Driving Licence Pakistan 2026: DLIMS Check, Fees & Learner Permit Guide

By Daniyal Sheikh | 13 November 2026

Getting a driving licence in Pakistan in 2026 is mostly an online job now — but only if you use the right portal. In Punjab, applications have moved to Dastak, the provincial government’s one-window platform, while checking a licence, tracking your card and downloading your e-licence still run on DLIMS.

Here is the short version. A learner permit costs Rs 500 per category. You wait 42 days, pass the sign test and the practical driving test, and pay the licence fee plus Rs 480 for the card and courier. A one-year car licence costs Rs 1,980 in total. Checking whether a licence is genuine is free and takes about a minute.

This guide covers the whole process: verifying a licence, tracking it, getting the e-licence, the learner permit, the tests, the full 2026 fee table, renewal, the international driving permit, and the portals for Sindh, Islamabad and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Driving Licence in Pakistan: Key Facts

How to Verify a Driving Licence Online in Punjab

Verification is the part most people actually need — an employer checking a driver, or a buyer checking a seller’s licence before a deal. It is free, needs no account, and takes about a minute.

Open dlims.punjab.gov.pk/verify. Choose the licence type: regular, international or juvenile. Then enter the CNIC number (or passport number for an international licence) and the licence number, and answer a simple sum. That is the whole check.

A valid result shows the licence status, the categories it covers, and the validity dates. If the page says no record exists, check two things first: that you picked the right tab, and that both numbers were typed exactly as printed. A Punjab licence will not show up on the Sindh or Islamabad portals, and a Sindh licence will not show up on DLIMS — each province keeps its own database.

There is also an SMS route. Send your CNIC number without dashes to 8113 and the reply confirms the licence record. Standard SMS charges apply.

One warning that every guide repeats: no official portal will ever ask for an OTP, an ATM PIN or bank details to show a licence record. Any site asking for those, or for a fee to “verify” a licence, is not the government portal. Genuine portals end in .gov.pk.

Track Your Licence Card and Download the E-Licence

DLIMS has two more free tools on the same portal, and both work without a login.

To track your card, open dlims.punjab.gov.pk/track and enter your CNIC number. The tracker shows whether the card has been printed and dispatched. Cards usually reach applicants in one to three weeks after approval, and you get an SMS when the card is dispatched.

To download the e-licence, open dlims.punjab.gov.pk/elicense, choose your licence type, enter your CNIC and date of birth, answer the sum, and press Generate e-License. The e-licence carries a QR code that traffic police can scan for instant verification, and it is accepted as valid proof even before the physical card arrives by post.

How to Apply: Learner Permit First

Every first licence in Punjab starts with a learner permit. You cannot book the driving test without one.

Apply on Dastak, the Punjab government’s one-window platform, or through the DLIMS portal, which now points applicants to Dastak. You need a valid CNIC, a recent passport-sized photograph and an active mobile number. If your CNIC has expired, renew it first — an expired CNIC means the application is rejected. Our guide to NADRA CNIC renewal online covers that step.

Register with your CNIC and mobile number, pick a date and time slot, and pay the learner fee of Rs 500 per category. A motorcycle learner and a car learner are two separate categories, so both together cost Rs 1,000. The permit is valid for six months and can be printed straight away after payment.

Then you wait. Punjab requires 42 days between the learner permit and the driving test. Use the time to practise — the test itself is the part most first-timers fail.

The Driving Test: Sign Test and Practical Test

The test has two parts. First comes the written sign test, which checks that you know road signs and basic traffic rules. Then comes the practical driving test on the road.

Book the test through Dastak or the DLIMS portal once your 42 days are up. Bring your original CNIC and your learner permit. For HTV and PSV categories you may also need a fitness certificate and an employment letter.

If you fail, you can rebook — but the 42-day learner rule and the fee apply again for the fresh attempt, so it pays to practise the sign test beforehand. Many licensing centres also run the test in the same visit as the learner application for the sign test part, so confirm the schedule when you book.

Driving Licence Fees in Punjab 2026

Punjab charges the licence fee per year of validity, and you choose between one and five years when you apply. The table below is the official DLIMS fee structure for a new one-year licence, as published in September 2026. Every row includes the Rs 480 card and courier charge.

Two notes on the table. First, some guides quote the motorcycle total as Rs 930 and the car total as Rs 1,830 — those figures leave the test fee out. The totals above include everything you actually pay. Second, fees change: always confirm the amount on your DLIMS payment slip before you pay.

Renewal is cheaper than a new licence because there is no test fee. A one-year renewal costs Rs 450 for a motorcycle or Rs 1,350 for a car, plus the Rs 480 courier charge — Rs 930 and Rs 1,830 respectively. Renew late and extra fines apply. If your licence has been expired for more than a year, expect an in-person biometric verification step. If it has lapsed for more than five years, Punjab Police may require you to retake the driving test entirely.

