The short answer: The driving licence forms under the Central Motor Vehicles Rules 1989 each serve a distinct purpose. Form 1 is your self-declaration of fitness; Form 1A is the doctor-signed medical certificate; Form 2 is the application for a learner's or driving licence; Form 4 is the application for a driving licence to drive a motor vehicle; Form 6 and Form 9 relate to renewal and duplicate/licence-service applications. Most applicants need only two or three of them.
The Forms at a Glance
| Form | Purpose | Who fills it |
|---|---|---|
| Form 1 | Self-declaration of physical fitness | You |
| Form 1A | Medical fitness certificate | A registered doctor |
| Form 2 | Application for a licence | You |
| Form 4 | Application for a driving licence | You |
| Form 6 | Licence renewal-related application | You |
| Form 9 | Renewal of driving licence | You |
Only Form 1A requires anyone other than you. Every other form on this list is completed by the applicant.
Form 1 — Self-Declaration of Physical Fitness
Form 1 is your own declaration that you have no medical condition making it unsafe for you to drive. It covers vision, hearing, epilepsy or sudden loss of consciousness, and limb function. No doctor, no fee, no examination.
It is submitted with learner's licence and driving licence applications in most states. Our field-by-field Form 1 guide covers each entry and the upload process.
Form 1A — Medical Fitness Certificate
Form 1A is issued under Rule 5 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules 1989 and is the only form here that a doctor must complete. A registered medical practitioner examines you, records findings, and signs with their registration number and seal.
Required for transport and commercial categories at every renewal, and for private licence applicants aged 40 and above. See how to fill Form 1A for the split between your section and the doctor's.
Form 1 and Form 1A are constantly confused. If a doctor signs it, it is Form 1A. If you sign it yourself, it is Form 1.
Form 2 — Application for a Licence
Form 2 is the application form itself — the document on which you formally request a learner's licence or driving licence. It captures your personal particulars, the vehicle classes you are applying for, and your declaration that the information is accurate.
Filling it
- Enter your name and parentage exactly as on your identity proof.
- Give the address supported by the address proof you are submitting.
- Select the vehicle class or classes you are applying for. Getting this wrong means reapplying.
- Complete the declaration and sign it.
When you apply through Parivahan Sarathi, most of Form 2 is completed on-screen and generated for you — you fill in the online form rather than a paper one.
Form 4 — Application for a Driving Licence
Form 4 is the application used when you move from a learner's licence to a full driving licence, covering the vehicle class you have learned to drive.
Filling it
- Quote your learner's licence number and its validity dates.
- Specify the vehicle class you are applying to be licensed for.
- Confirm your particulars match your learner's licence exactly — the RTO cross-checks.
- Sign the declaration.
Form 4 is submitted alongside the driving test booking. If Form 1A is required for your age or category, it accompanies this application.
Form 6 and Form 9 — Renewal and Licence Services
Form 9 is the application for renewal of a driving licence. It is the form you use when your licence is approaching or past its expiry date.
Form 6 relates to licence-service applications in the renewal family. Which of the two your state asks for depends on the specific service and is shown on the Sarathi checklist when you select the service.
For renewals, this is where the medical certificate requirement bites: if you are 40 or above, or renewing a transport licence, Form 1A accompanies the renewal application. See our renewal guide.
Which Forms Do You Actually Need?
| What you are applying for | Forms typically needed |
|---|---|
| Learner's licence, under 40 | Form 1 + application (Form 2) |
| Learner's licence, 40 or above | Form 1 + Form 1A + application |
| Driving licence after learner's | Form 4 (+ Form 1A if 40 or above) |
| Renewal, under 40, private | Renewal application (Form 9) |
| Renewal, 40 or above | Renewal application + Form 1A |
| Transport licence renewal, any age | Renewal application + Form 1A |
The authoritative list for your application is the document checklist Sarathi shows once you select your state, service, and licence category. Use the table as orientation, not as a substitute for that checklist.
General Rules for Filling Any RTO Form
- Match your documents exactly — name spelling, parentage, address, date of birth.
- Leave nothing blank. Write "No" or "N/A" rather than skipping a field.
- No correction fluid or overwriting. Reprint and start again.
- Sign and date every form. Unsigned forms are invalid, not incomplete.
- Upload legible scans. The whole page, in focus, nothing cropped.
- Keep copies of everything you submit.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Form 6 in a driving licence application?
Form 6 is a licence-service application in the renewal family under the Central Motor Vehicles Rules. Which form your state asks for depends on the specific service you select, and the requirement is shown on the Parivahan Sarathi checklist.
What is the difference between Form 2 and Form 4?
Form 2 is the application for a licence, used when applying for a learner’s licence or driving licence. Form 4 is the application for a driving licence covering the vehicle class you have learned to drive, submitted when moving from a learner’s licence to a full licence.
How do I fill CMV Form 1?
CMV Form 1 is the self-declaration of physical fitness under the Central Motor Vehicles Rules 1989. Enter your personal particulars exactly as on your identity documents, answer each health declaration, then sign and date it. No doctor is involved.
Which RTO form needs a doctor’s signature?
Only Form 1A. Every other driving licence form in this group — Form 1, 2, 4, 6 and 9 — is completed and signed by the applicant.
Do I fill these forms on paper or online?
Most are completed on-screen through the Parivahan Sarathi portal, which generates the filled form for you. Form 1A is the exception — it is a physical certificate a doctor completes and signs, which you then scan and upload.
What is Form 9 used for?
Form 9 is the application for renewal of a driving licence, used when your licence is approaching or past its expiry date. If you are 40 or above, or renewing a transport licence, Form 1A accompanies it.