Kerala Motor Vehicle Department (MVD) has increased the service charge for obtaining driving licence details, or licence particulars, from Rs 30 to Rs 200. Previously, applicants paid Rs 80 in total, which included a Rs 50 fee and a Rs 30 service charge, but they must now pay Rs 200. The fee hike follows a recent increase in the service charge for digital licence copies from Rs 60 to Rs 200.

Critics contend the significant increase in service charges is meant to recover losses caused by the end of physical licence card issuance. Licence particulars include a full record of an individual’s licence-related details. Even though applicants pay for both the fee and the service charge, they are only provided with a digital copy, saving the MVD from printing costs.

Driving licence data is managed through Sarathi, software developed by the union government. Licence particulars include basic details provided during application as well as any disciplinary actions recorded over time. Since standard licences only contain limited information, organizations like the Public Service Commission (PSC) and applicants traveling abroad often require licence particulars.

The online system issues copies without manual staff intervention, using auto-approval. Despite this minimal cost, the MVD raised service charges on applications that require no direct investment.

The number of requests for licence particulars has surged since the discontinuation of physical licence cards. Increased demand is another reason cited for the fee hike. The shift to digital licence copies and corresponding service charge increases have drawn criticism from the public.