International Driving Permit (IDP) from Pakistan

An International Driving Permit is a translation of your Pakistani licence, recognised under the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic. It is carried with your Pakistani licence when you drive abroad — it never replaces it.

In Punjab, apply through Dastak or at a licensing centre or e-Khidmat Markaz. You need a valid Pakistani licence, your original CNIC, a valid passport and visa, and two recent photographs. The Punjab fee for a car is Rs 1,830 a year (Rs 1,350 licence fee plus Rs 480 courier), and delivery takes about 15 working days. Punjab issues the permit for one to three years.

Be careful with fees here, because they genuinely differ by authority. Islamabad, Peshawar and the Motorway Police quote different amounts — published figures range from Rs 1,000 to Rs 7,000 depending on the issuing office. Confirm the fee at your own issuing office before you pay, and carry both the IDP and your original Pakistani licence when you travel.

Driving Licence in Other Provinces

Punjab’s DLIMS covers Punjab-issued licences only. If your licence was issued elsewhere, use that province’s portal.

Sindh runs DLS Online through the Sindh Police. Islamabad uses the ITP DLIMS portal and the Citizen Facilitation Center. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa starts at the Peshawar Traffic Police. The process is the same shape everywhere — learner permit, wait, test, fee — but the fees and the portal differ, so check the issuing province’s site before you apply. A licence from one province is valid across Pakistan.

What Changed in 2026 — and What to Watch

Two changes matter for anyone applying now. First, DLIMS moved its applications to Dastak, Punjab’s one-window platform. The DLIMS home page itself shows a “We’ve moved to Dastak” message, and learner applications now run through the Dastak app and portal. Verification, tracking and the e-licence still work on dlims.punjab.gov.pk.

Second, City Traffic Police Lahore said on 30 September 2026 that driving licence services across Punjab were temporarily suspended while the DLIMS system was upgraded — learner and regular licences, renewals, upgrades and verification were all affected, with no restoration date given at the time. If a portal page will not load or a service looks paused, check the DLIMS or Dastak page again before visiting a centre in person.

The pattern across all of this is the same as other government checks in Pakistan. Like checking how many SIMs are on your CNIC, licence verification needs only your CNIC and the licence number — no agent, no fee, no visit. And like any official document, the starting point is a valid CNIC: our domicile certificate guide covers another document many applicants need alongside it.

FAQs: Driving Licence in Pakistan

How can I verify a driving licence by CNIC in Punjab?

Open dlims.punjab.gov.pk/verify, choose regular, international or juvenile licence, enter the CNIC number and the licence number, and answer the simple sum. The result shows the licence status, categories and validity dates. Verification is free and needs no login. You can also send your CNIC number without dashes by SMS to 8113.

How much does a learner permit cost in Punjab?

Rs 500 per category. A motorcycle learner costs Rs 500 and a car learner costs Rs 500 — both together cost Rs 1,000. The permit is valid for six months, and you must wait 42 days after getting it before taking the driving test.

What is the total fee for a car driving licence in Punjab?

A new one-year car licence costs Rs 1,980 in total: Rs 150 test fee, Rs 1,350 licence fee and Rs 480 for the card and courier. A one-year renewal costs Rs 1,830 because there is no test fee. Fees are charged per year of validity, and you can choose one to five years.

How long does it take to get a driving licence in Pakistan?

From learner permit to card, expect two to four weeks. The learner permit is issued the same day after the sign test and payment. Then comes the mandatory 42-day wait, then the driving test. The card usually arrives by courier in one to three weeks after approval, and the e-licence is available immediately after passing.

Can I drive with the e-licence before the card arrives?

Yes. The DLIMS e-licence, downloaded from dlims.punjab.gov.pk/elicense, carries a QR code that traffic police can scan. It is accepted as valid proof even before the physical card arrives by post.

What happens if my licence has expired?

Renew it through Dastak — a one-year renewal is Rs 930 for a motorcycle or Rs 1,830 for a car, including courier. Renew late and fines apply. If it has been expired for more than a year, expect in-person biometric verification. If it has lapsed for more than five years, you may have to retake the driving test.

How do I get an International Driving Permit in Pakistan?

Apply through the authority that issued your regular licence — in Punjab, through Dastak or an e-Khidmat Markaz — with your valid licence, CNIC, passport and visa, and two photographs. The Punjab fee for a car is Rs 1,830 a year and delivery takes about 15 working days. Other authorities charge different fees, so confirm at your issuing office.

Is DLIMS verification free?

Yes. Verifying a licence, tracking an application and generating an e-licence on the official DLIMS portal are all free, and none of them needs an account. Fees apply only when you apply for or renew a licence. No official portal will ask for an OTP, ATM PIN or bank details.

Updated 13 November 2026. Fees and portal details were checked against the DLIMS fee structure and Punjab licensing guides published in September–November 2026; confirm the amount on your payment slip before you pay.