mParivahan App Guide 2026: Virtual DL and RC, Vehicle Search, Legal Validity, eChallan and Parivahan Services
NextGen mParivahan is MoRTH's official app by NIC for virtual driving licence and RC, vehicle search by number, insurance and fitness check. Legal validity rules, how to use it, related Parivahan portals, eChallan and safety tips.
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NextGen mParivahan is the official mobile app of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), built by the National Informatics Centre (NIC). It lets you keep a virtual copy of your driving licence (DL) and vehicle registration certificate (RC) on your phone, check the details of any vehicle by its number, and reach Parivahan services such as Sarathi (licence), Vahan (vehicle) and eChallan.
This guide explains what the app does, whether a virtual DL and RC are legally valid, how to use the app step by step, the related Parivahan portals, helpline details and how to avoid fake Parivahan websites.
NextGen mParivahan at a Glance
| Point | Details |
|---|---|
| App name | NextGen mParivahan |
| Ministry | Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) |
| Developer (as listed on stores) | National Informatics Centre (NIC) |
| Platforms | Android (Google Play) and iOS (App Store) |
| Downloads on Google Play | 5 crore+ (as seen on 27 September 2026) |
| Main portal | parivahan.gov.in |
| Helpdesk email | [email protected] |
| Helpdesk phone (as on Play Store listing) | +91 120 4925505 |
| Cost | Free |
What Can You Do on mParivahan?
According to the official Play Store and App Store descriptions, the app offers these services:
| Feature | What It Does |
|---|---|
| Virtual DL | Shows your driving licence in digital form with an encrypted QR code |
| Virtual RC | Shows your vehicle's registration certificate in digital form with an encrypted QR code |
| Vehicle search | Enter any registration number to see owner name, registration date, registering authority, make and model, fuel type, vehicle class and age |
| Insurance and fitness validity | Check whether a vehicle's insurance and fitness certificate are valid |
| Second-hand vehicle check | Verify the details of a used vehicle before you buy it |
| Parked, accident or stolen vehicle check | Verify the details of a vehicle found parked, involved in an accident or suspected stolen |
| DL search | Check the details and validity of a driving licence |
| RTO and traffic office locator | Find the nearest RTO and traffic offices |
| Notifications | Transport department updates and alerts to citizens |
The App Store release notes also mention a Vehicle Validity Check by Mobile Number feature. The MoRTH Standard Operating Procedure of September 2019 notes that mParivahan gives real-time validity of RC, DL, fitness, insurance and permit, and that the QR code can be verified offline.
Is a Virtual DL or RC in mParivahan Legally Valid?
Yes. This is backed by several official decisions:
- MoRTH advisory, 9 August 2018: DL, RC and other documents shown in DigiLocker or mParivahan are legally recognised at par with the original documents under the Information Technology Act, 2000. Insurance should be accepted if mParivahan or eChallan shows it as valid.
- G.S.R. 1081(E), 2 November 2018: Rule 139 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 was amended so that drivers can produce the RC, insurance, fitness, permit, DL and PUC certificate in physical or electronic form.
- SOP of 20 September 2019: MoRTH issued a Standard Operating Procedure for accepting transport documents in electronic form.
- Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019: The amended Act recognises electronic production of documents, and MoRTH sent a further advisory to states on 23 November 2019.
The 2018 advisory also says that if a document has to be impounded, it should be recorded electronically in the Vahan or Sarathi database through eChallan, instead of physical seizure.
Important: A plain photo or scan of your DL saved in your gallery is not the same thing. Show the document from the official mParivahan app or DigiLocker.
How to Download mParivahan Safely
- Open Google Play Store or Apple App Store.
- Search for NextGen mParivahan.
- Check that the developer shown is National Informatics Centre. On Google Play, the package name is
com.nic.mparivahan. - Install the app. Do not install any APK file shared on WhatsApp or SMS.
The official Sarathi portal itself warns citizens about fraudulent websites and apps that pose as Parivahan services. Many search results for "mParivahan" or "Parivahan Sewa" are private look-alike websites, so always type the address yourself.
How to Use mParivahan: General Steps
NIC updates the app screens from time to time, so the exact buttons may differ on your phone. The general flow is:
- Sign in: Open the app and sign in with your mobile number, then follow the on-screen verification.
