Check the printed-licence list on dotm.gov.np, then collect the card with your original citizenship certificate.
04 · Cost
Fees and charges
Application fee (आवेदन दस्तुर)
Bagmati, FY 2083/84 (was Rs 500). This seems to cover the written exam. No FY 2083/84 figure was found for other provinces.
Rs 1,000
Licence fee: Category A (motorcycle, scooter)
Bagmati, FY 2083/84 (was Rs 1,500)
Rs 3,000
Licence fee: Category K (scooter)
Older guidance (2020/22) charged the same as Category A
Not published — confirm at the office
Licence fee: Category B (car, jeep, van), C (tempo), D (power tiller)
Bagmati, FY 2083/84 (was Rs 2,000)
Rs 4,000
Licence fee: Category E (tractor), F (minibus, minitruck)
Bagmati, FY 2083/84 (was Rs 2,500)
Rs 5,000
Licence fee: Categories G, H, I, J (truck, bus, loader, roller, dozer, crane, excavator and other heavy equipment)
Bagmati, FY 2083/84 (was Rs 3,000)
Rs 6,000
Trial retest fee
The trial fee was Rs 500 in 2020 guidance
Not published — confirm at the office
Medical certificate
Not published — confirm with the doctor or clinic
06 · Read carefully
Important notes
- Since federalism, all 42 Transport Management Offices are run by provincial governments. DoTM (federal) runs the national software, sets national guidelines and arranges printing at the Security Printing Centre.
- Retakes (2020 guidance): if you fail the written test, reapply 90 days after registration. If you fail the trial, you can retest after 30 days. A third trial failure means starting again from the beginning.
- The backlog of about 2.7 million unprinted licences was declared cleared on Asar 32, 2083 (16 July 2026). New cards are now printed within a day of the fee being paid.
- Bagmati doubled its licence fees from Shrawan 1, 2083. Fees in other provinces may differ, so check with your provincial office.
- Older guidance also asked for a Rs 10 revenue stamp with the form. This may no longer apply.
- applydl.dotm.gov.np appeared in search results but was not opened during this research. The EDLVRS link is taken from the DoTM homepage.
07 · Where to go
Office information
Address
Department of Transport Management, Minbhawan, Kathmandu
Office hours
Mon–Fri 09:00–17:00 (summer, Magh 16–Kartik 15); 09:00–16:00 (winter, Kartik 16–Magh 15) (DoTM)
Phone
+977-1-4574921Website
https://dotm.gov.np08 · Verification