FAQ
Everything people ask us
Straight answers on licences, Form 5B, accreditation and the platform — the same answers we'd give you across a table.
For licence seekers
Can I really get a driving licence without giving a test at the RTO?
Yes. If you complete training at a government-accredited driver training centre (ADTC) and pass its automated test, the centre issues Form 5B. Under the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, the RTO then issues your driving licence on the strength of that certificate, without requiring you to take the RTO driving test. You still submit a normal licence application with documents and fees — only the test is waived.
What is Form 5B?
Form 5B is the driving training certificate defined in Rule 31E(iii) of the CMVR, issued only by accredited centres to trainees who complete the mandated course and pass the centre's test. It's the document that exempts you from the RTO driving test. At DigiChalak centres it carries a QR code and is delivered to your DigiLocker.
How long does the training take?
For a car (LMV): 29 hours within a maximum of four weeks — 8 hours of theory, 21 hours of practical including simulator sessions. Two-wheeler courses run 20 sessions within two weeks. Commercial (HMV) training is 38 hours over six weeks. These hours are set by Rule 31J and are the same at every accredited centre in India.
Do I still need a learner's licence first?
Yes. Get your learner's licence through Parivahan Sarathi as usual, and hold it for at least 30 days before taking the final test at the centre. Your training can begin during this period.
What does ADTC training cost?
Fees are set by each centre and vary by city and vehicle class. Expect to pay more than at a bare-minimum driving school — you're getting track time, simulators, structured hours and a certificate with legal standing. All fees at DigiChalak centres are collected digitally with receipts.
What if I fail the automated test?
You see your scoresheet immediately, with video of each manoeuvre, so you know exactly what to fix. Centres prescribe focused re-training on weak skills and schedule a re-test. There's no examiner to convince — improve the driving and the sensors will pass you.
For centre owners
What exactly does DigiChalak sell?
A complete operating system for a driver training centre: track sensors and cameras (sized to your tier), an edge unit that scores tests in real time, and cloud software that runs candidates, attendance, syllabus tracking, statutory forms, payments and audits. Hardware plus SaaS, installed and supported.
We're not accredited yet. Where do we start?
With a site survey. We map your land against the mandated track geometry, quote the exact kit, install and calibrate it, and prepare the evidence pack for your Form 12A accreditation application to the State Transport Authority. Most centres go from survey to application-ready in weeks.
What does it cost?
It depends on four things: your accreditation tier, how much civil work your track still needs, how much existing hardware we can reuse, and how many vehicles you run. Rather than publish a range that would be wrong for most centres, we do a free site survey and give you a fixed, line-itemised quote — usually within a week. You can pay as a one-time setup plus a platform subscription, or per Form 5B certificate issued. Tell us your tier and track size on the first call and we'll give you an indicative band straight away.
Does it work with unreliable internet?
Yes — by design. The edge unit scores tests locally and queues all evidence, syncing when connectivity returns. A broadband outage never stops a test or loses a byte of video.
How does DigiChalak protect us in audits?
Everything Rule 31F asks for is continuously maintained: Form 14 register, Form 15 logs, training evidence, insurance and instructor records. The full audit pack exports in one click, and 5-year retention with hash-chained video means a surprise inspection finds exactly what the last one did — order.
Can it manage multiple centres?
Yes. Multi-centre operators get a consolidated scoreboard — utilisation, pass rates, compliance status per site — and State Transport Authorities can be given a read-only oversight portal.
About the rules
What law governs accredited driver training centres?
Rules 31B to 31J of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 — inserted by notification GSR 394(E) of June 2021, effective 1 July 2021 — plus MoRTH's scheme guidelines. They define accreditation (Form 11A), infrastructure, the syllabus (Rule 31J), operating obligations (Rule 31E), audits (Rule 31F) and penalties (Rule 31G).
Is the ADTC certificate valid across India?
Form 5B is defined in central rules that apply nationwide. Your licence application is processed by your own state's RTO under its procedures.
Are ordinary driving schools the same as ADTCs?
No. Ordinary schools (licensed under Form 3/Form 5 rules) teach driving but their certificates don't waive the RTO test. Only centres accredited under Rule 31B — with tracks, simulators, biometric attendance and automated evaluation — can issue Form 5B.
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