mParivahan App —
Complete Guide 2026

What is mParivahan? Is it Official?

mParivahan (currently called NextGen mParivahan) is the official mobile application of India's Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH). It is developed and maintained by the National Informatics Centre (NIC) — the same government body that built the Vahan and Sarathi national transport databases.

The app connects directly to the centralised Vahan and Sarathi databases covering all 1,300+ RTOs across India. This means every document you see on the app — DL, RC, insurance status, challan records — comes directly from the official government database in real time, not from a local copy on your phone.

Is the Digital DL and RC from mParivahan Legally Valid?

Yes — completely. Under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 (as amended) and the Information Technology Act, 2000, digital documents stored on mParivahan and DigiLocker are legally equivalent to their physical counterparts. Traffic police across India are required to accept them.

Each virtual document carries an encrypted, dynamic QR code that traffic police scan to verify the document against the live government database in real time. This is more reliable than a physical card, which could be fake, expired, or tampered with.

Key Facts About the App

All Features at a Glance

mParivahan is not just a document wallet — it is a complete transport services platform. Here is everything you can do with the app:

How to Download the App Safely

This step is more important than it sounds. There are several fake mParivahan clones on both the Google Play Store and Apple App Store that mimic the official app's interface and logo — some contain malware. Always verify you are downloading the official version.

Android (Google Play Store)

• 1
  Open the Google Play Store on your Android phone.
• 2
  Search for "NextGen mParivahan" in the search bar.
• 3
  In the search results, look for the app with the blue and white wheel/gear logo. Critically, verify that the developer name shows exactly as "NIC eGov Mobile Apps" — not any other name.
• 4
  Tap "Install." The app is approximately 30–50 MB. Once installed, tap "Open."

iPhone / iPad (Apple App Store)

• 1
  Open the App Store on your iPhone or iPad.
• 2
  Search for "NextGen mParivahan" or "mParivahan NIC."
• 3
  Verify the developer is "National Informatics Centre" and tap "Get" to download.

How to Set Up Your mParivahan Account

Setting up takes about 2–3 minutes. Use the same mobile number that is registered with your RTO for best results — this ensures OTPs for DL and RC verification reach you.

• 1
  Open the NextGen mParivahan app. Swipe through the intro screens and tap "Sign In / Sign Up."
• 2
  Tap "Sign Up" if you are a new user. Enter your 10-digit mobile number and tap "Send OTP."
• 3
  Enter the OTP received via SMS and tap "Verify."
• 4
  Fill in your basic details: full name, date of birth, email address. Create a username and a strong password (minimum 8 characters, mix of letters and numbers).
• 5
  Set a 4-digit MPIN (Mobile PIN) for quick future logins. Choose something memorable but not obvious (avoid 1234 or your birth year).
• 6
  Your account is created. You will be taken to the app dashboard — the home screen showing all available services.

How to Add Your Virtual Driving Licence (DL)

This is the most important feature — your digital DL is legally valid and accepted by traffic police across India.

• 1
  Open the mParivahan app and log in with your MPIN or password.
• 2
  On the home screen, tap "My Virtual DL" from the dashboard menu.
• 3
  Tap "Create Virtual DL" (first time) or "Add My Driving Licence."
• 4
  Enter your Driving Licence number exactly as printed on your physical DL card (format: XX9999999999999). Tap "Search."
• 5
  Enter your Date of Birth and tap "Verify." The app cross-checks this against the Sarathi database.
• 6
  An OTP is sent to the mobile number registered with your DL at the RTO. Enter the OTP and tap "Submit."
• 7
  Tap "Add to Dashboard for Virtual DL." Your virtual DL is now created and pinned to your dashboard. Tap "View Virtual DL" to see it.

How to Add Your Virtual RC (Registration Certificate)

The virtual RC lets you carry your vehicle's registration certificate digitally — no need for the physical RC book or smart card during routine traffic checks.

• 1
  Open the mParivahan app and tap "My Virtual RC" from the dashboard.
• 2
  Tap "Create Virtual RC" or tap your profile icon at the top and select "My RC."
• 3
  Enter your vehicle registration number (e.g., MH01AB1234) and tap "Search." A popup will confirm basic vehicle details — tap "OK."
• 4
  Scroll down and tap "Add to Dashboard for Virtual RC."
• 5
  Enter the last 5 digits of your chassis number and the last 5 digits of your engine number to verify ownership. Tap "Submit."
• 6
  Enter the OTP sent to the mobile number registered with your vehicle. Tap "Submit."
• 7
  Your Virtual RC is created and pinned to your dashboard. Tap "View Virtual RC" to see all vehicle details and the QR code. You can also download the QR code for offline use.

