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लाइसेन्स नवीकरण · वर्ग थप · Print Status

Driving Licence Renewal & Category Add in Nepal

Already have a Nepali driving licence? Use this guide to renew it, add another vehicle category, prepare the right documents, avoid portal mistakes, and check whether your smart-card licence has been printed.

Transport · 13 min read · Updated

Renewal
Mostly office-led; confirm current counter process
Category add
Apply through official DoTM online system
Carry original
Citizenship + existing licence
DoTM quota
Office/category quota must be available
Missed visit
Reapply only after 15 days, per DoTM instructions
Print status
Official licence search / print-check links

Choose the route

What do you need today?

Prepare first

Documents and details to keep ready

Renewal and category-add both start with identity and licence-record matching. Small spelling, date-of-birth or category mistakes can waste the office visit.

Your preparation

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Only checklist tick marks are saved on this device. Tools Pasal never stores your licence number, date of birth, citizenship, phone number or application details.

Renewal

1. Driving licence renewal process

Licence renewal is different from a new-licence application. You already have a licence record, so the main work is verifying your existing record, paying the current renewal fee and any late fine, and submitting the renewal/biometric steps required by your office.

  1. 1

    Check the expiry and office

    Look at your licence expiry date, category and issuing/nearest transport office. Renewal is office-led, so confirm the current counter process before visiting.

  2. 2

    Prepare original licence and identity

    Carry your original driving licence, citizenship/identity document, copies and payment method. If the licence is damaged or lost, ask the office for the duplicate route first.

  3. 3

    Complete verification, payment and biometrics if asked

    The office verifies your record, collects the renewal fee/fine if any, and may update photo/biometrics or medical/eyesight information.

  4. 4

    Keep the receipt until card collection

    Smart-card printing can take time. Keep the renewal receipt or temporary paper/license proof and check the official print-status links later.

Category add

2. How category add works

Category add means adding a new class to an existing licence. For example, someone with a two-wheeler licence may add car/light vehicle category, or a heavy-vehicle holder may add another category. The official DoTM system treats category add together with new licence applications for quota, visit date, document upload and office verification.

  1. 1

    Apply from the official DoTM portal

    Create/use one applicant profile, choose category add, pick an office and apply only when the quota for that office/category is available.

  2. 2

    Upload identity and existing licence scans

    DoTM instructions say original scanned identity documents are required, and category-add forms can be cancelled if existing licence category details are entered wrong.

  3. 3

    Visit office for verification and biometrics

    Carry original citizenship and original licence. The official portal says offices verify details and take biometrics on listed office days except public holidays.

  4. 4

    Take written exam/trial if required

    Some add-category cases require written and practical tests. DoTM says D, E, F and G licence holders must take the written exam when adding another category.

  5. 5

    Pay and wait for smart card

    After passing/approval, pay official fees and keep the receipt. Then use smart-card licence search and print check until the card is ready.

Apply / login ↗Official DoTM online driving licence system.Check quota ↗Office/category quota link referenced by DoTM instructions.Likhit practice →Practice official written-exam questions.

Avoid rejection

4. Common mistakes in renewal and category add

  • Creating more than one applicant profile in the official portal.
  • Entering a wrong existing licence category while applying for category add.
  • Using a different date of birth than the licence/citizenship record.
  • Uploading unclear scans of citizenship, passport or licence.
  • Missing the office visit date and losing time before reapplication.
  • Going to written or trial exam without original citizenship and original licence.
  • Checking print status with a mistyped licence number.

5. Related Tools Pasal help

New Driving Licence Guide →For first-time applicants, written exam and trial process.Likhit Exam Practice →Practice official question-bank style MCQs.Date Converter →Convert BS/AD dates for expiry, visit date and DOB checks.Image Compressor →Compress document scans before upload.

Accuracy record

Official sources

Reviewed on . Government portals, fees and procedures can change; the linked official pages remain authoritative.

FAQ

Licence renewal and category-add questions

Is licence renewal the same as category add?

No. Renewal extends or updates an existing licence. Category add means adding another vehicle class such as A, K or B to an existing licence, and it can require online application, biometrics, written exam and trial depending on category.

What is the official portal for category add in Nepal?

The official DoTM online driving licence system is applydlnew.dotm.gov.np. It is used for new licence and category-add applications, applicant profile, office/category quota and visit date.

Do I need my original old licence for category add?

Yes. DoTM instructions say applicants must carry original citizenship and original licence for category add when visiting the office for biometric, written and practical examination steps.

How do I check smart-card licence print status?

Use the official DoTM licence print check link or the printed-licence notices on dotm.gov.np. You may need your licence number and date of birth. If your office has received a printed batch, collect from the relevant office with receipt/ID.

Why does the print check show no record?

It can mean the card is not printed yet, your details do not match, your office batch has not been uploaded, or the portal is temporarily unavailable. Recheck the licence number/date of birth and contact the office if it stays missing.

What happens if I miss the office visit date for category add?

DoTM instructions say if an applicant misses the office visit date for verification/biometrics, the application can be submitted again only after 15 days from the missed visit date.

Can I create another applicant profile if quota is not available?

No. DoTM instructions say an applicant should not create more than one applicant profile. Wait for quota availability rather than creating duplicate profiles.

Are renewal fees the same everywhere?

Fees and fines can depend on current law, category and office/province implementation. The safest answer is to confirm the exact payable amount at the selected Transport Management Office or official portal/counter.