Story of how I got my DL, 80% online :)

Just here to share the experience so that it can be helpful for others. I have had a two-wheeler (MCWOG) DL since 2014, however, I was looking to apply for a 4 wheeler (LMV) DL online and learnt to drive from my friends/family over the years but was still a beginner. 1. Applied online for LL, and submitted all necessary documents and LL application in the Parivahan portal. However, I had a lot of confusion if I should go to the Jayanagar RTO for Scrutiny and pending verification, but I gave it some time and the scrutiny passed on its own! I didn't give any Online tests for this. I got my LL just by sitting at home with **300RS** AND 3 MONTHS TIME! 2. Applied for Addition of class LMV to DL and booked for a slot after a month (waiting period) . I booked my slot on Jan 1st as it was a holiday and the cost for DL application was **1059 RS**. Mind you, this is coming from a person who still thought basic driving was enough for getting a DL, infact I was good at driving in traffic. My DL slot got posted at Jnanabharathi RTO and I googled to know it was automated and had sensors. 3. Collated below mentioned documents.All documents mentioned here will be available for you to download once you apply and pay for your DL application online: 1. Application prefilled DL 2. DL services Acknowledgement/Application reference slip 3. LL 4. Existing DL - Original and copy 5. Aadhar copy 6. Vehicle RC, Insurance, Emission (note vehicle should have L sticker) 7. Provisional appointment/ Slot acknowledgement 8. Form 1 9. Payment receipt 4. Visited the Jnanabharathi RTO with the documents above, Long queue, I booked 4-5pm slot, Never book that last slot because there is always a risk the officers might just call it a day by the time the queue reaches you. Luckily, as it was the holiday season, the queue was small, still, it took a lot of time! First, I had to go to room 12 and get an e-sign and photo captured. Then report back to the inspector-1 who checks my document. No one treated me different since I had come on my own, in fact they were very helpful. (Didnt realise even now) 5. After which, while waiting in the queue, you will receive an OTP which initiates the whole process. Then you will be called inside a small room there for verification and they will click photo again and ask questions if you have come on your own or via driving school. 6. If you go on your own, you need to get a green tick for your vehicle from inspector-2, Your vehicle should have the L symbol, and drive a little in front of inspector-2. 7. The test has 4 checks for you to pass, and all of these have automated sensors so you cant tamper with results. 1 1. UPhill gradient 2. 8 3. Parallel parking 4. Reverse S curve 8. Yes, all these are not beginner-friendly at all, even if you clear the parallel parking you need to get the reverse S curve right and many people who had come on their own without driving school had failed. It was impossible to clear this test without assistance. Only a Professional or expert driver could pass. 9. So I tried, everything went smooth in all except the reverse S which I miserably failed and I felt embarrassed and Inspector-1 at the end was like, "it's okay you tried, now give a re-test now that you know the path well." It was like the test was designed to fail. Every test is scored out of 100 by the sensors. 10. So, I thought there is no way i could clear this on my own, and went to enquire for driving school, I just needed the car and driver, and for that one guy charged me 7k LOL. Then enquired around and got one guy who agreed to do this for **2000 RS**. He booked re-test online (which I could have done myself.) and re-test Fee was **300 + 50 RS (had to pay 50 extra for you know).** 11. Got slot on 24th Jan for that driving school, Jnanbharathi RTO, got all documents they asked for, went there, long queue, same process (no need of e-sign and photo again and OTP), everything was taken care by the driving school. 12. I breezed through all the test because guess who didn't kind of drive but sat there with steering? Lol. It felt like a scam and i couldn't stop laughing all the while. Hell, I couldn't even see the mirrors cos it was turned that way and the driver beside me drove 90% and instructed me 10%. So i cleared it like a breeze. Had to give **200 RS** for driver (for you Know). 13. And then yesterday I got soft copy of my DL and will get hard copy in few days. DL total cost: 3909/- My friends when i enquired paid like 7k/8k for same DL. **TLDR** : Went online for LL and DL, Got there almost but test is hard, then cleared it via driving school. **Advice**: Learn driving on your own, apply online, but for tests, go via driving school for the cheapest combination. Hope this is helpful esp for people who know driving and have a little patience with Parivahan portal.