The Karnataka Transport Department has launched a new smart card system for vehicle Registration Certificates (RC) and Driving Licences (DL). The upgraded cards came into effect on December 1 and will remain in use for the next five years.
The rollout follows the Union government’s notification dated March 1, 2019, which mandates uniform smart card formats across the country for vehicle owners and driving licence holders. “The new cards are made of durable polycarbonate material and feature laser-engraved printing, a 64 KB microchip, and an NIC-generated QR code to enhance security and authenticity,” Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy said.
A centralised printing facility has been established at the office of the Transport Commissioner in Bengaluru. “The service provider will print and dispatch the cards to regional offices. Local RTOs and ARTOs will verify the data, complete KMS updates, and send the cards to applicants via speed post,” Mr. Reddy added.
Two high-capacity S-7000 smart card printing machines imported from Italy have been installed at the facility. Each machine can print between 500 and 600 cards per hour, enabling a combined daily output of up to 16,000 cards. According to the Transport Department, this is the first such capability in India.
From the total fee of ₹200 per card, ₹64.46 will go to the service provider while the government will retain ₹135.54.
Published – December 03, 2025 10:57 pm IST