- Add your DL: Open the DL section and enter your driving licence number with the details the app asks for. Your virtual DL is pulled from the official Sarathi licence database.
- Add your RC: Open the RC section and enter your vehicle registration number with the details the app asks for to confirm ownership. Your virtual RC is pulled from the official Vahan vehicle database.
- Show it when asked: Open the saved DL or RC and show it, with its QR code, to the traffic officer.
- Search any vehicle: Use the vehicle search and enter a registration number to see its basic details and insurance and fitness validity.
Keep your mobile number updated in your licence and vehicle records. The Sarathi portal has an online service to update the mobile number linked to your DL.
Related Parivahan Portals
| Portal | Use |
|---|---|
| parivahan.gov.in | Main Parivahan portal with links to all transport services |
| sarathi.parivahan.gov.in | Driving licence services: learner's licence, DL renewal, duplicate DL, change of address, update mobile number |
| vahan.parivahan.gov.in | Vehicle services: transfer of ownership, duplicate RC, hypothecation, change of address. Contactless services work with Aadhaar eKYC; others such as fitness need an RTO visit |
| echallan.parivahan.gov.in | Check and pay traffic challans |
How to Check and Pay an eChallan
- Visit echallan.parivahan.gov.in (type the address yourself).
- Open the challan status or payment option.
- Search using the details asked on the page (such as challan number, vehicle number or DL number) and the captcha.
- Review the pending challans shown against your record.
- Pay online through the official payment page and save the receipt.
Warning: The official eChallan website carries a warning about a fake eChallan payment website. Scammers also send SMS messages with links claiming you have a pending challan. Never pay through a link in an SMS or WhatsApp message. Open the official site directly and check the challan there.
Common Problems and Fixes
- DL or RC not found: Older records may not be fully digitised. Contact your RTO to get the record updated in Sarathi or Vahan.
- OTP not received: Your mobile number may not be linked to the DL or RC. Update it on the Sarathi or Vahan portal.
- Wrong details shown: Apply for correction through the relevant service on Sarathi or Vahan, or visit the RTO.
- App errors: Update the app to the latest version from the official store and try again.
Safety Tips
- Download only "NextGen mParivahan" by National Informatics Centre from official stores.
- Do not trust websites that look like Parivahan but end in .com, .org, .app or .blog. Official addresses end in parivahan.gov.in.
- Never share OTPs with anyone claiming to be from the RTO or traffic police.
- Do not pay challans through links received by SMS or WhatsApp.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Is mParivahan an official government app?
Yes. It is the official app of MoRTH, developed by the National Informatics Centre. On app stores it is listed as "NextGen mParivahan".
Q2. Can I show my DL from mParivahan to traffic police?
Yes. Under the MoRTH advisory of August 2018 and the amended Rule 139 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, documents shown in mParivahan or DigiLocker are valid.
Q3. Is a photo of my DL on my phone valid?
No. Show the document from the official mParivahan or DigiLocker app, not a photo or scan.
Q4. Can I check who owns a vehicle using mParivahan?
Yes. The vehicle search shows the owner name and basic registration details.
Q5. Is mParivahan free?
Yes, the app is free to download and use.
Q6. Where do I pay a traffic challan?
On the official eChallan portal at echallan.parivahan.gov.in.
Q7. How do I contact mParivahan support?
Email [email protected] or call +91 120 4925505, as given on the official Play Store listing.
Conclusion
NextGen mParivahan is the simplest way to carry your driving licence and RC legally on your phone and to verify any vehicle in seconds. Install it only from the official stores, add your DL and RC once, and use the official Parivahan portals for licence, vehicle and challan services.
Reference Links
- NextGen mParivahan on Google Play
- NextGen mParivahan on App Store
- Parivahan Sewa (official portal)
- Sarathi: Driving Licence Services
- Vahan: Vehicle Services
- eChallan Parivahan
- PIB: MoRTH advisory on DigiLocker and mParivahan documents (9 August 2018)
- PIB: SOP for acceptance of transport documents in electronic form (September 2019)
- PIB: Electronic documents under the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019
- MoRTH letter on amended Rule 139, CMVR (December 2018)
Last updated: 27 September 2026. App features and screens can change with updates. Always confirm on the official app or portal.