Sharing a driving licence copy: what to hide (India)
Before you send a copy of your Indian driving licence, decide what the other side really needs. Which details to cover, which to keep, and how to do it fast.
Updated · 2 min read
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Open Driving licenceThe short answer
If the licence is only being used as photo ID, hide the licence number, date of birth, address and QR code, and keep your name and photo. If someone needs to check that you're allowed to drive, such as a self-drive car rental, they will probably need the licence number and validity dates, so leave those visible.
What's on an Indian driving licence
- Licence number: usually starts with a two-letter state code, followed by the RTO code, the year of issue and a serial number.
- Date of birth and often blood group.
- Son / daughter / wife of: a relative's name.
- Address, which may be years out of date.
- Validity dates and the vehicle classes you're licensed for.
- QR code on newer smart-card licences, which can carry your details.
- Photo and signature.
The licence number and date of birth together are the pair that online licence lookups typically ask for, so hiding either one makes a copy much less useful to someone else.
Match the copy to the reason
| Why it's asked for | Keep visible | Usually safe to hide |
|---|---|---|
| Photo ID (hotel, event, society) | Name, photo | Number, DOB, address, QR, relative's name |
| Address proof | Name, address | Number, DOB, QR, blood group |
| Car or bike rental | Name, photo, number, validity, vehicle class | Address, relative's name, blood group |
| Employer background check | Ask what they verify | Blood group, relative's name |
When in doubt, ask the person requesting it which details they will check. Most are happy to say.
Hide the details
- Open Blur driving licence and add a photo or scan of the card, front and back.
- The licence number, date of birth, address and QR code are covered automatically. Untick anything the recipient needs.
- Tick the relative's name or blood group if you want those hidden, and drag a box over the signature.
- Download the masked copy. Location data from your phone's camera is stripped on export.
If you use your licence as ID often, keep a ready-made masked copy for everyday use and the original for when it's genuinely required.
If an Aadhaar copy is also being asked for, ask whether one ID is enough.
Questions
Should I hide the QR code on my driving licence?
Yes, unless the recipient plans to scan it. It can contain the same details you've covered in the printed text.
Does it work on an old paper or booklet licence?
Yes. Photos and scans are read with on-device text recognition. If a field isn't found on an older layout, draw a box over it.