When you can drive on your home licence, the exact steps to get an Indian one, or the route many assignees choose, a driver. Honest, practical, and step-by-step.
Getting around India behind the wheel has three honest answers: drive on your foreign licence at first, get an Indian licence if you'll stay and drive, or do what many assignees do given the traffic, hire a driver. None is wrong; it depends on your city, commute and comfort. Here's each, with the exact licence process and what it costs.
~1 yr
Drive on a valid foreign licence
~₹1,000
IDP, from your home country
₹15-30k
Full-time driver, per month
₹150-300
A 10 km ride-hail
Do this before you fly
Get an International Driving Permit (IDP) in your home country if your licence isn't in English, it's issued where your licence is and cannot easily be obtained once you've left. With it (plus your home licence), you can drive in India for roughly your first year. Carry both, plus your passport.
Your three options
1 · Your foreign licenceDrive on it (with an IDP if needed) for up to about a year
2 · An Indian licenceApply at your local RTO if you will stay and drive yourself
3 · Hire a driverThe popular choice, affordable, and far less stressful
Or skip itUber, Ola, Rapido and metros cover most daily trips
Option 1 · At first
Driving on your foreign licence
For your first months you can usually drive on your valid foreign licence, provided it's in English, otherwise carry an IDP alongside it. This generally holds for up to about a year from arrival (or until your visa expires, whichever is first). India drives on the left; traffic is fast, busy and improvisational, so give yourself time before city-centre driving.
Option 2 · The step-by-step
Getting an Indian licence
It's done at the RTO (Regional Transport Office) for where you live, through the national Sarathi (Parivahan) portal. How a valid foreign licence is treated, and whether the driving test is waived, varies by state, so your consultant confirms the local route. The general path:
1
Gather your documentsPassport & visa, FRRO/Residential Permit or address proof, your valid foreign licence (a translation/embassy attestation may be asked for), a medical certificate (Form 1 self-declaration, or Form 1A from a doctor if you're 40+ or applying for a transport licence), and passport photos.
2
Apply for a Learner's LicenceOn Sarathi: submit the learner's application (Form 2) with your documents, pay the fee, book a slot, and pass the computer test on road signs & rules, your learner's licence is then issued.
3
Apply for the permanent licence & take the testAfter the learner's period, apply for the permanent licence (Form 4) and pass the driving test of competence. Some states recognise a valid foreign licence and simplify or waive the test, confirm locally.
4
Receive your Indian licenceOn passing, your permanent licence is issued (often a smart card by post). It's valid across India.
Your IKAN consultant can guide you through the local RTO and the documents, the process and test requirement genuinely vary by state, so confirm the current route for your city.
Option 3 · The easy life
Hiring a driver, or riding
It's why so many assignees never drive here: a full-time driver turns a stressful commute into desk-time. Hire through a reputable agency or by referral, we'll help you find someone vetted. Prefer flexibility? Uber, Ola and Rapido are everywhere, and the metros are excellent. Typical 2026 costs:
Drive on the leftRight-hand-drive cars; overtaking on the right
Carry your papersLicence, RC, insurance & PUC (emissions) certificate
FASTag for tollsA windscreen tag auto-pays highway tolls
Expect the unexpectedHorns, two-wheelers, animals, drive defensively
Buying, leasing or a company car? Many assignees lease or use a company car with a driver, often simplest. Buying makes sense only for longer stays. Either way, at least third-party insurance is required by law; comprehensive is strongly advised, and a driver should be covered too.
Where expertise meets empathy, supporting your move to India, every step of the way. Reflects 2026 driving-licence and RTO practice; rules vary by state and change, your consultant will confirm the current specifics for your city.
