- Valid Indian driving licence (issued at least 1 year ago)
- One government photo ID — Aadhaar / Passport / Voter ID / PAN
- Booking confirmation (received via email/WhatsApp after advance payment)
- Refundable security deposit (starting from a base amount, varies by car class)
- Minimum age: 21 years
That's it. No company NOC, no salary slip, no PAN address proof — just the basics.
1. Driving Licence — The Most Important One
What's accepted
- Original Indian driving licence — physical card or DigiLocker version
- Issued at least 12 months ago — fresh learners' licences and brand-new permanent licences won't work
- Valid expiry date — must not be expired or within 30 days of expiry
- LMV (Light Motor Vehicle) category — required for cars; LMV-NT or MGV alone is not enough
What's NOT accepted
- Learner's licence (the temporary 6-month one)
- Photocopy or photo of licence — original required
- Expired licence (even by one day)
- Licences from other countries used alone (see International section below)
A licence issued less than a year ago. RTO databases now cross-verify the issue date — providing a 6-month-old licence will be flagged at delivery time and the booking cancelled (advance refunded).
2. Government Photo ID — Pick Any One
In addition to your driving licence, you need one more government photo ID. Accepted documents:
Note: Driving licence itself does not count as the second ID — it's mandatory regardless. You need driving licence plus one of the above.
3. Age Requirements
- Minimum age: 21 years (some luxury cars require 23+ or 25+)
- Maximum age: typically no upper limit, but some operators cap at 65 — check the quote
- Driving experience: licence held for at least 1 year (proven by issue date on the licence)
For luxury car rentals (BMW, Mercedes, Audi), most operators including Carsavaar require the driver to be at least 23-25 years old with 2+ years of driving experience.
4. Out-of-State Driving Licence — Yes, It Works
A common worry — "my licence is from Madhya Pradesh, can I rent a car in Mumbai?" — yes, absolutely. Indian driving licences are valid across all states and UTs. There is no requirement to have a local licence.
Even if your address proof is from a different state than the rental city, this is normal and accepted. Most weekend renters and outstation customers fall in this bucket.
5. International Driving Licences
If you hold a foreign licence and want to self-drive in India, requirements depend on duration:
Short-term visitors (under 1 year in India)
- An International Driving Permit (IDP) from your home country, OR
- Your home country licence in English (if not English, an English translation certified by your embassy)
- Valid passport with current visa
NRIs / long-term residents (1+ year)
- An Indian driving licence is required — IDPs and foreign licences are valid for only 1 year of stay
- You can apply for an Indian licence by transfer if your home licence is from a country with a reciprocal agreement
Foreign licences are accepted by Carsavaar on a case-by-case basis — please mention your situation in the inquiry form for confirmation.
6. Security Deposit
A refundable security deposit is held during the rental period as collateral for damages, late returns, traffic fines, or fuel shortages. Typical amounts:
| Car Category | Typical Deposit (starting from) | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Hatchback | ₹3,000 – ₹5,000 | UPI / bank transfer |
| Sedan | ₹4,000 – ₹6,000 | UPI / bank transfer |
| SUV / MUV | ₹5,000 – ₹8,000 | UPI / bank transfer |
| Premium / Luxury | ₹10,000 – ₹25,000 | Bank transfer / card hold |
The deposit is refunded within 24-48 hours of return, after the car is inspected for damages, fuel level, and km usage. Carsavaar processes most refunds same-day.
7. Documents at Pickup
When the car is delivered (or you arrive at the pickup location), the Carsavaar executive will:
- Verify your driving licence — original, with photo and issue date
- Verify your secondary ID — original
- Take photos/scans of both documents for the booking record
- Ask you to sign the rental agreement (a 1-page document covering rates, fuel policy, return time, and damage liability)
- Hand over the car keys, RC, insurance copy, and PUC certificate
- Walk through any existing scratches/dents with you and note them on the agreement
The whole process takes 10-15 minutes.
8. Special Cases — What If…
What if I lost my driving licence?
You can use a DigiLocker version as a substitute. Show the licence inside DigiLocker on your phone — it's legally equivalent to the physical card. If you don't have DigiLocker either, you'll need to wait for the duplicate licence from your RTO (typically 7-15 days).
What if my licence is in a regional language?
All Indian state-issued licences carry English translations alongside the regional language by default — they're accepted as-is.
What if someone else will drive part of the trip?
That driver also needs a valid Indian driving licence (1+ year old). All drivers must be added to the rental agreement at pickup. You cannot transfer the rental to a new person mid-trip.
What if my licence expires during the rental?
If the licence is valid at pickup but expires mid-rental, you'll typically be allowed to complete the trip, but renew immediately. If it's already within 30 days of expiry at pickup, the operator may decline.
What about company-issued bookings?
For corporate bookings on company name, the driver still needs to provide their personal driving licence. The booking can be invoiced to the company, but the driver-on-record must be an individual with a valid licence.
What You Do NOT Need
For clarity, here's what Carsavaar does NOT ask for (despite some operators requiring them):
- ❌ Salary slip or employment letter
- ❌ Income tax returns
- ❌ Credit card pre-authorization (we accept UPI deposits)
- ❌ Local address proof (your Aadhaar/Passport address is enough)
- ❌ Company NOC for personal trips
- ❌ Two-wheeler licence (LMV is required, not MCWG)
Quick Pre-Booking Check
Before submitting your inquiry, confirm:
- Your driving licence is at least 1 year old
- Your driving licence is currently valid (not expired)
- You are at least 21 years old
- You have one of: Aadhaar, Passport, Voter ID, or PAN
- You can transfer the refundable security deposit (starting from a base amount, varies by car class)
If all 5 are yes, you're ready — submit an inquiry and we'll handle the rest.
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Reviewed & maintained by
Carsavaar Editorial Team
Editorial Team, Carsavaar
Articles published under the Carsavaar Editorial Team are researched by our content team and reviewed by senior operations members for accuracy on pricing, policy and process details. We update guides quarterly to reflect current rates, document requirements, and route conditions across India.