New vehicle buyers in Tamil Nadu will soon be able to download their Registration Certificate (RC) online on the same day, instead of waiting for a physical card to arrive by post. Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay announced in the Assembly on Wednesday that the state will roll out digital driving licences and vehicle registration certificates from September 15.
The Chief Minister said applicants who clear their driving test will also receive their digital licence immediately, doing away with the wait that currently stretches from one week to a month for chip-based physical cards.
What changes from September 15
Under the current system, applicants pay Rs 250 for a chip-embedded driving licence or RC, which is printed and dispatched by post. This process can take anywhere between a week and a month to reach the applicant. From September 15, citizens will be able to download the digital versions of these documents directly from the internet, cutting out this waiting period entirely.
New vehicle owners will be able to download their digital RC as soon as their registration is processed. Similarly, candidates who pass their driving test will get their digital licence the same day, without needing to wait for a card to be printed and delivered.
QR codes to replace embedded chips
Unlike the current physical cards, which use embedded chips, the new digital licences and RCs will carry QR codes. Officials at Regional Transport Offices and other authorised agencies will be able to scan these codes to instantly verify a document's authenticity. The government said this is expected to make it harder to circulate fake or counterfeit licences and RCs.
The digital format will also make it easier for people to deal with lost or damaged documents. Instead of applying for a fresh duplicate, users will be able to simply re-download and print their digital licence or RC whenever needed.
Part of a larger push to cut RTO visits
Announcing the move under Rule 110 in the Assembly, the Chief Minister said the reform was aimed at reducing delays, cutting down unnecessary physical visits to RTOs, and building a more transparent, corruption-free administration.
He added that the digital rollout is part of a broader plan called the "Anywhere Registration/Licensing" system, which will eventually allow citizens to apply for and manage transport-related services, including registration and licensing, at any RTO across Tamil Nadu, regardless of where they live. This wider system will be introduced in phases.
(With agency inputs)
