Nepali driving licence holders can now get a PDF copy of their licence online, thanks to a new service from the Department of Transport Management (DoTM).
New eDLVRS portals for all provinces
DoTM has rolled out the Electronic Driving License and Vehicle Registration System (eDLVRS), which went into operation on July 17 according to the department’s announcement.
- Separate eDLVRS websites have been created for all seven provinces.
- Licence holders must use the portal of the province where their licence was issued.
- After logging in and confirming their details, users can download a PDF version of their driving licence.
This feature is mainly useful for keeping a soft copy, printing a spare paper copy for reference, or quickly checking licence information when needed.
PDF copy not valid during traffic checks
Despite the new download option, the PDF file is not yet accepted as an official driving licence during roadside inspections.
According to the Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office:
- There is no formal decision so far that recognises the downloaded PDF as a valid licence.
- For traffic checks, officers currently accept:
- The smart physical licence (card-type licence with QR code or chip), and
- The digital licence shown through the Nagarik App.
DoTM has also not issued any notice saying that the PDF download can replace the smart card or Nagarik App licence. Until a clear decision is announced, drivers are expected to carry their physical smart licence or show the approved digital version.
What licence holders should do now
For everyday driving and traffic inspections in Nepal:
- Continue carrying your smart driving licence card as the primary document.
- You may use the Nagarik App to show your licence details where accepted.
- The downloaded PDF can be kept as a backup copy or for personal record, but should not be relied on as proof of licence at checkpoints.
For Nepali vehicle owners, the key takeaway is that eDLVRS brings more convenient access to licence information, but does not change the documents legally required on the road yet. Any change in recognition of the PDF copy will depend on future official notices from DoTM and traffic authorities.
Reported by the Nepal AutoMart news desk. Prices verified against Nepal AutoMart's own distributor-sourced data.