How to Check and Pay eChallan on mParivahan

The mParivahan app integrates directly with the national eChallan system. You can check and pay traffic fines without opening a browser.

Check Challans by Vehicle Number

• 1
  Open the app and scroll to the "Challan Services" section on the home screen, or tap the hamburger menu (top-left) and select "Search Challan."
• 2
  Select "Vehicle Number" as the search type. Enter your vehicle registration number and tap "Search."
• 3
  All pending and paid challans for that vehicle will appear — showing the challan number, violation type, date, location, and fine amount.

Pay a Challan from the App

• 1
  On the challan details screen, tap "Pay Now" on any pending challan.
• 2
  Enter the OTP sent to the mobile number registered with the vehicle to verify your identity.
• 3
  Select your payment method — UPI, debit card, credit card, or net banking — and complete the payment on the secure gateway.
• 4
  Download the receipt from the app after payment. The challan status updates to "Paid" within 24–48 hours.

How to Search Any Vehicle's Details

You do not need to own a vehicle to look up its details. This feature is widely used for used car verification before purchase, checking if a vehicle that hit yours is registered, or verifying insurance before a deal.

• 1
  From the app home screen, tap "RC" or navigate to "Informational Services" → "RC Search."
• 2
  Enter the vehicle registration number (e.g., DL01AB1234) in the search field and tap "Search."
• 3
  The app displays the vehicle details from the Vahan database: owner name (partially masked for privacy), make and model, fuel type, registration date, RC validity, insurance status, PUC status, and registering RTO.

What You Can Verify Before Buying a Used Vehicle

• Number of previous owners — 1st owner vs 3rd owner affects resale value
• Insurance validity — is the current insurance still active?
• RC validity — is the registration still valid or has it lapsed?
• Hypothecation — is there still a bank loan on the vehicle?
• Vehicle age and registration date — confirm against what the seller claims
• PUC status — is the vehicle's pollution certificate valid?

Track DL and RC Application Status

Waiting for a new DL, renewal, or duplicate RC? Track the status directly in the app without visiting the RTO or the Sarathi/Vahan portal.

Track DL Application Status

• 1
  Open the app → tap "My DL" from the top menu or dashboard.
• 2
  Enter your Driving Licence number (or application number) and date of birth. Tap "Check Status."
• 3
  The current status is displayed — Active, Under Process, Dispatched, or Expired.

Track RC / Vehicle Application Status

• 1
  Open the app → tap "Application Status" from the dashboard.
• 2
  Select the type of application (RC renewal, transfer, duplicate, etc.) and enter your application reference number.
• 3
  The current stage of your application is shown — Under Review, Approved, Dispatched, or Rejected.

Other App Features You Should Know About

📜 Check Insurance and PUC Status

From your Virtual RC dashboard, you can see your vehicle's current insurance validity and PUC (Pollution Under Control) certificate expiry date directly from the Vahan database. This is useful for:

• Setting personal renewal reminders
• Confirming insurance was updated after policy renewal (can take up to 14 days to reflect)
• Checking if hypothecation was removed after loan closure

🛠 RC-Related Online Services

The app links to Vehicle Related Services on the Vahan portal, allowing you to initiate applications for:

• RC renewal
• Ownership transfer (Form 29/30)
• Duplicate RC application
• Change of address
• Hypothecation addition or removal
• Interstate NOC application

🔔 Smart Challan Notifications

Once you add your vehicle's registration number to the app, you receive instant push notifications whenever a new challan is issued against that vehicle — whether it was a camera challan or a spot challan. You can monitor multiple vehicles (useful for family members or fleet managers).

🏃 Fancy Number Services

The app provides access to the Parivahan Fancy Number portal where you can check the availability of and bid for VIP/choice vehicle registration numbers.

📞 IVRS and Helpline Access

The app has a quick-access helpline section with direct contact details for Sarathi, Vahan, eChallan, and mParivahan support teams. For eChallan-related queries, press IVRS option 4 on the main helpline number.

mParivahan vs DigiLocker — Which Should You Use?

Both apps provide legally valid digital DL and RC. Understanding the difference helps you choose which to rely on in which situation.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Frequently Asked Questions