The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has issued a nationwide advisory urging all vehicle owners, driving licence holders, and applicants to immediately update their registered mobile numbers on the official Vahan and Sarathi portals. This proactive measure aims to ensure uninterrupted access to a wide range of online transport services, including vehicle registration, renewal, transfer of ownership, driving licence applications, and permit-related transactions.
As India’s transport sector increasingly shifts towards digital platforms under the Digital India initiative, the government deems it necessary to have accurate and up-to-date contact information for all vehicle owners and driving license holders. Outdated mobile numbers often result in failed One-Time Password (OTP) verifications, missed critical notifications about renewals or penalties, and significant delays in processing requests, causing inconvenience to millions of citizens.
The ministry highlighted that many users continue to face issues due to mobile numbers registered years ago, which may no longer be active or in use. Updating these details will not only streamline personal transactions but also strengthen the security and reliability of the national transport database.
Why updating your mobile number is crucial
The registered mobile number acts as the primary identifier for OTP-based authentication and communication on both Vahan (for vehicle-related services) and Sarathi (for driving licence services) portals.
An incorrect or outdated phone number can lead to a host of problems, like inability to log in or complete transactions, failure to receive important alerts about expiry dates, traffic challans, or regulatory changes, and prolonged delays in availing e-services. Keeping records current ensures seamless integration with other government platforms, enhances data accuracy across states, and supports faster resolution of queries. It also aligns with broader efforts to make public services more efficient, secure, and user-friendly.
Note that owners of cars, SUVs, commercial vehicles, and two-wheelers (motorcycles and scooters) need to update their mobile phone numbers on the government portal.
Step-by-step guide to update your mobile number
For vehicle owners (Vahan portal):
- Visit the official Vahan mobile update page at vahan.parivahan.gov.in.
- Select the “Update Mobile Number” option.
- Enter your vehicle registration number and chassis number (last five digits).
- Provide the new mobile number.
- Verify it through the OTP sent to the new number.
- Submit the request and save the acknowledgement for future reference.
For Driving Licence holders (Sarathi Portal):
- Go to sarathi.parivahan.gov.in.
- Choose your state and select the relevant service for updating details.
- Enter your driving licence number, date of birth, and other required information.
- Input the new mobile number.
- Complete OTP verification sent to the new number.
- Submit the application and download the confirmation receipt.
Users are advised to keep their registration certificate or licence handy and ensure access to the new mobile number during the process. The ministry encourages citizens to complete this quick update at the earliest to avoid future disruptions and fully benefit from the digitised ecosystem of road transport services in India.
