Sri Lanka Driving License Guide: Renewal & New Application

Q: How much does it cost to renew a Sri Lankan driving license?

LKR 2,800 for Normal Service or LKR 4,000 for Same-Day Service, under the Motor Traffic (Driving Licence Levy) Regulations No. 03 of 2022 (Gazette No. 2306/02). If your license has already lapsed, an additional LKR 500 surcharge applies per lapsed year or part of a year. Some third-party sites list much lower figures; those appear to reflect the pre-2022 fee schedule and are out of date.

Q: How long is a Sri Lankan driving license valid for?

8 years for light vehicle classes (motorcycles, cars, three-wheelers, and similar) and 4 years for heavy vehicle classes (lorries, buses, and similar), under Section 126B of the Motor Traffic (Amendment) Act No. 18 of 2017. You'll see claims online that this period shortens once you turn 60 or 65. We checked the Act directly, the Department of Motor Traffic's own site, and the National Transport Medical Institute's site, and found no official confirmation of an age-based reduction. Treat any specific age-60 figures you see elsewhere with caution until an official source can be found.

Q: What documents do I need to renew my driving license?

Your current driving license, your NIC (or a valid passport with your NIC number), and a Medical Fitness Certificate from the National Transport Medical Institute (NTMI) dated within the last 6 months. You'll also complete an application form, either in advance or at the counter.

Q: Do I need an appointment to renew my license at DMT Werahera?

Yes. Following a Ministerial announcement in December 2025, DMT suspended walk-in service without a prior appointment from 28 February 2026. Book your slot through the official DMT Appointments Portal before visiting Werahera or a district office.

Q: Can I renew my driving license without visiting Werahera?

Yes. Werahera and several other DMT district offices (Anuradhapura, Hambantota, Kurunegala, Gampaha with a Negombo sub-office, Kalutara, Jaffna, and Monaragala) all use the online method, which issues the smart card on-site.

Q: Can I renew my driving license fully online?

No. DMT's EServices section covers appointment bookings, vehicle-detail queries, and form downloads, but the renewal itself requires an in-person visit: the Department needs to capture your live fingerprint, photograph, and digital signature for the smart card.

What Is It Actually Like?

This guide covers the official fees, documents, and rules. For a first-person account of the queue, the NTMI medical exam, and what the day itself is actually like, see the companion page below. What to Expect: Renewing a Driving License at DMT Werahera →

Applying Through a Driving School?

Many first-time applicants train with a private driving school rather than learning to drive independently. It's worth knowing what that does and doesn't change: a driving school provides practical instruction with a licensed instructor, but it doesn't submit anything to the DMT on your behalf. You still need to register yourself, sit the written and practical tests in person, book your own NTMI medical certificate, and bring every document listed in the New License tab above. The requirements are the same whether or not you use a driving school.

Driving License Fees & Service Options

Renewal fees are set under the Motor Traffic (Driving Licence Levy) Regulations No. 03 of 2022:

Service Basis	Adult Fee (10 Years)	Minor Fee (< 16, 3 Years)	Processing / Delivery Time	Available Locations
Renewal — Normal Service	LKR 2,800.00	N/A	Standard counter service at Werahera or an online-method district office	Werahera Head Office and online-method district offices
Renewal — Same Day Service	LKR 4,000.00	N/A	Same-day smart card issuance, subject to office capacity	Werahera Head Office and online-method district offices

License Validity: What We Could and Couldn't Verify

Section 126B of the Motor Traffic (Amendment) Act No. 18 of 2017 sets the renewal period at 8 years for light vehicle classes and 4 years for heavy vehicle classes, with no age-based exception stated anywhere in that section.

You'll find conflicting claims online that this period shortens once you turn 60 or 65, with different sites quoting different numbers.
We checked the Act text directly, the Department of Motor Traffic's own site, and the National Transport Medical Institute's site, and found no official source confirming an age-based reduction.
Until an official gazette or DMT circular turns up, treat any specific age-60 figures you see elsewhere as unconfirmed.

Renewing Late

If your license has already expired, an additional LKR 500.00 is charged per lapsed year (or part of a year) on top of the standard Normal Service renewal fee.

Total Cost, Including the NTMI Medical Certificate

The DMT levy above isn't the only cost: every renewal also requires a Medical Fitness Certificate from the NTMI, a flat LKR 1,500 regardless of vehicle class. Budgeting for both: LKR 4,300 total for Normal Service (LKR 2,800 + LKR 1,500), or LKR 5,500 for Same-Day Service (LKR 4,000 + LKR 1,500).

Getting a Driving License for the First Time

Renewal isn't the only path through this guide. If you don't hold a license yet, here's how the new-license process actually works, and what it costs, verified against DMT's own procedure and fee pages.

The Learner → Written → Practical Sequence

You can register and sit the written test from age 17 (light vehicle) or 20 (heavy vehicle). Pass it, and a learner's permit is issued for up to 18 months. You then need to wait at least 3 months after getting the permit, and reach 18 (light) or 21 (heavy), before you're eligible to sit the practical test. Pass that, and the new driving license is issued.

Documents & Fees

Bring your NIC or passport and, since this is your first license, your original birth certificate. Two black-and-white passport photos are needed only at offices using the offline method; at Werahera and the other online-method offices, your photo is captured digitally. Before the practical test, you'll also need the same NTMI Medical Fitness Certificate (within 6 months) that renewals require.

The DMT levy for a new license or learner's permit, one vehicle class, is LKR 2,500 for Normal Service or LKR 3,500 for Same-Day Service. Including the LKR 1,500 NTMI certificate, budget LKR 4,000 total for Normal Service or LKR 5,000 for Same-Day Service.

Preparing for the written test? Practice with LankaSolve's free 100-question driving license exam bank, or browse every question and answer directly in the Question Bank.

Step-by-Step Renewal Process

Follow these stages, in order, to complete your renewal:

Book Your NTMI Medical Appointment

Book a medical fitness examination slot with the National Transport Medical Institute (NTMI), by phone or online, before your DMT visit. The resulting certificate is only valid for 6 months, so time it close to your DMT appointment.

Attend the Medical Examination

At your NTMI appointment: pay the medical fee and receive a token, have your height/weight/blood pressure and a blood-sugar test taken, then a doctor's evaluation including a vision check. Certificates are issued the same visit once all checks are cleared.

Book Your DMT Appointment

Book your renewal slot through the official DMT Appointments Portal, choosing a district office and an arrival time window.

Tip: Werahera and the other online-method offices are the highest-volume; booking ahead avoids being deprioritized behind applicants with a confirmed slot.

Gather Your Documents

Assemble your current driving licence, NIC or passport, your NTMI medical certificate, and a completed application form using the checklist above.

Attend the DMT Office and Complete Verification

At the office, your documents are checked at a verification counter and you are issued an automated queue token (Normal or Same-Day, depending on your chosen service).

Biometric Capture at the Counter

When your token is called, an officer re-checks your documents, then captures your fingerprint, photograph, and digital signature for the new smart card.

Pay the Renewal Fee

Move to the cashier counters and pay when your number is called: LKR 2,800 for Normal Service or LKR 4,000 for Same-Day Service, plus a LKR 500 per-year surcharge if your licence has already lapsed.

Collect Your Renewed License

For Same-Day Service, wait for the card to print and collect it the same visit from the issuing counter. For Normal Service, collection timing depends on the office's current processing backlog.

Where to Renew & Appointment Requirements

Werahera and these district offices use the online method, issuing your smart card on-site. A prior appointment through the DMT Appointments Portal is required before visiting: